Cloud Security
Penetration Testing Services
What is a Cloud penetration test?
Unlike a standard infrastructure test, it typically starts from an authorised position, such as read-only console access or an IAM role, reflecting how Cloud environments are actually accessed and how a compromised account or over-permissioned user could realistically be misused.
Our Cloud test assesses your specified AWS, Azure, Kubernetes and Microsoft 365 environments, using both Cloud-native tools and advanced manual testing techniques to identify vulnerabilities and understand the wider risks to your organisation.
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Common Cloud misconfigurations we test for
Our Cloud penetration testing covers the services attackers most often target. All tests are manual-first, supported by Cloud-native tools, with evidence-based findings and remediation guidance. Retesting is included to confirm fixes.
Identified vulnerabilities are presented in a report that allows your organisation to assess business risks and remediation costs, so issues can then be resolved in line with your budget and risk appetite.
Azure security reviews
AWS and Kubernetes
Cloud service reviews
Cloud infrastructure
Cloud vs infrastructure penetration testing
Cloud penetration testing looks at how your AWS, Azure, Kubernetes and Microsoft 365 environments are configured and accessed, identifying misconfigurations, excessive permissions and identity-based attack paths specific to Cloud platforms.
Infrastructure penetration testing covers your on-premise and network infrastructure more broadly, including external and internal network penetration testing.
Many organisations run Cloud and infrastructure testing together, particularly where hybrid environments connect on-premise systems to Cloud platforms.
Understanding the shared responsibility model
Using a trusted provider like AWS, Azure or Microsoft 365 does not mean your Cloud environment is automatically secure.
Under the shared responsibility model, Cloud providers secure the underlying platform and physical infrastructure. Your organisation remains responsible for secure configuration, access control, data protection, monitoring and user permissions – the layer most often exploited and the layer Cloud penetration testing is designed to test.
Because this responsibility is easy to underestimate, misconfigurations here are usually the first place an attacker will look, whether through an over-permissioned role, an exposed storage bucket or a gap in logging that lets an intrusion go unnoticed.
Cloud identity and access risks
Identity is the primary attack surface in most Cloud environments. Compromised credentials, excessive privileges and poorly managed access control are behind the majority of Cloud breaches.
Our testing reviews how identity is managed across your Cloud platforms – including AWS IAM (Identity and Access Management) and Kubernetes RBAC – to identify privilege escalation paths, over-permissioned accounts and gaps in access governance that a vulnerability assessment alone would not catch.
Is Cloud security testing right for you?
- Are IAM roles and permissions reviewed regularly across your Cloud accounts?
- Could any storage, databases or services be publicly exposed without your knowledge?
- Would you detect a compromised account or privilege escalation attempt?
- Is your Kubernetes RBAC and cluster configuration properly locked down?
- Do you have visibility of every Cloud asset in use across your organisation?
- Is your logging and monitoring sufficient to investigate a Cloud security incident?
What access do we need to test your Cloud environment?
Cloud security testing typically requires a different access model to standard infrastructure testing. Depending on scope, this may include:
- Read-only Cloud console access
- IAM role or service account access
- Test or sandbox accounts
- Tenant access (for Microsoft 365 reviews)
- Architecture diagrams or asset inventories
Our consultants confirm exactly what’s needed during scoping, so you know what to prepare before testing begins.
Our Cloud security testing process
This service assesses the AWS, Azure, Kubernetes and Microsoft 365 environments you specify. We use both Cloud-native tools and advanced manual testing techniques to assess your security and identify vulnerabilities. Our process typically includes:
- Scoping – agreeing the Cloud platforms, accounts and access required for testing.
- Assessment – reviewing configuration, identity and access management, and using Cloud-native tools to map your environment.
- Manual validation – our consultants manually verify findings, removing false positives and uncovering issues automated tools miss.
- Exploitation attempts – where in scope, our consultants attempt to exploit identified misconfigurations to demonstrate real-world impact.
