Question 1

What is physical penetration testing?

Accepted Answer

Physical penetration testing is an authorised, simulated attack on a facility's physical security controls — locks, access control systems, perimeter defences, staff behaviour, and surveillance — to identify exploitable weaknesses before real-world adversaries do. Unlike a standard security audit, physical penetration testing involves covert, hands-on attempts to gain unauthorised access, replicating the methods of genuine threat actors.

Question 2

What is physical red teaming?

Accepted Answer

Physical red teaming is a full-scope adversarial simulation that replicates the multi-vector tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) of sophisticated real-world threat actors against an organisation's physical security. Unlike a focused penetration test, red teaming combines physical intrusion, social engineering, surveillance, and process exploitation in a single, holistic engagement designed to test an organisation's entire security posture.

Question 3

What is the difference between red teaming and penetration testing?

Accepted Answer

Penetration testing is typically scoped to specific systems, entry points, or controls and measures whether they can be bypassed. Red teaming is broader and objective-driven — the goal is to achieve a specific outcome (access a server room, remove an asset, reach a restricted area) using any available method. Red teaming tests the organisation's overall detection and response capability, not just individual controls.

Question 4

How often should organisations be tested for physical security?

Accepted Answer

As a baseline, organisations should conduct a physical security assessment at least annually. However, high-risk environments — critical infrastructure, data centres, financial institutions, defence-adjacent facilities — benefit from assessments every six months or following any significant change: new premises, staff restructuring, system upgrades, or following an incident. Threat landscapes evolve continuously; assessments should reflect that.

Question 5

Can security guards be bypassed, and how is that tested safely?

Accepted Answer

Yes — human factors are consistently among the most exploitable vulnerabilities in physical security. ARX Dynamics tests guard force effectiveness through covert social engineering scenarios designed to expose procedural weaknesses, inadequate verification processes, and susceptibility to manipulation — all without endangering staff or creating a genuine security incident. All testing is conducted under a formal authorisation agreement with the client.

Question 6

How are access control systems assessed?

Accepted Answer

Access control assessments involve testing the full lifecycle of entry-point security: card reader vulnerabilities, tailgating and piggybacking opportunities, credential cloning, physical bypass of locking mechanisms, emergency exit exploitation, and the procedural discipline of staff in enforcing access policies. ARX Dynamics evaluates both the technology layer and the human and process layers simultaneously, since weaknesses in any one layer can defeat the others.