The terms are often used interchangeably but they're not quite the same thing. A security audit is broader, it examines your security controls, configurations, processes, and code across the full scope of your environment. A penetration test is more targeted; it simulates a specific attack scenario to see how far an attacker could get. Both are valuable. Many engagements combine elements of both.

It depends on the scope and complexity of what's being assessed. A focused web application audit typically takes one to two weeks. A broader infrastructure and application audit for a larger environment takes three to four weeks or longer. We scope every engagement individually and give you a realistic timeline upfront.

In most cases no. We conduct audits in a way that minimizes impact on your live systems. For testing that carries any risk of disruption we discuss it with you in advance and agree on the safest approach, whether that's testing in a staging environment, conducting testing during off-peak hours, or using other mitigating measures. We never conduct disruptive testing without explicit agreement and a clear understanding of the risks involved.

You receive a detailed report documenting every finding with a severity rating, a description of the vulnerability, an explanation of how it could be exploited, the potential business impact, and specific remediation guidance. The report is written to be useful for both technical teams implementing fixes and non-technical leadership making risk decisions. We also provide an executive summary suitable for board-level reporting if required.