Penetration Testing for Government
Government organisations at national, regional, and local levels are high-priority targets for nation-state actors, hacktivists, and cybercriminals. Government systems hold sensitive citizen data, classified information, critical infrastructure controls, and provide essential services that must remain operational.
Penetration testing for government entities must address unique challenges including legacy systems, interconnected agency networks, public-facing portals, and strict security requirements. Government pen testing requirements vary by jurisdiction but commonly reference frameworks like NIST SP 800-53, FedRAMP (US), Cyber Essentials (UK), and the Essential Eight (Australia). Government contracts often require security clearances for pen testers working on classified or sensitive systems.
Testing scope typically covers external-facing websites and portals, internal networks, email systems, VPN infrastructure, and cloud environments. Government organisations benefit from regular pen testing to maintain public trust, protect sensitive data, ensure service continuity, and demonstrate accountability for taxpayer-funded systems.
SECFORCE
Leading UK offensive security consultancy based in Canary Wharf, delivering CREST-accredited penetration testing and adversary simulation to organisations with the most demanding security requirements.
NCC Group
Global cybersecurity consultancy with CREST, CHECK, and CBEST accreditation, renowned for deep technical research and comprehensive penetration testing services.
Nettitude
CREST, CHECK, and CBEST accredited UK consultancy within Lloyd's Register, delivering premium penetration testing for government and critical infrastructure.
Bridewell
Fast-growing CREST and CHECK-accredited UK cybersecurity consultancy with deep expertise in critical national infrastructure sectors.
Mandiant
World-renowned cybersecurity firm now part of Google Cloud, delivering threat intelligence-led penetration testing and red teaming informed by front-line incident response experience.
Rapid7
Creators of Metasploit offering enterprise penetration testing integrated with their comprehensive vulnerability management and security operations platform.
Coalfire
Compliance-focused cybersecurity advisory firm and FedRAMP 3PAO specializing in penetration testing that meets stringent regulatory requirements.
WithSecure
Leading European cybersecurity firm offering penetration testing with deep expertise in EU regulatory compliance including GDPR, NIS 2, and TIBER-EU.
HackerOne
World's largest ethical hacker platform with over one million researchers, offering bug bounties and structured penetration testing to the US DoD and Fortune 500.
Integrity360
CREST-accredited pan-European cybersecurity services provider delivering penetration testing and managed security from Dublin with a strong UK and Ireland presence.
Black Hills Information Security
Community-driven penetration testing firm known for free security education, open-source tools, Wild West Hackin' Fest, and practical offensive security services.
SEC Consult
Leading European cybersecurity consultancy from Vienna with a prolific vulnerability research program and deep expertise in IoT and embedded systems security.
CrowdStrike
Global cybersecurity leader leveraging world-class threat intelligence from the Falcon platform to deliver intelligence-led penetration testing and red teaming.
Secureworks
Dell Technologies-backed cybersecurity firm with elite Counter Threat Unit intelligence informing enterprise penetration testing and adversary simulation.
Praetorian
Offensive security firm founded by former DoD professionals, offering elite penetration testing and the Chariot continuous attack surface management platform.
Offensive Security
Creators of OSCP, Kali Linux, and Exploit-DB, offering elite penetration testing services from the team that trains the world's ethical hackers.
Bugcrowd
Leading crowdsourced security platform offering managed bug bounty programs and crowd-powered penetration testing with hundreds of thousands of ethical hackers.
Synack
FedRAMP-authorized crowdsourced penetration testing platform combining vetted elite hackers with AI-powered Hydra technology for continuous security testing.
Securin
Vulnerability intelligence-driven penetration testing firm providing contextual security assessments informed by threat actor exploitation data and ransomware tracking.
Government Pen Testing FAQs
Do government pen testers need security clearance?+
For classified or sensitive systems, yes. Clearance requirements vary by jurisdiction and system sensitivity. Many government pen testing contracts specify minimum clearance levels for testing personnel.
What frameworks govern government pen testing?+
US federal: NIST SP 800-53, FedRAMP. UK: NCSC guidelines, CHECK scheme. Other countries have national cybersecurity frameworks with specific testing requirements for government systems.
How is government pen testing procured?+
Government pen testing is typically procured through competitive tender processes, government-approved supplier lists (like G-Cloud in the UK), or framework agreements. Pre-qualification requirements often include certifications like CREST or CHECK.