Penetration Testing and Compliance: Proving Security Where It Matters Most
Cyber attacks are becoming more targeted and damaging. According to IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach has risen to $4.88 million – a 10% increase year on year. In the same report, 70% of organisations said breaches caused significant or very significant business disruption. For organisations aligning with ISO 27001 or facing obligations under the EU’s NIS2 Directive, this highlights a pressing need – not just for documented controls, but for evidence that those controls work in practice.
This is where penetration testing delivers real value.
“Penetration testing turns compliance into action. It is not about ticking boxes; it is about finding out what really works when someone is actively trying to break in. Testing gives you proof, not assumptions, and that is what regulators, boards, and clients are now expecting.”
David McNamara, Founder of CommSec
Bringing Frameworks to Life
ISO 27001 and NIS2 establish strong frameworks for cyber resilience. But without real-world validation, organisations may not know whether their controls are effective. Penetration testing fills that gap. It simulates genuine attack techniques to uncover weaknesses, validate defences, and guide remediation.
It is especially useful at three points in the ISO 27001 journey:
- Risk Assessment – Testing helps identify vulnerabilities in exposed assets such as internet-facing servers, cloud environments, or web applications. These can be mapped directly to threats identified in your risk register.
- Risk Treatment – Once controls are deployed, testing confirms whether they are functioning as intended. For example, whether access controls, firewalls, or endpoint protections block attempted exploitation.
- Continual Improvement – Regular testing ensures your environment adapts to evolving threats, system changes, or business growth, in line with ISO 27001’s requirement for ongoing improvement.
Under NIS2, penetration testing supports key obligations such as risk management, incident prevention, and operational resilience. It also provides documented evidence of your proactive approach to compliance – something regulators increasingly expect.
From Theory to Assurance
A policy may claim a system is secure, but only testing can prove it. Penetration testing gives IT and security leaders the confidence that controls are not only in place but also effective under real-world conditions.
This approach helps prioritise remediation efforts, strengthens governance, and supports communication with senior management, auditors, and key partners.
CommSec’s Approach
At CommSec, we deliver CREST-accredited penetration testing across infrastructure, cloud, and application environments. Our consultants work closely with your team to tailor the scope, align with your compliance goals, and provide clear, actionable insights.
Whether you are working towards ISO 27001 certification, preparing for NIS2 enforcement, or responding to client assurance requests, penetration testing provides practical evidence that your security programme is working.
Contact us today to discuss how a test can support your compliance journey or explore more about our penetration testing services.