
In an era where data breaches are becoming increasingly common, it is crucial for organisations to assess their overall risk to avoid becoming the next victim. Organisations cannot protect themselves from risks they are unaware of, and many are unsure where to begin.
As attackers grow more sophisticated and conduct regular attacks, it is essential for organisations to establish and maintain an information security program and penetration testing that provides flexibility in assessing their environments.
Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) often overlook the security implications of digital transformation as they adopt new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the internet of things (IoT). This oversight leaves many organisations vulnerable to cyber theft, scams, extortion, and other cyber crimes. Consequently, two-thirds of SMBs experienced a security breach in the past year, with cyber attacks becoming more sophisticated, targeted, and damaging. With the average cost per incident exceeding $380,000, a single security breach can be devastating for a small firm. Therefore, it is vital for SMBs to prioritise cyber security and conduct regular penetration tests.
Penetration Test vs Vulnerability Test
A vulnerability assessment merely informs the customer that the door is unlocked. In contrast, a penetration test reveals that, due to the unlocked door, we discovered an unsecured safe, exposed jewellery, credit cards, and social security numbers scattered on the bed. It also provides guidance on securing the door in the future and protecting the confidential data left out in the open.
What a Vulnerability Test will find:
‣ Patching vulnerabilities
‣ Default passwords amongst services
‣ Configuration deficiencies
‣ False positive vulnerabilities
(e.g. flagging services based on version numbers, not knowing if patches are applied)
What a Penetration Test will find:
‣ Weak domain user account passwords
‣ Sensitive files stored on network shares
‣ Sensitive data within databases
‣ Weak password policies
‣ Network share permission issues
‣ Man-in-the-middle attacks and possibilities
Scope and Methodology
Scope and Methodology
Armour Networks provides the ability for organisations to perform a variety of security assessments, including vulnerability assessments as well as penetration tests.
External Network Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability Analysis – The primary process in an external network vulnerability assessment is a vulnerability analysis. This involves conducting a vulnerability scan across all systems accessible via the Internet using a database of known vulnerabilities. The discovered vulnerabilities are ranked based on severity and other data extracted from the vulnerability scanner. We do not alter any severity rankings or information produced by the scanner.
Internal Network Vulnerability Assessment
Vulnerability Analysis – Similar to the external assessment, the internal network vulnerability assessment focuses on vulnerability analysis. This includes scanning all systems accessible via the internal network environment using a database of known vulnerabilities. The vulnerabilities discovered are ranked based on severity and other data from the scanner. We do not modify any severity rankings or information produced by the scanner.
External Network Penetration Test
The internal and external testing phases share many similarities, except for the use of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT). These assessments take a comprehensive approach to identifying security vulnerabilities that expose systems and services to potential threats. Our consultants use various resources and techniques to identify, enumerate, and exploit the targeted systems.
Internal Network Penetration Test
During the information gathering phase of the internal network penetration test, our consultant gathers information about the internal network environment based on available data without conducting any attacks. This includes information such as DNS names and Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDN) learned from DHCP and internal DNS records.
Our Penetration Testing Targets
1. Network Security
We check how your network looks to someone trying to break in. Are there any open ports, weak passwords, or outdated systems that could be used to gain access? Our testing helps you find these weak spots before a real hacker does.
We also test what could happen if a hacker is already connected to your network, maybe through a hacked device. Can they reach important files or systems? Are your security measures strong enough to stop them from going further? This helps you see how well your network is protected in case of a breach.
2. Applications (Web and Mobile)
If your business uses a website, mobile app, or an online service, it’s important to make sure they are secure. A single problem in the app could lead to serious issues. We test apps using different user levels such as someone who’s not logged in, a regular user, and a user with more permissions.
We check for things like: Can one user see another user’s data? Can someone skip the login process? Are any security rules missing or easy to break? We can also look at the app’s source code to find problems that may not be visible through regular use.
3. Human Mistakes
People are often the easiest way for hackers to get into a system. In our fake email tests, about 13 out of 100 people click the link or share their passwords. These emails look real, so they test if your team can spot a trick.
When was the last time you checked if your team could spot a scam? Our tests show how prepared your people are and what kind of training they might still need.
