Social engineering testing evaluates the human element of your organisation's security posture by simulating real-world manipulation techniques used by attackers. This includes phishing campaigns (email-based attacks with malicious links or attachments), vishing (voice-based social engineering via phone calls), smishing (SMS-based attacks), pretexting (creating convincing scenarios to extract information), and physical social engineering (tailgating, impersonation, and badge cloning).
Professional social engineering assessments are carefully designed to test employee awareness and response without causing undue distress. Results help organisations understand their vulnerability to human-targeted attacks, which are involved in the majority of successful breaches. Social engineering testing is particularly valuable when combined with security awareness training programmes, providing a measurable baseline and evidence of improvement over time.
Many compliance frameworks including PCI DSS, NIST CSF, and ISO 27001 recommend or require social engineering testing as part of a comprehensive security programme. Testing should be conducted under strict rules of engagement with management approval and ethical guidelines.
UK offensive security consultancy delivering CREST-accredited penetration testing, adversary simulation and CBEST, TIBER-EU and TBEST threat-led testing, mainly for financial services and other large organisations.
Penetration testing firm trusted by nine of the top ten US banks, with the Resolve platform for continuous attack surface management.
Global enterprise cybersecurity consultancy founded in 1999 in Oxford, holding rare CREST STAR-FS accreditation and delivering penetration testing, red and purple teaming, and PCI QSA services across five international offices.
US penetration testing firm founded in 2011, running 600+ engagements a year with a fully remote, US-based team. Manual, expert-led testing across web, network, cloud, mobile, wireless, OT/ICS, and AI/LLM. Gartner Sample Vendor for PTaaS.
Global Big Four professional services firm delivering CREST, CHECK, and CBEST-accredited penetration testing and red teaming services from London, serving the UK's largest enterprises and regulated organisations.
CREST and CHECK-accredited UK penetration testing and managed security provider formed in 2026 from Pentest People, Bulletproof, and Target Defense, with CREST STAR/TLPT-FS capability and the GuardNest vulnerability management platform.
Elite UK offensive security consultancy specialising in CBEST/STAR/TIBER red teaming, advanced adversary simulation, and CREST-accredited penetration testing for FTSE 100 clients.
Global managed security provider with the elite SpiderLabs penetration testing team and deep PCI DSS compliance expertise.
CHECK and CREST-accredited Birmingham-based cyber security consultancy with over 15 years of experience delivering penetration testing, red teaming, and OT security assessments for government and private sector clients.
Fast-growing CREST and CHECK-accredited UK cybersecurity consultancy with deep expertise in critical national infrastructure sectors.
World-renowned cybersecurity firm now part of Google Cloud, delivering threat intelligence-led penetration testing and red teaming informed by front-line incident response experience.
Award-winning Cheltenham-based cybersecurity consultancy with NCSC CHECK Green Light status and CREST approval, specialising in defence, government, and critical national infrastructure security.
Typically no - the test is more effective when employees are unaware. However, management and HR should be informed, and organisations should have a supportive policy that focuses on education rather than punishment.
Key metrics include click rates, credential submission rates, reporting rates, and time to report. These help measure security awareness and track improvement over time.
Yes, when conducted professionally with management authorisation, clear rules of engagement, and a focus on organisational improvement rather than targeting individuals. Reputable providers follow strict ethical guidelines.