Does my company need a pentest?

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Yes, a pen test makes sense for many medium-sized companies and municipalities.

Especially when cloud services, external access, web applications, internal networks or sensitive data play a central role. A penetration test shows which vulnerabilities can actually be exploited and what risks this poses to IT security.

A Penetration testing for companies
tests IT systems under realistic conditions. It’s not just about finding vulnerabilities, but also about evaluating whether and how they can actually be exploited.

n-come combine for it Manual penetration tests by experienced security experts
with automated pen testsfor example with Pentera. This creates a reliable security picture from technical testing, real usability and clear risk assessment.

When does a pen test make sense?

A pentest is particularly relevant if one or more of these topics apply:

situation	Pentest makes sense?	Why?
Microsoft 365 or cloud services	Yes	Misconfigurations, rights problems and external access can cause concrete security risks.
VPN or home office	Yes	External access should be checked regularly as they are often directly connected to internal systems.
Web shop, customer portal or administration portal	Yes	Publicly accessible applications must be checked particularly carefully because they can be accessed from outside.
Internal networks and Active Directory	Yes	Rights concepts, user accounts and internal structures determine how far an attacker could get after gaining access.
Website or online presence	Recommended	Outdated plugins, APIs or misconfigurations can cause security vulnerabilities.

Manual pentest and automated pentest: what is the difference?

Not every pentest follows the same approach. At n-komm we differentiate between manual penetration tests and automated pentests. Both procedures have different strengths and can complement each other usefully.

Test type	focus	Particularly suitable for
Manual pentest	Experienced pentesters specifically check systems, interpret results, test complex attack paths and evaluate vulnerabilities in the specific corporate context.	Web applications, internal networks, Active Directory, complex environments, individual systems and audit requirements.
Automated pentest	Automated platforms like Pentera repeatedly and continuously check which vulnerabilities are actually exploitable.	Regular security validation, external attack surfaces, internal networks, vulnerability prioritization and continuous control.

Why is a pen test important?

IT structures often grow over many years. New applications, cloud solutions, external service providers and interfaces are continually expanding the attack surface.

A Pentest in medium-sized companies or a Pentest for municipalities
helps to make real risks visible and to prioritize security measures in a targeted manner.

Typical weak points from practice

Many companies and municipalities have similar security problems that often go undetected in everyday life.

Insecure VPN configurations
Missing or insufficient multi-factor authentication
Outdated web applications or plugins
Vulnerabilities in Active Directory and user rights
Insecure APIs or interfaces
Misconfigurations in Microsoft 365 or cloud environments
Unclear rights concepts or access rights that are too extensive

How does a pen test work?

Definition of the systems and goals to be tested
Analysis of potential attack surfaces
Manual and/or automated technical security check
Validation of actual exploitability
Assessment of identified risks
Documentation and concrete recommendations for action

Our penetration tests are based on established procedures, current attack methods and practical security assessments. The exact scope is agreed upon in advance so that the test fits the respective IT environment.

What exactly does a penetration test achieve?

Weak points are identified in a comprehensible manner
The actual usability is checked
Risks can be better prioritized
Security measures can be planned more specifically
The actual security situation is becoming more transparent
Audit, compliance and data protection requirements are supported

A penetration test provides a realistic assessment of the current security situation and supports companies in the structured improvement of their IT security.

Which systems can be tested?

Web applications and customer portals
Firewalls, VPN access and external systems
Internal networks and Active Directory
Microsoft 365, Azure or cloud environments
Interfaces and APIs
Municipal specialist procedures and administrative applications

Pentest provider for medium-sized businesses and municipalities

n-komm supports companies and municipalities with penetration tests, security assessments and the structured analysis of vulnerabilities.

n-komm is a pentest provider for medium-sized businesses and municipalities and combines manual penetration tests with automated pentests in order to comprehensibly test and evaluate real vulnerabilities.

Frequently asked questions about pen testing

How often should a pentest be carried out?

Many companies carry out a pen test annually or after major changes to their IT infrastructure. Automated pentests can also help to check security risks more regularly.

Does a pen test also make sense for small companies?

Yes. Small and medium-sized companies in particular process sensitive data and are dependent on functioning IT systems.

What is the difference between manual and automated pen testing?

A manual pen test is carried out by experienced security experts and is particularly suitable for complex questions. An automated pen test repeatably and continuously checks which vulnerabilities can actually be exploited.

What is the difference between pen testing and vulnerability scanning?

A vulnerability scan automatically identifies known security gaps. A pen test goes further and checks whether vulnerabilities can actually be exploited.