Penetration Testing
Host Configuration Review
A single misconfigured server, an unnecessary open port, or a default credential left unchanged can undo months of otherwise solid security practice. A Host Configuration Review goes beyond vulnerability scanning to assess whether systems are securely configured and hardened against common attack techniques — not simply whether they're fully patched.
The risk
Why it matters
Vulnerability scanners catch known flaws, but misconfigurations, weak defaults, and unnecessary services often slip through untouched. These gaps rarely make headlines on their own, but they're frequently the detail that turns a minor incident into a full compromise. Reviewing configuration at the host level closes that blind spot.
Our approach
Review combines automated configuration auditing with manual security review against recognized hardening benchmarks.
What's covered
Scope & deliverables
Assessment Scope
- Server & endpoint configuration
- User account & privilege settings
- Patch management status
- Service & port exposure
- Logging & monitoring configuration
- Password and authentication configuration
Deliverables
- Executive summary
- Technical report with findings mapped to hardening benchmarks (CIS)
- Remediation guidance mapped to each finding
- Optional: One round of post-remediation retesting
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Does a Host Configuration Review replace patch management?
No. Patch management addresses known software vulnerabilities, while a Host Configuration Review evaluates whether systems are securely configured. Both are important and complement each other.
How is this different from a vulnerability assessment?
A vulnerability assessment identifies known flaws through scanning. Configuration review examines whether systems are properly hardened, catching misconfigurations and weak defaults that scanners often miss.
Which systems can be reviewed?
Servers, endpoints, and network devices across Windows, Linux, and common cloud-hosted environments.
Is this conducted remotely or on-site?
Most configuration reviews are conducted remotely, with on-site options available if required.
Do you provide a compliance-ready report?
Yes. Reports can be structured to support PCI-DSS, SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other frameworks based on your industry.
Go further
Related services
Organizations often pair this engagement with the assessments below for broader coverage.
Vulnerability Assessment
Structured, repeatable identification of known weaknesses across your environment, with manual validation to cut false positives and prioritise real risk.
Learn MoreNetwork Infrastructure Penetration Testing
External and internal network testing covering perimeter services, segmentation, Active Directory and the lateral movement paths between them.
Learn MoreCloud Penetration Testing
Testing of AWS, Azure and GCP environments against CIS Benchmarks — IAM, storage permissions, network controls and cloud-native services.
Learn MoreWireless Network Penetration Testing
On-site assessment of Wi-Fi encryption, authentication, rogue access points and guest-to-internal segmentation — the perimeter that extends past your walls.
Learn More
Request a consultation
Tell us what you need assessed and we'll scope an engagement around it — timelines, safeguards, and deliverables agreed before any testing begins.