Debra Cairns
The cyber threat landscape is evolving at a fast pace. From phishing attacks and ransomware to the growing risk posed by compromised supply chains, threats are becoming more targeted, more frequent, and more damaging.
For today’s organisations, security is no longer just a compliance checkbox, it’s a core pillar of operational resilience. It’s about protecting critical systems, safeguarding customer trust, and ensuring business continuity in the face of growing digital risk.
Security testing plays a crucial role in building these defences. It provides clear visibility into your vulnerabilities and enables you to address weaknesses before they can be exploited.
In this blog post, we’ll break down what security testing involves, why it matters, how it fits into a wider cyber strategy, and how we can support you every step of the way.
What is security testing?
Security testing is the process of proactively evaluating your systems, networks, and controls to identify vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.
Whether it’s basic misconfigurations or complex, targeted weaknesses, the aim is the same: to reduce risk, strengthen your defences, and give you confidence in your cyber resilience.
These services help you understand where you stand, and what needs to be done to improve.
Below, we’ve highlighted the key security testing services.
Cyber Essentials (CE) and Cyber Essential Plus + (CE+)
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are UK government-backed certification schemes designed to help businesses of all sizes guard against the most common cyber threats and focuses on fundamental security controls, providing a clear and structured approach to improving your cyber structure. This includes:
- Firewalls: Creating secure perimeters to block unauthorised access to your network
- Secure configuration: Ensuring devices and software are set up to operate securely and reduce exposure
- User access control: Restricting access rights so users only have what they need to do their job
- Malware protection: Implementing tools to detect and block viruses, ransomware, and malicious code
- Security update management: Making sure systems are regularly updated to close known vulnerabilities
The Cyber Essentials certification process is self-assessed, making it an accessible starting point for businesses looking to demonstrate their commitment to cyber security.
For those ready to take the next step, Cyber Essentials Plus offers a more in-depth, independently verified assessment, providing further assurance that the controls are effectively implemented and functioning as intended.
Cyber Essentials certifications signal to customers, partners, and stakeholders that your business takes cyber security seriously. It’s an increasingly common requirement in supply chains and is often mandatory for contracts with government or public sector bodies.
Penetration testing
While Cyber Essentials establishes a baseline level of cyber security by confirming that key controls are in place, penetration testing goes a step further. It actively simulates real-world cyber-attacks to identify and exploit potential vulnerabilities.
This deeper level of testing can reveal issues such as misconfigured cloud environments, unpatched software, or logic flaws in custom applications.
By providing hands-on testing, penetration testing can uncover weaknesses that automated assessments might overlook, delivering a more comprehensive picture of your security posture and how your systems would perform under genuine attack conditions.
This enables you to take targeted actions to strengthen your defences.
Why these services matter for every busines
Security testing services are not just about ticking boxes. They’re proactive, protective investments that help businesses thrive in a digital-first economy.
We discuss why below:
Cybercrime targeted at SMEs is rising
While headlines often focus on large-scale breaches at global enterprises, small to medium-sized businesses are increasingly in the firing line.
The reality is stark: SMEs often have fewer technical defences, limited in-house expertise, and are seen by attackers as low-hanging fruit. The assumption that ‘we’re too small to be a target’ is not only outdated, but also risky.
Phishing attempts, ransomware infections, and supply chain compromises are no longer rare events, they’re part of the everyday threat landscape.
The shift to remote and hybrid working has only intensified this, with employees accessing systems from a wider range of devices and networks, often outside the protection of the corporate perimeter.
Security testing services give organisations a proactive way to respond. By identifying vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, businesses can reduce risk, build resilience, and demonstrate to stakeholders, clients, partners, regulators, that security is taken seriously.
Compliance isn’t optional
Whether you’re handling customer data, processing financial transactions, or operating within a regulated environment, compliance with recognised cyber security standards is now a fundamental requirement.
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) mandates that organisations implement ‘appropriate technical and organisational measures’ to safeguard personal data, requiring more than just basic controls.
Industries such as legal, healthcare, and government contracting, are subject to even more rigorous frameworks, where assurance and accountability are critical.
But even outside of regulated sectors, the bar is rising. Increasingly, clients, partners, and major platforms, like Amazon, are embedding cyber security requirements into their procurement processes.
If your organisation can’t demonstrate strong cyber security process, you may find yourself excluded from key opportunities or losing out to competitors who can.
The cost of a breach
For SMEs, a cyber attack can have far-reaching consequences.
It’s not just the immediate disruption, it’s the long-term impact that follows, including legal exposure, financial penalties, operational downtime, higher insurance premiums and reputational damage that can be difficult to recover from.
According to the UK Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey, the average cost of a cyber incident in 2023 was £1,100 for a small business and nearly £5,000 for medium-sized and large businesses.
These numbers only tell part of the story. The real cost includes missed opportunities, lost contracts, and the internal pressure of rebuilding systems and confidence.
Security testing plays a crucial role in preventing these outcomes. By proactively identifying vulnerabilities, businesses can address risks before they’re exploited.
Competitive advantage
Strong cyber credentials are more than just risk management; they’re a strategic asset.
Achieving certifications like Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus signals that your organisation takes data protection and operational resilience seriously.
It can help you:
- Unlock new opportunities with enterprise and public sector clients
- Strengthen your position in competitive tenders
- Build trust across your supply chain
- Reinforce your brand’s reputation for professionalism and accountability
Case example: Amazon’s cyber security requirements
For businesses operating in sectors like e-commerce, retail, and logistics, Amazon is often a key stakeholder, either as a client, a platform partner, or part of the wider supply chain.
