Not sure which type of penetration testing is right for your application or game? Learn the differences between black box, grey box, and white box penetration testing—how each one works, when to use them, and what to expect from Cyrex’s industry-grade testing methods.

What Is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing, also known as ethical hacking, is a simulated cyberattack against your system to identify security vulnerabilities. At Cyrex, our security engineers thoroughly test your game or application to uncover any weaknesses before malicious actors do.

Without proper penetration testing, you risk data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. That’s why we offer black box, grey box, and white box testing—each suited to different stages and needs of development.

Black Box Penetration Testing

Black box testing mimics real-world hacking scenarios where the tester has no prior knowledge of your system. Our ethical hackers are given only the public-facing application and attempt to exploit vulnerabilities from an outsider’s perspective.

• No access to source code, technical documentation, or infrastructure
• Extended reconnaissance phase to understand system behavior
• Best for simulating real-world attacker behavior

We recommend this method as a “reality check,” but it's less efficient due to the limited scope. Real attackers have time; we work on strict timelines to deliver results without leaving vulnerabilities open.

White Box Penetration Testing

White box testing is the most comprehensive and technical of the three. Our team is provided with full access to your source code, API documentation, tech stack, and infrastructure details.

• Enables in-depth code-level vulnerability analysis
• Validates both security and functionality
• Ideal for security compliance or post-development audits

Although we maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, we understand that sharing source code may not be suitable for all clients.

Grey Box Penetration Testing

Grey box testing strikes the perfect balance between security insight and realistic attack simulation. It is the most popular and recommended penetration testing method among our clients.

• Partial documentation provided (e.g., API access, number of endpoints)
• Faster execution compared to black box testing
• Provides accurate scoping and quoting for testing

With key system insights, our engineers bypass the time-consuming reconnaissance phase and dive straight into rigorous testing using our pair hacking methodology.

Our Unique Approach: Pair Hacking

At Cyrex, we take ethical hacking seriously. That’s why we assign a minimum of two security engineers per penetration test. Most security companies use a single tester—our method offers better efficiency and coverage.

• Simulates how real-world hacker groups operate
• Increases creativity and testing depth
• Validates findings in real-time

By working in pairs or teams, our engineers can test assumptions, cross-verify vulnerabilities, and cover more ground in less time—maximizing the value and impact of your penetration test.

Ready to Secure Your Application?

If you’re ready to see how secure your system truly is, explore our security services, contact us, or review anonymised penetration test reports to see how we deliver results.

Penetration Testing FAQs

What’s the difference between black, grey, and white box testing?

Black box testing simulates an external attacker with no internal knowledge. Grey box provides limited internal access like APIs, while white box gives full system visibility including source code.

Which type of penetration test is best for my business?

Grey box is typically best for cost-efficiency and effective testing. Choose white box for full audits and black box to simulate outsider threats.

Is penetration testing safe?

Yes. Our team uses secure, controlled methods and adheres to strict ethical and legal guidelines to ensure your system remains safe during testing.

How often should I perform penetration tests?

We recommend running penetration tests at least once a year or after major changes to your infrastructure, codebase, or system integrations.