Cloud Risk Is Not Limited to Internet-Facing Systems
A network penetration test may identify a vulnerable application or exposed service. Cloud environments can also create attack paths through excessive permissions, insecure configurations, weak trust relationships, exposed data, or poor separation between resources.
Depending on the scope, we test authorized resources across AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, private cloud, SaaS, and multicloud environments. Testing may include identities, virtual networks, virtual machines, containers, Kubernetes, serverless functions, storage, applications, APIs, and service connections.
What Cloud Services Penetration Testing Can Assess
When environments connect across providers, accounts, subscriptions, projects, or SaaS platforms, we can assess whether an attacker could move between them during one engagement.
Identity and
Access Controls
Cloud Configuration
and Exposure
Network Access
and Segmentation
Compute, Containers,
and Serverless
Storage and
Data Access
Cloud-Hosted Applications, APIs, and SaaS
Cloud Testing Approaches
An engagement may use external, authenticated, architecture-informed, or combined testing based on your goals and available access.
We confirm the approach during scoping and may combine these methods.
External
Testing
We begin without credentials to evaluate what an outside attacker could discover, access, or exploit.
Authenticated
Testing
We use approved accounts to determine what a user, administrator, contractor, or compromised service account could access.
Architecture-Informed
Testing
We review architecture and data flows to identify high-risk resources, connected services, and cross-environment attack paths.
Our Cloud Services Penetration Testing Process
Define the Scope
and Provider Requirements
We confirm the cloud environment, accounts and resources in scope, goals, credentials, timing, boundaries, and provider rules.
Review the
Cloud Architecture
Your team provides architecture diagrams, data flows, or resource details so we can focus on higher-risk resources and attack paths across one or more cloud environments.
Test Approved Attack Paths
We combine technical tools with manual testing to determine whether an attacker can exploit weaknesses in configurations, permissions, applications, or workloads.
Assess the Potential Impact
We determine whether an attacker could reach additional resources, access sensitive data, or affect critical cloud services.
Report and Validate
You receive prioritized findings, technical evidence, risk context, and remediation guidance. Follow-up testing can confirm that fixes work as intended.
Reporting Built for Cloud and Security Teams
CISO Global reports show what we tested, which weaknesses we validated, what an attacker could reach, and how to address the findings.
Cloud, infrastructure, application, and security teams receive the evidence needed to investigate and remediate findings. Leadership receives a concise summary of the highest-risk issues and how they could affect data, operations, customers, or critical cloud services.
When Cloud Services Penetration Testing Is the Right Fit
Cloud services penetration testing may be appropriate when your organization:
Why CISO Global
Cloud
Testing
Expertise
Manual
Risk-Based
Testing
Testing Within Provider Requirements
Clear Reporting and Remediation Guidance
Put Your Cloud Controls to the Test
Find out whether weak identity controls, insecure configurations, vulnerable workloads, or application flaws could expose sensitive data or critical cloud resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cloud services penetration testing?
Cloud services penetration testing determines whether attackers can exploit weaknesses in a cloud environment. Depending on the scope, testing may cover identities, permissions, virtual networks, workloads, storage, applications, APIs, and connections between cloud resources.
How is cloud penetration testing different from network penetration testing?
A network penetration test primarily examines systems and services reachable through the network. Cloud penetration testing also considers cloud identities, permissions, service configurations, trust relationships, storage controls, and resource-to-resource access.
How is cloud penetration testing different from a cloud security assessment?
A cloud security assessment typically reviews architecture, configurations, policies, and controls against security requirements or recommended practices. Penetration testing attempts to exploit identified weaknesses and determine what an attacker could reach.
What cloud platforms and technologies can you test?
We support AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, private cloud, SaaS, and multicloud environments. Depending on the scope, testing may cover virtual machines, containers, Kubernetes, serverless functions, identities, storage, applications, APIs, and connected services. We can also assess attack paths across multiple providers or environments in one engagement.
What access and authorization are required?
Requirements depend on the cloud provider, services, and testing approach. External testing may require only a list of approved targets, while authenticated or architecture-informed testing may require test accounts, architecture diagrams, resource inventories, or access to designated resources. During scoping, we confirm the access needed and whether the provider requires notification, approval, or other coordination.
Will testing disrupt our cloud environment?
Before testing begins, we confirm the boundaries, timing, safeguards, and prohibited activities with your team. We discuss any test that could affect availability or production operations and obtain your approval before proceeding.
Can cloud penetration testing support compliance requirements?
Penetration testing can support certain audit, customer, insurance, and regulatory requirements by documenting how our team tested the cloud resources and controls in scope. We can tailor the scope and reporting to the applicable requirement. Penetration testing alone does not establish compliance.