September 17, 2025
Top Aussie pentest providers, APRA CPS 234 & ASD Essential Eight alignment, pricing cues, and real-world outcomes.
Mohammed Khalil
Why Penetration Testing Matters in 2025 Australia Context
Cybersecurity threats are intensifying globally and locally. Australia’s recent cyber threat report shows 36,700 hotline calls in 202324 12% up and 1,100+ incidents. Nation state actors are testing resilience: for example, over 11% of incidents targeted critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, a newly increased global average breach cost of $4.4 million motivates defense.
In plain terms, penetration testing is like hiring expert break-in testers for your network. Think of it as a home inspector checking locks and windows before a thief tries. By proactively simulating attacks, you find weak spots in systems, code or configuration before real hackers exploit them. This proactive approach helps avoid disastrous breaches after all, IBM reports breach costs running into millions.
Importantly, Australian regulators now expect these safeguards. Financial and healthcare firms and their vendors must comply with standards like APRA’s CPS 234 and the Privacy Act’s security rules. For example, APRA mandated all regulated entities to implement controls to protect information assets and undertake regular testing and assurance. In other words, regular security testing including pen tests is no longer optional if you hold sensitive customer data. In 2024 the Privacy Act was also reformed to impose heavier penalties up to AUD 3.3M for data breaches. Given this landscape, Australian businesses are treating penetration testing as a crucial security check up.
Australian regulations increasingly tie into penetration testing and security verification. APRA’s Information Security Standard CPS 234 in force since 2019 explicitly requires banks, insurers and super funds to map their systems, implement security controls, and test those controls regularly. As APRA notes, institutions must maintain an information security capability commensurate with the size and extent of threats to their information assets. In practice, this means financial firms often perform annual or continuous pen tests to validate their defenses.
Similarly, the Privacy Act reforms of late 2022 and 2024 heighten accountability. Organizations subject to the act now face stronger enforcement powers and higher breach penalties. The Notifiable Data Breaches scheme requires prompt reporting of breaches. In late 2023, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner OAIC reported a 19% rise in notifiable breaches 483 vs. 407, with malicious attacks causing two thirds of incidents. This highlights that simply complying on paper isn’t enough robust testing and remediation is expected.
Across industries, compliance standards like ISO 27001, PCI DSS for payments, and sector specific guidelines e.g. APRA’s CPS 230 for operational risk also drive penetration tests. In many cases, passing a security audit or meeting Essential Eight maturity levels will involve documented evidence of testing. In short, regulators and industry frameworks reinforce that you can’t manage what you can’t measure and one key metric is how your IT stands up to simulated attacks.
Reputable penetration testing services follow internationally recognized guides. A cornerstone is the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide WSTG, a comprehensive framework of test scenarios and techniques. The WSTG outlines tests from information gathering to input validation, authentication, session management and more. By referencing OWASP, testers ensure no major attack vector is overlooked. In other words, your provider should know and cite WSTG chapters relevant to your app or network.
Another useful resource is the ASD Essential Eight from Australia’s Signals Directorate. While not tests per se, the Essential Eight are baseline mitigations patching, MFA, privileged access management, etc. that make it much harder for adversaries to compromise systems. Penetration testers often check whether these controls are in place and effective. For example, they may try to bypass multi factor authentication, exploit an unpatched application, or escalate privileges to mimic a ransomware attack. Citing Essential Eight shows a service that understands the Aussie context.
In plain terms, a top provider should use a layered approach: automated scans and manual testing. Automated tools find low hanging fruit known CVEs, misconfigurations, while skilled testers manually probe business logic and hidden flaws. Look for methodologies that combine network, system and web app testing. Strong report deliverables will reference OWASP or NIST categories and explain risks in understandable terms often using analogies, e.g. this flaw is like an unlocked rear door allowing hackers in.
Overall, align with E-E-A-T best practices: ask your provider to share case studies or certifications e.g. CREST/OSCP. Expert providers often publish whitepapers or blogs demonstrating their methods. For example, DeepStrike’s blog regularly discusses recent vulnerabilities and mitigation tips, demonstrating our commitment to security education.
Selecting the right testing partner is crucial. Use this checklist as a guide:
Using these criteria will help you filter out one size fits all vendors and find a true security partner. Remember: the cheapest quote isn’t always the best security decision.
While confidentiality means we can’t name clients, anonymized examples show the impact of professional pen testing:
These scenarios illustrate that pen tests are not just a checkbox. They provide concrete before and after snapshots of security. In each case, the organizations treated the findings as learning opportunities. Analogous to how a doctor might treat a diagnosis, these companies patched and strengthened defenses so small issues didn’t become chronic problems.
How DeepStrike differs: CyberCX’s scale and consulting breadth come with higher overhead and cost. DeepStrike, by contrast, focuses on delivering penetration testing as a service PTaaS with a lean, technical team.
We offer faster engagement start within 48h and real time dashboard updates, whereas large firms often work on quarterly schedules.
DeepStrike also emphasizes transparent flat rate pricing, whereas CyberCX projects may involve custom bids and variable consulting hours. For pure pentesting agility, DeepStrike’s model with Slack and Jira integration is built for today’s DevOps world, while CyberCX is more traditional in delivery.
How DeepStrike differs: Tesserent’s heritage is broad consulting, whereas DeepStrike specializes deeply in pentesting technology. We match Tesserent on credentials DeepStrike’s consultants also have CREST level skills and ISO trained processes but offer a more modern engagement model.
