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Writer's pictureJohannes Schönborn

Fortify Your Critical Infrastructure with Expert Cyber-Physical Penetration Testing

Updated: Oct 12

Real-world simulations exposing vulnerabilities in both your digital and physical defenses.



Why is Cyber-Physical Penetration Testing Crucial?

In the modern threat landscape, protecting your organization from cyberattacks is not enough. Malicious actors often exploit physical access points to gain entry into critical systems. By focusing only on digital security, organizations leave themselves vulnerable to physical attacks that could cripple operations and expose sensitive data. The importance of cyber-physical penetration testing lies in its ability to identify and close these gaps.

As of ISACA physical penetration tesitng is the most overlooked aspect of security!


Real-World Examples from Exploit Labs

At Exploit Labs, we have successfully demonstrated the risks posed by weak physical security measures in numerous industries:

  • Bank Penetration Test: Our team infiltrated a major financial institution through tailgating and social engineeringat the front desk, gaining unauthorized access to restricted areas. This physical access allowed us to connect to the internal network, bypassing Network Access Controls (NAC), revealing blind spots in their CCTV coverage and exposing vulnerabilities like unbolted hardware that could have been stolen, including servers.

  • Law Firm Security Assessment: For a top-tier law firm, we tested the physical security of offices handling sensitive M&A documents. We gained access via weak physical defenses and, once inside, simulated how attackers could steal or tamper with critical data. The results helped the firm tighten its physical and cyber protections, improving awareness training and repositioning security cameras to cover blind spots.

  • Engergy Plan Perimeter into IT into OT Penetration Test: Goal of the engagement was to breach from the Internet-Facing perimeter into the internal network and find a way into specific OT devices. Only equipped with the name of the company (and lots of legal wavers) the team sucessfully demonstrated gaining administrativd access into such OT devies in roughly 30 days. The team sucessfully simulated multiple time turning on/off a heating systems (which was not connected at that time). This was observed within the control rooms and hence regarded as a sucessful attack against the engery plant. Real world impact would have been catastrophic. The result was a compremensive attack narrative show casing weak and blind spots in existing defense capabilities.


These experiences highlight the critical need for cyber-physical penetration testing to uncover hidden vulnerabilities and give organizations a reality check on the effectiveness of their defenses.



What is Cyber-Physical Penetration Testing?

Cyber-Physical Penetration Testing is a hybrid security assessment that blends both physical entry testing and cybersecurity testing to provide a complete view of your organization's vulnerabilities. It simulates real-world attack scenarios where threat actors exploit physical access to compromise digital systems.


Key Elements of Cyber-Physical Testing:

  • Physical Security Testing: Evaluating physical entry points, access controls, and security systems like CCTV, alarms, and biometric scanners.

  • Digital and Network Security Testing: Assessing how physical breaches can lead to network infiltration or theft of sensitive data by gaining access to servers or endpoints.

  • Human Vulnerability: Simulating social engineering attacks to assess employee awareness, such as persuading reception staff to allow unauthorized access.


This comprehensive approach not only tests cybersecurity but also how well physical security measures support your overall defense strategy.


Why Cyber-Physical Penetration Testing is Critical for Your Business

Key Risks of Overlooking Physical Security:


  • Unauthorized Entry: Hackers often exploit tailgating, lock bypass tools, lockpicking, or social engineering to bypass security guards, front desks, or restricted areas.

  • Compromise of Critical Assets: From CCTV blind spots to unsecured server rooms, physical breaches can result in stolen or compromised IT infrastructure.

  • Regulatory Non-Compliance: In industries dealing with sensitive or critical data, like finance and healthcare, regulations such as the NIS 2 Directive and the EU RCE Directive impose strict requirements on both physical and digital security measures.


Cyber-physical testing ensures that your organization is fully protected by exposing weak points that could be exploited in real-world scenarios.


How to Get Started with Cyber-Physical Penetration Testing

  1. Free Consultation: Speak with our security experts to assess your organization’s vulnerabilities and understand regulatory obligations, such as compliance with the NIS 2 Directive and EU RCE Directive.

  2. Site and Asset Evaluation: Our team conducts a thorough review of your physical infrastructure, including entry points, restricted areas, and critical systems like servers and control rooms.

  3. Custom Testing Plan: Based on your specific needs, we design a custom plan that combines cyber and physical penetration tests.

  4. Simulated Attacks & Reporting: Our team runs real-world scenarios to test your security systems and provides a detailed report with insights into your physical and cyber vulnerabilities.

  5. Post-Test Recommendations: We offer actionable solutions such as repositioning CCTV cameras, upgrading access controls, or enhancing staff training to improve both cyber and physical security.




Why Choose Exploit Labs for Your Cyber-Physical Penetration Testing?

At Exploit Labs, we are more than just penetration testers — we are security partners who understand how digital and physical vulnerabilities intersect. Here’s why we are the right partner for your cyber-physical security needs:

  • Proven Track Record: With experience infiltrating high-security institutions such as banks and law firms, we’ve demonstrated the real risks of neglecting physical security. Our tests have helped clients uncover blind spots, such as server theft risks or inadequate surveillance coverage.

