The Problem
Most organisations assume they are secure because they have a firewall and an antivirus. Adversaries know better. They probe for the gaps your security team doesn't have time to find — misconfigurations, unpatched systems, weak credentials, overprivileged accounts. A penetration test shows you exactly what a real attacker would exploit, before they do.
Nordic organisations face a specific threat landscape: state-sponsored actors from Russia and China, ransomware groups targeting Scandinavian SMEs, and supply chain attacks exploiting trusted Nordic vendors. Generic pen testing isn't enough — you need testers who understand your environment and your adversaries.
Without regular penetration testing, you are operating blind. Security audits check compliance checkboxes. Pen tests find real vulnerabilities that attackers would exploit today.
Our Approach
We follow the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) combined with TIBER-EU for financial sector clients and OWASP for application testing. Every engagement is scoped, time-boxed, and rules-of-engagement documented before a single packet is sent.
Scoping & Intelligence Gathering
We define the scope, rules of engagement, and success criteria. OSINT, passive reconnaissance, and threat modelling establish the target profile before active testing begins.
Vulnerability Discovery
Active scanning, service enumeration, and manual testing identify exploitable weaknesses. We combine automated tooling with expert manual analysis — automation alone misses 40% of critical findings.
Exploitation & Pivoting
Validated exploitation of findings to demonstrate real business impact. We chain vulnerabilities as a real attacker would — lateral movement, privilege escalation, data exfiltration simulation.
Post-Exploitation & Persistence
For red team engagements: we maintain access, establish C2 channels, and test your detection and response capabilities. How long before your SOC detects us?
Reporting & Remediation Support
Detailed technical report with executive summary, CVSS scoring, remediation roadmap, and proof-of-concept evidence. We present findings live to your team and support remediation.
What You Receive
Every engagement produces a documented, actionable output — not just a list of CVEs.
Executive Report
Board-ready summary of risk posture, critical findings, and business impact — no technical jargon.
Technical Report
Full vulnerability detail with CVSS scores, proof-of-concept evidence, affected systems, and remediation steps.
Remediation Roadmap
Prioritised action plan with effort estimates, quick wins, and long-term structural fixes.
Attack Path Diagram
Visual map of the attack chain — how findings chain together to create critical risk.
Retest Verification
Included retest of critical and high findings after remediation, with updated attestation letter.
Live Readout Session
90-minute video session walking your team through findings, attack paths, and remediation priorities.
Security Maturity Model
Where does your organisation sit today? Our 5-level maturity model — aligned to CMMI — maps your current state and shows the concrete steps to reach the next level. Penetration testing is both a diagnostic and a driver of maturity improvement.
Where you are
Security is reactive. No formal pen testing programme. Vulnerabilities discovered after incidents. No documented processes. Firewalls and antivirus are the primary controls.
Where you are
Annual pen test conducted — often compliance-driven. Results documented but remediation inconsistent. Basic vulnerability scanning in place. No red teaming.
Where you are
Quarterly pen tests with defined scope and remediation SLAs. Vulnerability management programme operational. Results tracked and trended. DevSecOps practices emerging.
Where you are
Continuous pen testing and red team exercises. Attack surface management automated. Security KPIs reported to board. Threat-led testing (TIBER-EU) in financial scope.
Where you are
Security is a business differentiator. Bug bounty programme live. Purple team operations. Threat intelligence drives test scenarios. Pen test findings feed product development roadmap.
ACE MATES assessment → Not sure where you sit? Our free 90-minute threat briefing includes a maturity assessment that places your organisation on this model and maps the highest-ROI actions to reach the next level.
How We've Helped
The client was preparing for PCI DSS certification and needed an external penetration test to identify gaps. They had never conducted a formal pen test and were uncertain about their real attack surface.
ACE MATES conducted a 10-day external and internal network penetration test, web application assessment, and social engineering campaign. We discovered 3 critical findings including an unauthenticated API endpoint exposing payment card data, privilege escalation via misconfigured Active Directory, and a phishing-susceptible workforce with 67% click rate.
Transparent Pricing
Most security firms hide pricing to force a sales call. We don't. Below are indicative ranges for typical engagements. Final pricing depends on scope, complexity, and environment size — but you'll never be surprised.
- External network & perimeter testing
- Web application assessment (up to 5 apps)
- OSINT & reconnaissance
- Executive + technical report
- Retest of critical findings
- Live readout session
- External + internal network testing
- Web + API application testing
- Active Directory & cloud assessment
- Social engineering (phishing)
- Privilege escalation & lateral movement
- Executive + technical report
- Retest included
- Remediation support (4 hrs)
- Full adversary simulation
- Custom C2 infrastructure
- Physical access attempts
- Detection & response testing
- Purple team debrief
- TIBER-EU framework option
- Executive + technical report
- Remediation support (8 hrs)
Why ACE MATES
Nordic-Specific Threat Intelligence
We track threat actors specifically targeting Nordic organisations — including state-sponsored groups, ransomware affiliates, and supply chain attack vectors active in Scandinavia.
Certified, Senior-Only Testers
Every engagement is led by OSCP, CEH, or CREST-certified testers with minimum 5 years experience. We don't use junior testers on client engagements.
Transparent Pricing, No Surprises
We publish indicative pricing because we believe you should know the ballpark before a single call. Fixed-fee engagements mean no billing surprises.
Remediation-First Mindset
Finding vulnerabilities is only half the job. We support your team through remediation, verify fixes, and provide an attestation letter for auditors and insurers.