DeepStrike’s PTaaS platform means clients get faster cycles and integration with development tools, not just a single report. And DeepStrike’s pricing is transparent and geared toward faster turnaround for example, offering a guaranteed 48 hour start which appeals to tech startups and mid sized firms that need agility.
We also specialize in shorter sprint based testing for agile teams, while a big firm might emphasize multi week projects.
How DeepStrike differs: Sekuro’s risk led approach is valuable, but DeepStrike offers more hands-on testing innovation. For example, DeepStrike’s continuous testing shrinks exposure time to days instead of months, whereas risk driven assessments typically remain periodic. DeepStrike also provides direct developer channels Slack/Jira which Sekuro does not advertise. In practice.
DeepStrike tends to be a fit for tech driven teams that want an ongoing security partnership; Sekuro may be a better match for enterprises wanting a comprehensive security strategy without in-house technical focus.
How DeepStrike differs: StickmanCyber’s focus is heavily on mid sized organizations, especially those processing payments. DeepStrike, while also CREST aligned, takes a broader approach: we handle not only PCI related systems but also complex web and cloud applications.
Unlike StickmanCyber’s smaller team, DeepStrike can scale resources up or down even on a day’s notice via Slack requests. Additionally, DeepStrike’s continuous program and platform give visibility and speed that complement the occasional deep dives StickmanCyber offers.
In summary, StickmanCyber is excellent for companies with strict PCI needs, but DeepStrike serves all sectors with the added efficiency of continuous engagement.
How DeepStrike differs: The Missing Link is reputable for high end, bespoke engagements but tends to be more traditional in project pacing. DeepStrike differentiates with its automated continuous workflow and SaaS like platform.
While Missing Link might spend months planning and executing a red team, DeepStrike can respond in hours via Slack and immediately start tests on new code or fixes. For startups or agile companies, DeepStrike’s model delivers faster feedback loops.
That said, for organizations seeking a very deep, hands-on audit , especially legacy or mission critical systems, The Missing Link’s depth of experience remains unparalleled. DeepStrike bridges the gap by combining that high skill with modern delivery speed.
What is penetration testing, and why do we need it?
Penetration testing is a simulated, ethical hacking attack on your systems. It identifies weaknesses in code, configuration, or processes that adversaries could exploit. In Australia, pentests help you meet compliance PCI, NESA, HIPAA equivalent, etc. and prevent breaches that can cost millions. A test validates whether your security controls actually work under attack.
How much does penetration testing cost in Australia?
Costs vary by scope. A simple external network pentest might be AUD 5 10K, a single web app $10 20K, and a broad internal+app+social engineering engagement $25K+. Our Basic plan offers fixed prices for common scopes. Ultimately, you should budget like a security investment: a $30K test could prevent a >$10M breach. DeepStrike’s transparent plans help you predict costs upfront.
What is CREST certification in penetration testing?
CREST is a non profit that accredits companies and certifies testers against rigorous standards. A CREST certified penetration test means the team met ANZ requirements for skills and procedures. Competitors like Tesserent and StickmanCyber highlight CREST status. DeepStrike’s team members hold CREST aligned certifications OSCP, OSCE, etc. and follow CREST best practices, even as we operate under our own brand. Clients should look for CREST or OSCP in a provider, and DeepStrike delivers on those expectations.
What’s the difference between internal and external penetration tests?
An external test simulates an outside hacker attacking your perimeter: it targets public assets like websites, firewalls, VPNs, email servers, and cloud services. An internal test assumes someone is already inside your network e.g. via phishing or a compromised VPN account and tries to move laterally and escalate privileges. Each has a distinct goal. DeepStrike recommends doing both: external tests harden your Internet facing defenses, while internal tests protect against insider threats and weak internal controls. See our deep dive on internal vs external penetration tests for more.
How does DeepStrike handle reporting and remediation?
We deliver comprehensive reports that are easy to understand for both technical and executive audiences. Each finding includes risk level, replication steps, and clear fix instructions. We also give an attestation letter for compliance. Crucially, we stay engaged through remediation: our Slack channel is open for questions, and we automatically schedule a retest once fixes are implemented, at no extra cost.
What should I look for in a penetration testing provider?
Key factors include experience, methodology, and transparency. Look for a provider that tests to standards OWASP, NIST, etc., uses manual techniques, and has strong credentials OSCP, CREST, etc.. Check that they include re testing, follow up support, and clear reporting. Also consider their process: DeepStrike’s digital platform and open communication Slack integration are examples of modern best practices. Ask competitors if they offer similar collaboration and pricing clarity many do not. Finally, ensure cultural fit: DeepStrike prioritizes a customer centric approach, often praised by clients.
Penetration testing is a proven, cost effective way to harden your digital assets against evolving threats. In Australia’s current climate with rising cybercrime and strict regulations the question is no longer if you need a penetration test, but when and with whom.
Ready to secure your systems? Explore our DeepStrike services page to see how we approach testing, or read more expert insights on our DeepStrike blog. Our team can help tailor a testing program that meets both your technical needs and compliance goals.
Think of a pen test as an insurance policy: you invest in it now to avoid the much higher costs of a breach later. DeepStrike Security Team
Contact DeepStrike’s experts today to schedule a security assessment and stay ahead of threats in 2025.
About the Author:
Mohammed Khalil is a Cybersecurity Architect at DeepStrike, specializing in advanced penetration testing and offensive security operations. With certifications including CISSP, OSCP, and OSWE, he has led numerous red team engagements for Fortune 500 companies, focusing on cloud security, application vulnerabilities, and adversary emulation.