Penetration testing in Montreal and Laval — see your network the way an attacker sees it
A penetration test (or pentest) simulates a real cyberattack against your infrastructure to find — and fix — your weaknesses before a real attacker exploits them. Not a theoretical report: real intrusion attempts, carried out by certified experts, right here in Quebec.
What is a penetration test?
A penetration test is a simulated, authorized attack on your systems. Our ethical hackers use the same techniques, tools and logic as a real attacker — but within a controlled framework, with clear rules of engagement and your written authorization.
The goal is not to tell you whether you are "compliant on paper". It is to answer the only question that truly matters to management:
"Could someone actually compromise our infrastructure?"
An audit tells you that you have an alarm. A penetration test checks whether a burglar can get in anyway. Those are two very different things — and that is exactly what we help you untangle.
Looking for a documentary compliance review instead? See our IT security audit.
How does a penetration test work?
Every engagement follows a rigorous methodology, aligned with recognized frameworks (NIST, OWASP) and governed by our ITIL 4 practices.
1
Scoping and rules of engagement
Together we define the scope: which systems, which targets, which limits. Nothing is tested without your written authorization.
2
Reconnaissance
We map your attack surface: exposed services, accounts, dark web leaks, blind spots.
3
Exploitation
We actually try to get in: technical flaws, misconfigurations, weak passwords, privilege escalation.
4
Post-exploitation
Once inside, how far can we go? We document the complete attack paths, without disrupting your operations.
5
Detailed report
The list of vulnerabilities, ranked by criticality, with the precise fixes to apply.
6
Debriefing with an expert
We sit down with you to prioritize the fixes and build a concrete action plan. Not just a PDF.
Audit, Blue Team, Red Team, Purple Team: which one do you really need?
Not every approach answers the same question. Picture your infrastructure as your house. Four very different ways to check whether someone can get in:
In short: the audit and the Blue Team have their place, but only the Red Team and the Purple Team answer management's real question. That is where a penetration test becomes indispensable.
Which approach answers your question?
|
Audit |
Blue Team |
Red Team |
Purple Team |
Approach |
Documentary |
Observation |
Offensive |
Offensive + defensive |
Real intrusion attempts? |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Finds exploitable vulnerabilities? |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Measures your detection capability? |
Partial |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
"Can we be compromised?" |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
"Would we see it coming?" |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Only one approach answers both questions at once: the Purple Team.
Why trust UpSystems with your penetration test?
Certified experts, right here in Quebec
A local team in Laval that understands the reality of SMBs in Montreal and the South Shore — not an anonymous subcontractor overseas.
NIST-aligned and Law 25 ready
Our tests rely on recognized frameworks and help you demonstrate due diligence in protecting personal information, a key requirement of Quebec's Law 25.
A report that leads to action
Vulnerabilities ranked by criticality, precise fixes, and an in-person debriefing to prioritize everything. You are never left alone with a PDF.
ITIL 4 methodology
The same service-management rigour we apply to all of our managed IT engagements.
What you receive
- A detailed report, vulnerabilities ranked by criticality
- The attack paths reproduced and clearly explained
- Concrete, prioritized recommendations
- A debriefing with an expert to build your action plan
- Support to demonstrate your Law 25 compliance
businesses supported
client satisfaction rate
tickets resolved
Stop guessing whether your network is secure. Verify it.
A real attacker won't wait. Book a penetration test with an UpSystems expert now and find your weaknesses while there is still time to fix them.
Frequently asked questions
The questions our clients ask most often before a penetration test.
An audit verifies on paper that your protections exist and are compliant. A penetration test actually tries to get around them, the way an attacker would. The audit answers "are we compliant?"; the penetration test answers "can we be compromised?". The two are complementary — see our security audit.
Most SMB engagements run about two weeks from kickoff to delivery of the report, depending on the scope we define together.
No. Every test is governed by rules of engagement you approve in advance. We work within agreed windows, without harming your data or your production systems.
Yes. Law 25 requires reasonable security measures to protect personal information. A penetration test documents your due diligence and identifies the weaknesses to fix.
At least once a year, and after any major change to your infrastructure (migration, new application, merger).
Talk to a penetration testing expert
Describe your environment in a few words. An UpSystems expert will call you back to scope the test and recommend the approach that answers your question.