This list covers ten physical security penetration testing firms for organizations that want to test how well their buildings, access controls and staff stand up to real-world intrusion attempts.
Even though our world is now highly digital and companies work hard to protect against DDoS attacks, ransomware, and data leaks, physical security still matters.
Servers are still kept in physical rooms, and sensitive data can be at risk if, for example, a door is left open.
Therefore, the importance of physical penetration testing shouldn’t be overlooked. Just as digital systems need testing, physical barriers should be checked, too.
If the protection of your facilities is a concern for you, you’re in the right place. Below, we’ll take a closer look at some of the top physical security penetration testing firms.
Physical Penetration Testing Firms At A Glance
1. Firm
Location
Founded
Team size
1. White Knight Labs
Guys Mills, Grand Rapids, US
2017
Up to 49 experts
2. CyberGlobal
Atlanta, Boston, Dallas and other US locations
2017
Up to 249 experts
3. Tranchulas
San Francisco, US; London, UK; Islamabad, Pakistan and more
White Knight Labs is the best security penetration testing company in Pennsylvania. They specialize in both cyber and physical penetration testing, so it’s a wise choice for organizations that want to secure every layer of their defenses under one roof. Their client list ranges from fast-moving tech startups to Fortune 1000 giants, all looking for proof that their systems, facilities, and staff can withstand pressure.
The specialists at White Knight Labs are trained in covert entry, surveillance evasion, and social engineering. They test organizations around the clock, during the day to see how well employees follow security procedures, and at night to test how systems react to stealthy intrusions or alarms. After each engagement, clients receive a detailed report explaining exactly what was done, how defenses performed, and what improvements are needed.
CyberGlobal is a security firm that knows no borders, literally. They work across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. This has made CyberGlobal trusted by over a thousand organizations, including well-known brands like Red Bull, Mercedes-Benz, the NHS, Orange, and Emirates.
The team at CyberGlobal combines cyber and physical penetration testing to help clients protect both their digital assets and real-world facilities. Their specialists use the same tactics that real attackers rely on: lockpicking, key card cloning, impersonation, tailgating, and shoulder surfing. So, if you’re looking to hire physical security penetration testing experts in any of the cities they operate in, consider CyberGlobal.
Tranchulas is a global security company that provides the best penetration testing services in San Francisco. Their services cover the full spectrum of security needs, from managed security operations to high-stakes penetration testing and compliance consulting. Over the last 19 years, Tranchulas has served 1,683 customers, trained 3,719 students, and opened five offices around the world.
When it comes to physical protection, their team uses cutting-edge tools, like specialized lockpicks, RFID duplicators, wireless analyzers, and covert recording devices, to simulate realistic infiltration attempts. Beyond the technical side, Tranchulas also focuses on people. They evaluate how employees respond under pressure and identify where training or procedures fall short.
Services & expertise: Penetration testing services, compliance services, red teaming, DevSecOps, virtual CISO, AI security, offensive cyber initiative
Location: San Francisco, US; London, UK; Islamabad, Pakistan; Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Melbourne, Australia
Founded: 2006
Team size: Up to 50 employees
Portfolio: Balfour Beatty, Cobham, HSBC, and others
NaviSec is a security partner that has helped organizations protect their digital and physical assets for over 10 years. Their goal is to let their clients focus on their core work, while NaviSec customizes security plans based on the size, risks, and goals of each particular business.
Their team of experts works around the clock to strengthen defenses, identify weaknesses, and implement practical, real-world solutions. Armed with advanced tools and years of experience, NaviSec can tackle your complex data security challenges across industries, whether you’re a startup or an established enterprise.
Secmentis is a security company that operates across more than 45 cities in the United States. They’re on a mission to stay one step ahead of hackers “by outfoxing them in their own game.” The company offers a full range of offensive security services that combine physical and digital penetration testing, risk assessment, and detailed vulnerability reporting.
The team thinks like adversaries, hunts for weak points, and shows exactly how these vulnerabilities could be exploited in real life. At the end of each cooperation, Secmentis clients get clear reports, including a summary of the main risks and detailed advice on how to fix problems. If you need to hire physical security penetration testing experts that serve clients across the United States, Secmentis is an excellent option.
CISO Global is a team of experienced specialists that takes a holistic view of each client’s environment. They consider technology, processes, and people to build a complete security strategy. Thanks to their approach, CISO Global has been featured in major outlets including Forbes, CNBC, The CyberWire, and TechRepublic.
Using a risk-focused method, the company does penetration tests that find the most important weaknesses, both digital and physical. Their physical test simulations spot problems, such as unmonitored access points, faulty door systems, or inconsistent guard procedures. These exercises help companies understand how well their physical defenses work in real-life situations.
RedLegg is the best security penetration testing company in Chicago. They have over 15 years in business and a strong reputation—in 2024 alone, they handled more than 250,000 cases and detected over 12,000 threats.