In recent years, Amazon has significantly increased its cyber security requirements for UK partners and suppliers.
As part of its ongoing commitment to robust data protection and operational resilience, it now requires its UK-based partners to demonstrate strong cyber security controls.
This includes:
- Achieving Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certifications
- Conducting regular penetration testing to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities
- Maintaining current and comprehensive security policies and procedures
These requirements reflect Amazon’s broader strategy: to build a secure, resilient supply chain underpinned by clear, auditable standards.
It’s about reducing third-party risk, aligning with global data protection regulations, and ensuring that all partners operate at a consistent level of cyber maturity.
It’s a clear example of how major organisations are pushing higher standards across their ecosystems, demanding greater assurance, accountability, and resilience from those they work with.
Integrating security testing services into business practice
Recognising the importance of cyber security testing is only the first step. Real resilience comes from making it part of your day-to-day operations
Below are some tips to help you integrate security testing into your business as standard practice.
Start with a cyber risk assessment
Before implementing solutions, it’s essential to understand where your risks lie. A cyber risk assessment reviews your organisation’s assets, systems, and workflows to identify:
- Vulnerable areas (e.g. outdated software, poor access controls)
- Likely attack vectors (e.g. phishing, remote access)
- The potential business impact of a breach
Schedule regular penetration tests
To stay ahead of evolving threats and maintain a strong security posture, businesses should:
- Conduct penetration tests annually as a minimum
- Increase frequency to biannually or quarterly in high-risk sectors such as finance, legal, or healthcare
- Test immediately following significant changes, such as new infrastructure, cloud migrations, or major software deployments
Work with a reputable security provider
Choosing the right cyber security partner can make all the difference. Look for a provider that:
- Is certified to deliver Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus
- Has proven experience delivering penetration testing tailored to your industry
- Offers clear, practical guidance, not just technical jargon
- Delivers ongoing support, not just a one-off assessment
- Understands your regulatory environment and sector-specific risk landscape
Key benefits of security testing services
Below, we outline why more organisations are incorporating security testing into their business strategy.
Spot vulnerabilities before they’re exploited
Cyber threats rarely announce themselves.
Security testing gives you the opportunity to identify and address any weaknesses in your system before they become entry points for attackers.
This proactive approach helps you stay ahead of evolving threats and maintain a strong security posture.
Demonstrate compliance and readiness
Cyber security isn’t just about protection, it’s about meeting the regulatory and contractual standards that your customers, partners, and regulators now expect.
Whether it’s GDPR, ISO 27001, DORA, or requirements tied to public sector contracts, frameworks like Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus offer a recognised, accessible way to demonstrate your commitment.
More and more suppliers are embedding these requirements into their procurement processes. By acting early, you stay prepared and competitive.
Strengthen business continuity and resilience
Cyber attacks are more than just a technical problem, they threaten your operations, your reputation, and your bottom line.
Security testing is a cornerstone of a robust business continuity strategy. It enables you to:
- Prepare for the unpredictable
- Respond swiftly when incidents arise
- Recover with minimal disruption
By making security testing a routine part of your operations, you can reduce the risk of costly downtime and long-term impact on your business.
Futureproofing your business through cyber maturity
At Net-Defence, we see security as a journey, not a destination. Achieving Cyber Essentials or completing a penetration test are important steps, but true cyber maturity requires ongoing commitment and continuous improvement.
As the threat landscape is constantly evolving, so should your defences.
Security: a continuous journey
It’s tempting to view cyber security as a one-time project. You get certified, patch your systems, and then move on. But in reality, cyber threats are dynamic; and what is considered secure today may not be enough tomorrow.
New vulnerabilities are discovered daily. Attackers are getting smarter, using more sophisticated tools, and targeting methods. That’s why it is essential to treat cyber security as a continuous process that is integrated into your operations and culture.
Integrating testing into a broader strategy
Security testing shouldn’t exist in isolation. It needs to be part of a wider, strategic approach that includes:
- Policy development and regular reviews
- Security awareness training for employees
- Incident response planning and testing
- Real-time threat monitoring and alerting
Creating a culture of security awareness
Technology is important, but people are often the first line of defence. Human error remains one of the leading causes of cyber breaches, which is why training and awareness are so important.
Developing a culture of security awareness in which employees understand the risks, know how to spot threats, and are confident in their ability to respond can significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful attack.
This cultural shift doesn’t happen overnight, but it pays dividends in resilience, trust, and operational confidence.
Cyber maturity delivers measurable benefits
Investing in your cyber maturity provides more than just protection against attacks. It provides tangible, ongoing benefits. These include:
- Reduced system downtime by ensuring faster recovery and more effective prevention
- Enhanced business continuity, allowing you to operate confidently, even in the face of growing cyber threats
- Improved reputation as a supplier, an employer, and a trusted business
How Net-Defence can help
At Net-Defence, we know that every business is different, and so are the cyber threats they face. That’s why we take a tailored, strategic approach to cyber security testing, helping organisations of all sizes build robust, resilient defences that grow with them.
As a trusted cyber security partner, our goal isn’t just to get you over the compliance line, it’s to support your long-term resilience and confidence in an increasingly complex digital world.
We’ve supported businesses across a wide range of sectors with cyber security testing services that are designed around their specific needs.
Whether you’re a small team looking to meet Cyber Essentials requirements, or a larger organisation in need of a penetration testing strategy, our services scale to fit your business.
From the initial assessment to certification, we will guide you through the process using plain-English advice, technical expertise, and practical recommendations.
Contact our team today to learn more about how we can help with security testing services and your overall cyber resilience strategy.