- Reporting – providing a clear report with risk ratings and practical remediation advice for technical and management teams.
- Remediation guidance and retesting – supporting you to fix identified issues, with retesting included to confirm they have been resolved.
Benefits of Cloud security testing
- Identify and understand the misconfigurations and access risks affecting your Cloud environment.
- Understand the potential business impacts of vulnerabilities across AWS, Azure, Kubernetes and Microsoft 365.
- Demonstrate a strong security posture to clients by providing third-party assurance that your Cloud environment is secure.
- Comply with ISO 27001, the GDPR, DORA, the NIS Regulations/NIS2 and the PCI DSS , and other legal and contractual requirements.
- Protect brand loyalty and corporate image by reducing the likelihood of a Cloud security breach.
How we can help you
CREST- and CHECK-accredited
Our penetration testing services give you all the technical assurance you need.
Straightforward packages
We are pioneers in offering easy-to-understand and quick-to-buy penetration testing.
Choose your test
You can choose the scope of Cloud penetration test to meet your budget and technical requirements.
Reports you can understand
We provide clear reports that can be followed by technical and management teams alike.
Compliant with the Microsoft Rules of Engagement
For Azure clients, this means we take care to limit all penetration tests to your assets, thereby avoiding unintended consequences to your customers or your infrastructure.
Meet the experts behind your Cloud security
60+
1000+
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Real-world reviews
I always find [GRC Solutions] easy to work with. The consultant involved was very professional and friendly, providing plenty of updates throughout the test and clearly explained his findings. ”
Good grief, what an eye-opener this was! We chose [GRC Solutions] because the initial scoping call revealed their pen testers had heard about our not-so-common software setup and their cost was more realistic than the other quotes. ”
It was a pleasure to work with the [GRC Solutions] team for this pen testing project - from clear guidance from the account manager through to regular updates from the testers themselves. Will use again.”
Working with the [GRC Solutions] team is nice and straightforward. Account management and technical functions are good and thus far we've had no real issues.”
We always use [GRC Solutions] and this service consistently hits the mark for our clients in terms of expectation. Both Pen Team and Account Managers work with our clients in a professional manner.”
We've just concluded an annual, 2 week, Penetration Test programme with [GRC Solutions], & I'm pleased to report that the service on offer remains excellent.”
It has been an absolute pleasure working with [GRC Solutions], they made the process from start to finish so straight forward.”
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Frequently asked questions
Cloud penetration testing is a manual, evidence-based assessment of your AWS, Azure, Kubernetes or Microsoft 365 environment, designed to identify exploitable misconfigurations, excessive permissions and attack paths that automated scanning alone would miss.
Yes. We test AWS, Azure, Kubernetes and Microsoft 365, along with wider Cloud infrastructure including storage, networking and encryption controls.
This varies by scope, but typically includes read-only console access, IAM role or service account access, test accounts, tenant access and architecture diagrams or asset lists. Your penetration testing expert will confirm the full scoping requirements with you before testing begins.
Cloud penetration testing is carried out in a controlled and authorised manner, with scope agreed in advance so testing stays limited to your specified assets. Our tests also comply with the Microsoft Rules of Engagement, so Azure clients can be confident that testing is limited to their own assets. This minimises the risk of disruption to your live services.
Common findings include overly permissive IAM policies, exposed storage, weak logging and monitoring, misconfigured security groups, insecure Kubernetes RBAC and unmanaged Cloud assets.
We recommend carrying out Cloud security testing at least annually, or after any significant change to your Cloud architecture, new deployments or major configuration updates.
Reports include evidence-based findings ranked by real-world exploitability, along with an assessment of the associated business risk, plus clear remediation guidance. This allows you to prioritise remediation in line with your budget and risk appetite, with a retest included to confirm fixes have addressed the risk.
Cost depends on the scope and complexity of your Cloud environment. Book a free scoping session and we’ll provide a tailored quote based on your platforms and requirements.