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Event: GITEX Europe, May 21–23, 2025

Location: Berlin Exhibition Center, Cyprus Pavilion, Hall 1.2, Booth D40

Every day, attackers probe for misconfigurations and unpatched system weaknesses that can lead to multi-million-dollar breaches, lost customer trust, or steep regulatory fines. 

By partnering with specialists skilled in threat hunting and incident response with a structured risk-management and compliance roadmap, you’ll seal security gaps swiftly, turn audits into an efficient, ongoing practice, and free your IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives rather than chasing alerts.

From May 21–23, qsecure will be on the ground at GITEX Europe in Berlin. You’ll find us on the Cyprus Pavilion, at stand H1.2-D40, where our cybersecurity and GRC experts will be ready to discuss your toughest challenges and map out clear, actionable solutions.

Why is GITEX Europe a must-attend? 

GITEX Europe hosts decision-makers, engineers, and solution providers across the technology spectrum. Over three days, you’ll find:

• Live demonstrations of actual tools, not slide decks.
  
  
• Practical sessions where you can test solutions against your toughest security challenges.
  
  
• Access to experts who work on the front lines of industrial and enterprise defense.

Whether you’re comparing managed services or searching for a partner to audit your compliance posture, Berlin’s exhibition halls will help you make those decisions face-to-face.

What will qsecure be showcasing? 

At Booth H1.2-D40, our team will run continuous demonstrations of:

Penetration testing: Simulated attacks on your network, applications, and endpoints to pinpoint exploitable flaws, followed by a clear, prioritized fix plan.

Red Team Operations: Full-scope adversary simulations (reconnaissance, phishing, lateral movement) to test your detection and response capabilities under real-world conditions.

Vulnerability Assessment & Management: Continuous discovery and risk-based analysis of vulnerabilities, with an actionable register tracked through remediation to demonstrate measurable progress.

Incident Response Planning & Exercises: Complete playbooks and tabletop drills that validate your protocols and communication paths, plus concise after-action reports with next-step recommendations.

GRC (Governance, Risk & Compliance) Services

Alongside our offensive-security capabilities, qsecure offers a structured GRC practice to keep your organization audit-ready:

• Regulatory Gap Assessments: We benchmark your policies, controls, and processes against GDPR, NIS2, ISO 27001, and sector-specific standards, highlighting exactly where you fall short.
  
  
• Policy & Procedure Suites: Have access to our library of modular policy templates, aligned with best practices and easily customizable to your risk profile.
  
  
• Continuous Compliance Monitoring: Dashboards track control status, audit findings, and remediation progress, turning auditing from a one-off event into an ongoing, transparent process.

Whether you need a one-time compliance review or a multi-year risk management partnership, our GRC experts will build a roadmap that balances practical resource planning with rigorous standards adherence.

Meet The qsecure Team

Michael Nicolaou, Founder & CEO of qsecure, will be on-site throughout GITEX Europe. With over two decades of experience in enterprise cybersecurity and industrial control systems, Michael has led engagements across the energy, manufacturing, and utilities sectors, helping organizations withstand complex, multi-vector attacks while achieving high-level compliance.

Stop by to introduce yourself, share your current priorities, and get his take on emerging threats in your sector.

How to Make the Most of Your Visit?

1. Book a Private Briefing
   Reserve a 30-minute slot with Michael Nicolaou or one of our lead security architects:
   
   
2. Stop by for Q&A Sessions
   No appointment needed; our engineers will be available throughout the day to answer your technical questions, review architecture diagrams, and debate best practices, all in real time.
   
   
3. Pick Up Your Cybersecurity & GRC Resource Pack
   Leave with actionable artifacts: penetration testing checklists, red team planning guides, compliance policy snippets, and incident response playbooks that you can adapt immediately.

Why Organizations Trust qsecure? 

• Decades of Joint Expertise: Decade-long track record of combining offensive security specialists with compliance veterans, aligning technical and governance strategies seamlessly.
  
  
• Industry-Specific Insight: From oil & gas refineries to pharmaceutical manufacturing lines, we understand the nuances of OT/ICS environments.
  
