Inside a Commercial Building Pen Test — What We Really Find
When clients hear “red team”, they imagine hackers behind screens. We spend as much time holding door handles as we do keyboards.
The Objective
A Physical Penetration Test simulates how someone could enter your building without permission – through deception, poor controls, or technical flaws. It’s not about breaking in; it’s about proving how easily someone else could.
The Reality on the Ground
Across hundreds of assessments, the weak points are rarely high-tech.
Common findings:
Tailgating – polite employees holding doors open.
Unrestricted visitor badges – granting floor-wide access.
Clonable access cards – cheap RFID systems with no encryption.
Unattended reception desks – gaps exploited in under 60 seconds.
No post-incident checks – breaches unnoticed for days.
The Human Factor
People want to be helpful; attackers rely on that. Training isn’t about suspicion – it’s about awareness.
Blending Digital and Physical
During one assessment, cloned access data was used to breach a secure floor — and the network was then accessed through an exposed conference PC. That’s why cyber and physical must work together.
Learn more about our Red Team Operations
What Happens After the Test
Our team produces a full, evidence-based report outlining:
Entry points used
Security failures found
Practical fixes by priority
We brief your leadership privately, ensuring lessons are turned into measurable action.
Key Takeaway
Every unlocked door or cloned card is an invitation. Testing exposes the cracks before an intruder does.
Speak directly with a practitioner
We do not use sales teams or call centres.
If you believe this service may be appropriate, contact us directly to discuss your situation confidentially.
Email: enquiries@cyberdec.co.uk
Secure contact methods available on request