Understand the difference and choose the right assurance for your systems.
Every organisation needs assurance that their systems are secure – but the right assessment depends on where you are in your deployment. Configuration reviews and penetration tests each deliver valuable insight into your security posture, but they serve different purposes. Understanding when to use which ensures your investment delivers maximum impact.
A configuration review assesses how securely your system has been built – from cloud platforms to firewalls and applications. It’s best performed during or immediately after deployment, identifying any misconfigurations, weak permissions, or control gaps before going live. This proactive step gives you confidence that your foundation is strong and aligned with best practice.
Once your systems are live, a penetration test takes security validation further by simulating real-world attacks. It identifies vulnerabilities that could be exploited and shows how an attacker could move through your environment if access was gained. Penetration testing helps you understand the impact of an exploit – and prioritise fixes based on real risk.
A configuration review checks your setup is secure before exposure. A penetration test validates how it stands up to attack once it’s live. Used together, they provide end-to-end confidence – ensuring you’re protected from build through to operation.