What Is Pen Testing—and Do You Really Need It?
Penetration Testing (Pen Testing) is a simulated cyberattack against your system, network, or application. It’s designed to identify and exploit vulnerabilities—just like a real attacker would.
Unlike a vulnerability assessment, which constantly scans for flaws & weaknesses, pen testing tries to exploit them. This makes pen testing powerful but expensive, often costing tens of thousands of pounds.
That’s why we advise all businesses to ask themselves:
- Do you actually need a full-scale pen test?
- Does your supply chain, insurer, or compliance framework specifically require one?
- Is Cyber Security and infrastructure Cyber Health important to your business? (Your answer to this question should be a resounding ‘Yes’)
Vulnerability Assessment Software: What Most Businesses Actually Need to aid Cyber Security
Vulnerability Assessment (VA) software identifies, classifies, and prioritises vulnerabilities across your IT environment. It’s essential for proactively managing cybersecurity risks—before attackers exploit them.
The right VA solution can also:
- Help meet compliance obligations (e.g., Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, HIPAA).
- Support your case for reduced cyber insurance premiums.
- Provide evidence of continuous vulnerability scanning.
Meeting the Cyber Security needs of SME’s
To date (and this of course may change) our customers requesting “Pen Testing” have actually been looking for a robust vulnerability assessment tool—not a full offensive security engagement.
Contact Qi to get QiVA deployed to your infrastructure
🔒 Introducing the Qi Vulnerability Assessment Solution including AI Penetrative Testing
What is AI Penetration Testing?
AI penetration testing is a specialized cybersecurity assessment method designed to uncover security vulnerabilities in systems driven or supported by artificial intelligence. AI penetration testing specifically targets AI models, data pipelines, and related infrastructure that integrate machine learning and generative AI.
In simpler terms, AI penetration testing involves deliberately trying to bypass, exploit, or mislead AI systems to uncover vulnerabilities before malicious actors do. By simulating real-world attacks against AI-driven applications and models, organizations can proactively secure their AI deployments and minimize potential risk.
In addition, penetration testing with AI is also about using artificial intelligence and machine learning penetration testing methods to enhance testing effectiveness. Leveraging generative AI penetration testing, for instance, testers can rapidly generate and simulate sophisticated attack scenarios, enabling a deeper and more comprehensive evaluation of an AI system’s resilience.
If any preparatory actions are required, we’ll advise you clearly and provide a transparent quote.
✅ What You Can Expect from the Qi VA Solution*
Peace of mind!
Qi will set your QiVA software instance up for daily alerts which will be automatically converted into a case in our support portal for Qi’s investigation and resolution deploying the QiVA software tools or if required a manual fix.
Key Features:
- AutoFix – Our Cyber Heal function automatically remediates vulnerabilities found.
- LAN Scanner – Discovers all devices on your local network and scans them for vulnerabilities.
- Highlights vulnerable IoT devices.
- Assesses network segmentation.
- Identifies exploitable network equipment.
- Domain Enumeration – Finds and assesses all subdomains, backend systems, staging/test environments.
- OS Update Dashboard – Tracks patch status, pending reboots, and critical updates.
- Microsoft 365 Integration – Pulls in Defender, Intune, and MFA insights automatically.
- Compliance Reporting – Built-in support for:
- Cyber Essentials (UK)
- Essential 8 (Australia)
- NIST (US)
- SOC 2
- ISO 27001
- HIPAA (US)
🔁 Continuous Cyber Scanning
Qi VA performs daily scans of your internal and external attack surface, providing alerts and reports to support your compliance and cyber hygiene efforts.
📊 Qi VA Solution – All Your Cyber Health Insights, Simplified
- AI Penatrative Testing
- Monthly cybersecurity reports, created and sent by Qi.
- Optional dashboard access for customers.
- Only £1200 per year + VAT. This will be added to your annual support contract and can be implemented immediately and charged for on a pro rata basis against your renewal date.
- Cyber Essentials Accreditation customers access QiVA at a vastly reduced rate. Contact Qi about our full Cyber Essentials Accreditation service.
Thought for the Day
Preventative action improves your Cyber Health and reduces your Cyber risk.