What is social engineering penetration testing and why is it important?

In a world where 98% of cyberattacks rely on social engineering tactics and the average organisation faces over 700 such attacks annually at an average cost of around $130 000 per incident, businesses are prioritising robust defences against these threats.

Social engineering penetration testing is a critical security assessment method designed to protect organisations from manipulation tactics like phishing, pretexting, and baiting.

This testing simulates a real-world social engineering attack to evaluate employees’ susceptibility to manipulation, uncovering vulnerabilities in human behaviour. By identifying these weak points, it provides essential education for employees, teaching them to recognise and resist such attacks.

Social engineering testing is the single best method for assessing and improving an organisation’s cyber resilience, ensuring enhanced security against these increasingly common and costly threats.

How does social engineering pentesting differ from traditional penetration testing?

Social engineering penetration testing differs significantly from traditional penetration testing in its focus and approach.

While traditional penetration testing targets technical vulnerabilities in an organisation’s IT systems – such as network configurations, software flaws, or misconfigured devices – social engineering testing focuses specifically on human vulnerabilities.

Its primary goal is to assess how employees respond to manipulation tactics commonly used in social engineering attacks, such as phishing emails, pretexting calls, or baiting scenarios.

By targeting the human element – often considered the weakest link in cybersecurity – social engineering penetration testing provides valuable insights into employee awareness and preparedness. This complements traditional testing, offering a comprehensive security strategy that addresses both technological and human vulnerabilities.

Read more about the human factor in cybersecurity:

• The human factor in cybersecurity: the greatest challenge. Part I
• The human factor in cybersecurity: the greatest challenge. Part 2

What types of organisations need social engineering testing services?

Social engineering pen tests can be used by organisations across all sectors, but they are especially crucial for those handling sensitive information. Industries such as finance, healthcare, technology, and government are prime targets for attackers due to the high value of the data they manage.

These organisations also face stringent regulatory requirements and significant reputational risks, making robust defenses against social engineering attacks essential.

By testing and improving employees’ ability to recognise and resist manipulation, social engineering tests help these organisations strengthen their human-based defenses, ensuring greater protection for critical data and compliance with security standards.

What are common techniques used in social engineering penetration tests?

Every social engineering pen test employs a range of techniques designed to mimic real-world attack scenarios (meaning to perform social engineering attacks) and assess an organisation’s vulnerability to human manipulation.

These techniques exploit natural human behaviours such as trust, curiosity, or fear, testing employees’ ability to recognise and respond to malicious tactics.

Some most common social engineering tactics used in social engineering pen testing include:

• Phishing attacks: deceptive emails or SMS messages designed to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information or clicking malicious links that lead to malware installations or fake login pages. Attackers may impersonate legitimate entities such as banks or popular service providers.
• Vishing: phone-based phishing where attackers pose as trusted individuals – such as tech support or government agents – to trick employees into divulging sensitive information like passwords, account details, or access codes.
• Baiting: attackers leave enticing items such as infected USB drives, external hard drives, or other media in public or office spaces. When an employee plugs in the device, malware is installed, compromising the system. Alternatively, attackers may offer free downloads or items in exchange for sensitive data, creating a sense of urgency or exclusivity.
• Smishing: a form of phishing using text messages (SMS) to lure victims into revealing personal information. The attacker may pose as a trusted source, such as a bank or service provider, asking the recipient to click on a link or call a phone number.
• Impersonation: attackers may physically or digitally impersonate someone the target trusts, such as a colleague, vendor, or senior executive. By exploiting the target’s trust, they may convince the employee to share confidential information or bypass security protocols.
• Pretexting: in pretexting, an attacker fabricates a story or scenario to manipulate an individual into disclosing private information. This could involve pretending to be from HR, IT support, or another department to justify the request for personal details like login credentials or access codes.
• Tailgating: this technique involves an unauthorised individual following an authorised person into a secure area, such as a building or data center, without proper access credentials. The attacker relies on the employee’s courtesy or distraction to gain entry.
• Physical intrusion attempts: attackers may attempt to gain access to physical premises, either through tailgating or by posing as contractors or visitors. The goal is to test physical security protocols, such as access card systems, and assess employee vigilance in identifying and challenging unauthorised individuals.