RedLegg’s physical penetration testing program gives organizations a full picture of their security posture. The process begins with remote reconnaissance, where their team uses advanced OSINT techniques to spot potential entry points and assess how visible or vulnerable a facility might be. Then, their experts conduct a physical reconnaissance and simulate real-world attacks.
Optiv is a well-known name in cybersecurity, recognized by Gartner, Forrester, and IDC. Their team of more than 2,500 experts offers the best penetration testing services in Denver, helping organizations protect their full potential. Their specialists find and prioritize security gaps to fix the most important issues quickly and effectively.
Optiv’s physical security services are customized to match each organization’s layout, operations, and goals. These services are part of a complete protection plan that can integrate with Optiv’s broader attack surface management offerings. This gives businesses a full view of their defenses, both online and physical.
Portfolio: Privacy improvement for a food & beverage leader, digital transformation for a Fortune 500 bank, cloud security for a large restaurant group, and others
Schellman is one of the best physical security penetration testing firms in Florida, as they run thousands of security projects each year. The firm pairs seasoned leadership with hands-on testers: a director manages scope, a manager handles deadlines, and a dedicated tester performs the assessment.
Physical penetration testing is customized for each case: Schellman agrees on rules of engagement, helps define realistic scenarios, and documents every step with photos and video evidence.
Services & expertise: Physical penetration testing, SOC & attestations, payment card assessments, ISO certifications, privacy assessments, federal assessments, healthcare assessments, cybersecurity assessments, crypto and digital trust, Schellman training
Location: Tampa, US
Founded: 2002
Team size: Up to 500 employees
Portfolio: Walmart, Box, Iron Mountain, and others
TrollEye Security is a security firm made up of experienced professionals with top certifications like eWPTX, CCIE, GPEN, and CompTIA Security+. In each client collaboration, they use Command Center, a central hub for bringing both their team and yours onto the same page. It simplifies complex workflows and ensures that each team member sees only what’s relevant to their role.
The company’s physical penetration testing services focus on replicating real-world threats, testing the limits of a facility’s defenses. TrollEye Security assesses server room security, attempts to connect through unsecured network jacks, intercepts electromagnetic waves, and even breaks RFID encryption.
Services & expertise: Penetration testing as a service (PTaaS), dark web analysis, DevSecOps as a service, managed SIEM & purple teaming
Location: Cumming, US
Founded: 2019
Team size: Up to 10 employees
Portfolio: General Bank of Canada and others
What A Physical Security Penetration Test Includes
A physical penetration test is an authorized attempt to get into your facilities the way a real intruder would, followed by a report on what worked and how to fix it. A typical engagement includes:
Scoping and rules of engagement: agreeing on target sites, allowed techniques, timing, emergency contacts and a signed authorization letter.
Reconnaissance: studying the site, entrances, badge designs, staff routines and publicly available information.
Access control testing: attempting to bypass locks, doors, gates, badge readers, alarms and cameras.
Social engineering: tailgating, pretexting as contractors or visitors, and testing how staff respond to unknown people.
Internal access objectives: trying to reach server rooms, network ports, sensitive documents or restricted areas once inside.
Reporting and debrief: a detailed report with evidence, findings ranked by risk, and practical recommendations for physical and procedural fixes.
How To Choose A Physical Penetration Testing Firm
Physical testing involves legal risk and real people, so experience and professionalism matter as much as technical skill.
Physical testing experience: ask how many physical engagements the firm runs each year, not only network or application tests.
Coverage: check that the firm can operate at your sites, especially if you have locations in several cities or countries.
Legal safeguards: confirm they use written authorization, clear rules of engagement and insurance.
Combined testing: some firms can combine physical, social engineering and network testing into one red team exercise.
Report quality: ask for a sample report and check that recommendations are specific and prioritized.
Physical penetration testing is an authorized, simulated break-in that checks how well an organization’s physical security controls work. Testers try to get past doors, locks, badge readers, guards and staff to reach sensitive areas or assets. The findings show where controls, procedures or staff awareness need to improve.
How much does a physical security penetration test cost?
The cost depends on the number and size of sites, travel, the techniques in scope, how many days of testing are needed and the depth of reporting. Single-site tests with a narrow scope cost much less than multi-site or combined red team engagements. Most firms quote a fixed price after a scoping call.
What is the difference between physical and external penetration testing?
Physical penetration testing targets buildings, access controls and people on site. External penetration testing targets internet-facing systems such as websites, VPNs, email servers and cloud services, looking for vulnerabilities an attacker could exploit remotely. Many organizations run both, since attackers often combine physical and digital methods.
Conclusion
Security experts, including those from the companies in this article, often recommend conducting physical penetration tests at least once a year. For organizations with higher risks, more frequent evaluations may be needed.
If you haven’t yet assessed your organization’s physical defenses, take a closer look at the top physical security penetration testing firms highlighted here and see what they can offer for your specific needs. The right partner will help you improve your security, lower risks, and feel confident that your defenses are strong, both online and offline.
If you want to feature your Physical Security Penetration Testing Firm on this list, email us or submit a form in the Top Choices section. After a thorough assessment, we’ll decide whether it’s a valuable addition.
