Inside the Northwick Engine Room Strengthening Banking Security with Comprehensive Penetration Testing

The banking sector faces constant threats from cybercriminals targeting infrastructure, applications, and cloud environments. To stay resilient and compliant with industry standards, proactive security assessments are essential. This Case Study highlights how a banking customer benefited from a robust penetration testing engagement designed to uncover and mitigate vulnerabilities across their IT ecosystem.

Project Overview: Security Assessment for a Banking Customer

Duration: 4–6 Weeks
Scope of Testing – 30 IP addresses, 3 web applications, 2 cloud environments (AWS & Azure)
Vulnerabilities Identified – 15 critical, 20 high, 35 medium, 50 low-risk

The security assessment covered both infrastructure and applications, delivering a complete view of the bank’s risk posture.

Tools & Techniques Used

The project utilised a mix of industry-leading penetration testing tools and manual testing approaches to ensure accuracy and depth:

• Network Scanning – Nmap, Nessus
• Web Application Testing – OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite
• Exploitation Frameworks – Metasploit, Cobalt Strike
• Cloud Security Assessment – ScoutSuite, Prowler

This combination enabled comprehensive identification of security gaps across on-premise, web, and cloud environments.

Business Need

The primary goal was to ensure security and compliance of digital assets while meeting industry regulations such as SOC 2, GDPR, and ISO 27001. By proactively identifying vulnerabilities, the bank aimed to –

• Prevent exploitation by malicious actors
• Reduce risks of financial loss and reputational damage
• Strengthen overall cybersecurity posture

Solution Delivered

Our security team implemented a multi-layered approach to penetration testing:

1. Comprehensive Testing – Conducted both automated scans and manual testing across all in-scope systems and applications.
2. Detailed Reporting – Delivered a prioritised risk assessment report with clear, actionable remediation steps.
3. Collaborative Workshops – Guided IT and development teams through remediation, enhancing in-house capabilities.
4. Continuous Monitoring – Established ongoing monitoring to detect and respond to emerging vulnerabilities.

Key Accomplishments & Value Adds

• Compliance Achievement – Successfully aligned security practices with SOC 2 and other regulatory requirements, reducing compliance risks.
• Cost Saving – Prevented potential breaches that could have led to financial losses, reputational harm, and regulatory penalties.
• Increased Awareness – Conducted workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions to improve cybersecurity awareness across the organisation.
• Enhanced Client Trust – Demonstrated commitment to strong security, building greater trust with clients and stakeholders.

Conclusion

The project clearly demonstrates how effective penetration testing for banks can safeguard infrastructure, applications, and cloud environments. By combining advanced tools, expert manual testing, and proactive collaboration, organisations can not only achieve compliance but also strengthen their overall security resilience.

If your organisation’s cybersecurity programme lacks the cultural change needed to drive resilience and accountability, Northwick Cybersecurity can help.
Contact Northwick Cybersecurity to discuss how we can support your business.