What are the goals and benefits of a social engineering penetration test?

The primary goals of a social engineering penetration test are to assess employee awareness, identify weaknesses in security training, and evaluate how well an organisation can detect and respond to manipulation attempts.

Key benefits of social engineering penetration testing include:

Identifying vulnerabilities

Helps identify vulnerabilities within an organisation’s human defences by simulating real-world social engineering attacks. It highlights gaps in security controls related to employee behaviour and decision-making.

Measuring security awareness

Provides insights into the level of security awareness among employees, allowing organisations to assess the effectiveness of their training programs and identify areas for improvement.

Raising employee awareness

Serves as an eye-opening experience for employees, educating them on the risks of social engineering and creating a culture of vigilance and proactivity in recognising and reporting suspicious activities.

Mitigating risks

Proactively identifies vulnerabilities, enabling organisations to take necessary steps to mitigate risks by strengthening security controls, policies, and procedures.

Improving incident response

Provides valuable feedback on how employees respond to simulated social engineering attacks, helping organisations refine their incident response plans and improve their ability to detect and react to real-world threats.

Compliance and regulations

Helps organisations meet compliance requirements by demonstrating a commitment to security and protecting sensitive data, particularly in industries with stringent regulatory frameworks.

Building stakeholder confidence

Shows customers, partners, and investors that the organisation is taking proactive steps to protect data and privacy, thereby enhancing stakeholder trust and confidence.

Cost-effective risk management

Helps organisations avoid financial losses and reputational damage from successful social engineering attacks by addressing vulnerabilities before they are exploited, offering a more cost-effective approach to risk management.

What are common vulnerabilities identified in social engineering pen tests?

Social engineering penetration tests often uncover a range of common vulnerabilities that highlight gaps in an organisation’s human defenses.

These vulnerabilities include:

• Lack of awareness – employees failing to recognise phishing emails, suspicious phone calls, or other manipulation tactics.
• Failure to follow verification protocols – employees neglecting to verify the identities of individuals or requests, making them susceptible to impersonation.
• Susceptibility to phishing – falling victim to deceptive emails, SMS, or phone calls that manipulate employees into revealing sensitive information or taking harmful actions.
• Inadequate incident reporting – delays or failures in reporting suspected social engineering attempts, which can hinder timely mitigation efforts.
• Over-reliance on trust – employees overly trusting unfamiliar individuals, especially those presenting convincing pretexts or authority figures.
• Weak physical security practices – allowing unauthorised individuals to gain access to restricted areas or failing to challenge suspicious behaviour on-site.

What are the outcomes of successful social engineering tests?

What does a successful social engineering penetration test mean – does it indicate that employees were deceived, exposing weaknesses in security awareness and verification processes, or that they successfully identified and resisted the attack, demonstrating strong security practices?

From an organisational perspective, of course, the ideal scenario is that no one falls for the attempt. However, regardless of the outcome, these tests provide valuable insights for the internal security teams.

When vulnerabilities are exposed – such as gaps in employee awareness or weak verification practices – organisations receive detailed reports and tailored recommendations on how to strengthen human defences. Even when employees successfully resist manipulation, the test results help refine training programmes and reinforce effective security behaviours.

Additionally, the tests help refine incident response processes, ensuring quicker and more effective mitigation of social engineering threats. Improved training content developed from test results equips employees to better recognise and resist manipulation tactics. Ultimately, these outcomes lead to a more resilient organisation capable of defending against real-world social engineering attacks.

Make sure you are protected against social engineering attacks!

To ensure your business is protected against social engineering attacks, partner with experts who understand the evolving threat landscape. At Future Processing, we specialise in conducting comprehensive social engineering testing tailored to your needs, protecting your organisation from all angles.

Contact us now to schedule your social engineering penetration test and take the first step towards a more secure future!