  • Compliance Expertise: We help you navigate complex regulations, ensuring compliance with EU directives like NIS 2 and EU RCE.

  • Holistic Approach: We provide a comprehensive solution, testing not just your network security but also physical access controls, social engineering vulnerabilities, and employee awareness.

  • Actionable Insights: Our reports don’t just list problems — they offer practical solutions that are often low-cost, such as repositioning security cameras or implementing better awareness training.

By partnering with us, you’re not just patching gaps — you’re building an unbreachable wall around your critical infrastructure.



The Network and Information Systems Directive (NIS) 2, EU Resilience of Critical Entities Directive (RCE) and Penetration Testing

The NIS 2 Directive and the EU RCE Directive both play crucial roles in strengthening cybersecurity and resilience across the EU, particularly for critical infrastructure sectors. Both frameworks include requirements that, directly or indirectly, encourage or mandate penetration testing as part of broader security measures.


NIS 2

The NIS 2 Directive is an update to the original NIS Directive (2016) and aims to expand the scope and tighten cybersecurity requirements across critical sectors, including energy, transportation, healthcare, finance, and digital infrastructure.

Key Elements Related to Penetration Testing:

  • Risk Management and Cybersecurity Practices: NIS 2 mandates that organizations in critical sectors implement comprehensive risk management practices. Penetration testing is one such method to proactively identify vulnerabilities and assess the effectiveness of security measures.

  • Incident Prevention and Response: Organizations are required to take steps to prevent, detect, and respond to cybersecurity incidents. Penetration testing helps to simulate real-world cyberattacks, enabling entities to test their incident detection and response capabilities in a controlled environment.

  • Compliance Audits: NIS 2 includes provisions for regular audits by national authorities to ensure organizations are adhering to the directive’s security requirements. Penetration testing can be part of these audits to verify that the organization's systems are adequately secure and able to resist attacks.

  • Mandatory Reporting: The directive enforces strict reporting of cyber incidents to national authorities. Penetration testing provides an understanding of potential weaknesses that could lead to reportable incidents, helping organizations address these issues before they escalate.

In essence, while NIS 2 may not explicitly say "perform penetration testing," it mandates that organizations must manage risks and demonstrate cybersecurity resilience. Penetration testing is a key tool in this process, allowing organizations to continuously assess and improve their defenses.


EU RCE Directive (EU 2022/2557)

The EU RCE Directive and its counterpart, the Critical Entities Resilience Directive (CER), which focuses on the resilience of critical entities, is designed to address both physical and cyber threats to vital infrastructure. This directive applies to sectors such as energy, transport, water, banking, and health, among others, that provide essential services.

Key Elements Related to Penetration Testing:

  • Risk and Resilience Assessment: The directive obliges critical entities to regularly assess their risks, vulnerabilities, and resilience. These assessments cover both cybersecurity and physical security. Penetration testing — especially cyber-physical penetration testing — is a vital component of these assessments, as it identifies vulnerabilities in both digital systems and physical access points.

  • Security by Design: The directive emphasizes the importance of building resilience into systems from the ground up. Penetration testing helps identify weaknesses early in the design phase, allowing entities to implement more effective security controls.

  • Incident Handling and Recovery Plans: Critical entities are required to develop and implement incident response and recovery plans. Penetration testing, including red teaming and simulated attacks, helps entities test these plans to ensure they can respond effectively in case of a real-world breach.

  • Supervision and Enforcement: National authorities are given the power to supervise the implementation of security measures. This may include requiring organizations to provide evidence of regular penetration tests or other forms of security assessments.

Penetration Testing and Compliance Under Both Directives:

Both NIS 2 and EU RCE place a strong emphasis on proactive security measures to ensure that critical infrastructure can withstand a wide range of threats. Penetration testing fits into these frameworks in the following ways:

  • Proactive Vulnerability Identification: Penetration testing helps organizations proactively identify and mitigate security flaws in both cyber and physical systems before attackers can exploit them.

  • Regulatory Compliance: While neither directive mandates penetration testing by name, they enforce security obligations that require ongoing vulnerability assessments. Regular penetration testing is a highly effective way to demonstrate compliance with these obligations.

  • Preparedness and Resilience: Penetration testing, particularly cyber-physical penetration tests, allows critical entities to assess not only their digital defenses but also their physical security measures. This comprehensive approach ensures that organizations are fully prepared to detect and respond to hybrid attacks.


Penetration testing is strongly implied and encouraged under both the NIS 2 Directive and the EU RCE Directive. These directives require critical infrastructure organizations to adopt robust risk management strategies, and penetration testing is an essential method for assessing and improving both cyber and physical security. To stay compliant and resilient, organizations in these sectors should integrate penetration testing as a core part of their overall security and resilience strategy.


Don’t wait for an incident to reveal your vulnerabilities. Let us help you identify and fix weak points before they can be exploited.


Book a Free Consultation Now

Speak with our experts to find out how cyber-physical penetration testing can safeguard your organization’s future.





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