Grey-Box Pentesting: The Best Strategy for Testing

Cyberattacks are rising faster than ever before. In 2024, global cybercrime costs exceeded $10.5 trillion USD, and experts predict this figure will climb to $23.84 trillion by 2027. The United States alone remains the most targeted country, accounting for nearly 46% of all global cyberattacks... more than any other nation.

Despite this, 43% of organizations still admit they’re underprepared for a cyber incident, and only one in three businesses conduct penetration tests regularly. Yet, with ransomware striking every 14 seconds, proactive testing is no longer optional: it’s essential.

What is the Definition of Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing (otherwise known as ethical hacking) is a simulated cyberattack designed to identify vulnerabilities in your organization’s systems, networks, or applications before attackers do.

Performed by certified ethical hackers, penetration tests mimic the techniques and mindset of real adversaries to expose weaknesses, misconfigurations, and potential exploit paths.

At Packetlabs, our team uses advanced manual testing to create a detailed attack narrative that showcases how an adversary could infiltrate your systems.

Industry best practices recommend conducting a penetration test at least once per year, or after major infrastructure or application changes, to stay ahead of evolving threats.

Types of Penetration Testing

Not all penetration tests are created equal. Depending on your goals, budget, and available system knowledge, organizations typically choose between black-box, grey-box, and white-box testing.

Here’s how they differ:

Why Grey-Box Testing is (Often) the Most Effective Approach

Grey-box testing provides the best balance between realism and insight.

Testers begin with limited internal knowledge, simulating an attacker who has breached the perimeter or gained access through phishing or credential theft.

This approach allows for:

• Simulated insider threats to evaluate data access and privilege misuse

• Authenticated testing of applications and APIs

• Efficient testing timelines compared to full black-box engagements

• Deeper coverage without the cost and time of a full white-box test

Recent data shows that 74% of all successful breaches involve human or credential misuse, making grey-box pentesting one of the most practical strategies for understanding real-world exposure.

The Modern Threat Landscape

Recent studies highlight that:

• 75% of organizations experienced at least one successful cyberattack in the past 12 months.

• 40% of breaches originate from exploited vulnerabilities that could have been prevented through routine testing.

• The average breach cost has now surpassed $4.88 million USD, a record high according to IBM’s 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report.

These numbers reinforce one truth: proactive testing isn’t just a technical exercise; it’s a business imperative.

Partner with Packetlabs

The Packetlabs Penetration Testing team is made up of highly qualified, OSCP-certified ethical hackers who understand both how to strengthen and challenge your defenses.

Our deliverables include:

• Easy-to-read executive reports with clear business impact analysis

• Technical findings with validated exploit evidence

• Actionable remediation guidance to strengthen your cybersecurity posture

With 9.5/10 client satisfaction and 100% in-house testing, Packetlabs is trusted by organizations across North America to uncover the vulnerabilities others miss.

Stay Ahead of Cyber Threats

Whether you’re testing your external infrastructure, applications, or employees’ readiness, annual penetration testing is one of the most effective ways to reduce breach risk and meet compliance standards (ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR).

Contact the Packetlabs team today to discuss the best penetration testing strategy for your organization and ensure you stay one step ahead of the next attack.