Benefits of Penetration Testing With Us:
Run a penetration test on your schedule:
We offer scheduling flexibility. Let us know what day and time you’d like us to perform your penetration test and we can get it scheduled immediately with no delays.
Real-time Notifications:
Notifications are always sent out when the penetration test starts and stops, keeping important individuals in the know as to when things are going on. This is also helpful in case there are some alerts that get triggered.
Reports that Drive Results:
The data provided in the reports will always be very informative. How these risks affect your organisation, where your organisation stands compared to its peers, how this compares to the last assessment, etc. are all examples of data that are included in each report.
Custom SoftwareTransparency at Your Fingertips:
Your IT team can always log into their portal to get a list of contacts involved in the project, communicate with our consultant, as well as get a progress update that provides preliminary results and expected completion dates.
Affordability:
Our pricing is very competitive when compared to traditional penetration testing firms but provides a lot more value for the same or smaller price point.
Reduce Turnaround Time for Detection and Response:
Because all activities are tracked, including any manual activities conducted by a consultant, organisations can download this activity log and correlate activities with their SIEM and incident response procedures.
Facts & Stats
SMBs Are Prime Targets
- 46% of all cyber breaches now affect businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees [REF].
- 61% of SMBs were targeted by cyberattacks in the past year [REF].
- 47% of SMBs with under \$10 million in revenue were hit by ransomware in 2024 [REF].
- 87% of SMBs store sensitive customer data, making them lucrative targets [REF].
The Human Element Remains the Weakest Link
- 86% of data breaches involve stolen or compromised credentials [REF].
- 80% of hacking incidents involve weak or reused passwords [REF].
- Only 27% of small businesses use multi-factor authentication (MFA), and 62% of SMBs still don’t enforce it [REF].
- 57% of employees write down passwords on sticky notes or store them in unsecured documents [REF].
Staffing and Budget Gaps Persist
- 29% of SMBs still allocate less than 5% of their IT budget to cybersecurity [REF].
- 71% of SMBs feel confident in their ability to handle a cyber incident, but only 22% actually have an advanced security posture [REF].
- 27% of SMBs cite a lack of dedicated cybersecurity staff as their top challenge [REF].
Patch Management Is Still a Struggle
- 60% of breaches are linked to unpatched known vulnerabilities [REF].
- 56% of MSPs still rely on manual tracking for patch compliance [REF].
- 54% say lack of automation is their biggest challenge in patch deployment [REF].
Malware and Exploit Evasion Are Evolving
- Over 500,000 new malware variants are detected daily [REF].
- AI-powered malware is on the rise, with attackers using tools like ChatGPT to build evasive, multi-stage payloads [REF].
- Trojans, downloaders, and adware are the top threats targeting SMBs in 2025 [REF].
The Bottom Line
SMBs are no longer flying under the radar. They are now squarely in the crosshairs of cybercriminals who exploit their limited resources, lax security practices, and overconfidence. The good news? Awareness is growing, and more SMBs are increasing their cybersecurity investments. But to truly defend against modern threats, SMBs must:
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- Implement MFA and strong password policies.
- Automate patch management and vulnerability scanning.
- Invest in employee training and awareness.
- Adopt AI-aware security strategies.
- Partner with trusted MSPs who can deliver proactive, always-on protection.
Get in Touch with us

The best network penetration test, ready at your convenience.
Meets Compliance - The entire solution and reports meet compliance requirements for regulated industries: PCI, HIPAA, SOC2, etc., and cyber insurance.
On-Demand Scheduling - An internal or external network penetration test can be scheduled at any time and any frequency, allowing for more up-to-date discovery of threats and potential impact.
Budget-friendly - More value at a fraction of the cost compared to any traditional network penetration test.
Fast Turnaround Time - In a rush to have an assessment done? Get a full blown penetration test and report done within a few days without breaking the bank.
Real-time Tracking - Monitor the progress of the assessment in real-time so there's no lack in communication.
Activity Logging - Every single activity performed by the pentest VM will be logged – everything.
Enhanced Security - Based on the real-time logs, customers will be able to correlate the logs and activities with their log management and alerting solutions
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