  
• Transparent Roadmaps: No unnecessary add-ons. You receive a clear, prioritized plan focused on closing real gaps and demonstrating measurable progress.
  
  
• Ongoing Support: From initial assessment through maturity planning, we stay alongside your team.

Our goal is simple: give you the tools and guidance to stop threats, pass audits, and free up your staff to focus on innovation.

Let's meet in Berlin

GITEX Europe 2025 is the ideal platform to compare leading cybersecurity and GRC partners side by side. Visit qsecure on the Cyprus Pavilion, Hall 1.2, Booth D40, to sift through vendor noise and walk away with a concrete plan for shoring up your defenses and simplifying compliance. 

Looking forward to meeting you in Berlin and charting the next steps toward a more secure, resilient future.

Cybercriminals relentlessly hunt for vulnerabilities in your security, often finding them far before businesses even realize they exist. 

That’s where penetration testing proves to be invaluable: helping organizations identify and eliminate vulnerabilities early on to prevent attackers from exploiting them.

In this guide, we’ll break down how hackers find weaknesses, how penetration testing services help mitigate risks, and why proactive security is essential.

Let’s get started. 

What is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing (pen testing) is a controlled cyberattack conducted by ethical hackers to simulate real-world threats. 

At its core, penetration testing is like hiring a locksmith to break into your house to show you where the locks are weak. It involves authorized attempts to breach your systems, networks, or applications, mimicking the tactics used by hackers.

But here’s the twist: while vulnerability assessments identify potential issues, penetration testing goes a step further. 

Think of it as the difference between spotting a crack in your wall and seeing if someone can actually climb through it.

This distinction is crucial because simply identifying vulnerabilities isn’t enough. You need to understand how they could be weaponized against you. 

That’s where ethical hacking comes in, a controlled, expert-led process designed to fortify your defenses.

Key Benefits of Penetration Testing:

• Helps meet compliance standards like GDPR, DORA, NIS2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.
• Strengthens network penetration testing defenses to prevent breaches.

Why Organizations Need Penetration Testing

By adopting a proactive approach like partnering with experts who specialize in network penetration testing, you’re taking control of your cybersecurity fate.

How Hackers Find Weaknesses in Your System

Hackers aren’t magicians; they’re methodical and operate differently from IT professionals. Instead of patching systems, they seek ways to break in. Their motivations range from financial gain to data theft and corporate espionage.

The Cyber Kill Chain: Steps Hackers Take

1. Scanning & Enumeration

Using automated tools for network penetration testing.

2. Exploitation

Once they’ve mapped out your defenses, they strike. Common techniques include phishing emails, brute-force password attacks, or exploiting outdated software.

Hackers don’t need sophisticated tools to succeed. Many breaches occur because simple vulnerabilities were overlooked. That’s why regular security vulnerability assessments and penetration testing are so critical. They help you spot these gaps before the bad guys do.

Penetration Testing Framework: How Experts Find Security Gaps

If you’ve ever wondered what happens during a penetration test, here’s the breakdown:

1. Exploitation: Ethical hackers attempt to breach systems using the same methods criminals would employ. The goal? To see how far they can go without detection.
2. Reporting: Finally, testers compile their findings into a detailed report. This includes not only what was discovered but also actionable recommendations for improvement.

While some organizations try to handle this internally, professional penetration testing services bring expertise and advanced tools that make all the difference.

Common Penetration Testing Methodologies

• OWASP Web Security Testing Guide: Guide for testing web application security.
• OWASP Mobile Application Security Testing Guide (MASTG): Comprehensive manual for mobile app security testing and reverse engineering
• TIBER-EU: European framework for threat intelligence-based ethical red-teaming / penetration testing. 

Types of Penetration Testing

• Network Penetration Testing – Simulates attacks on company networks, both externally and internally.
• Mobile Application Testing – Identifies vulnerabilities in mobile applications and platforms.

Key Differences: Penetration Testing vs. Vulnerability Assessment

While both contribute to security, penetration testing services provide a hands-on security penetration testing approach that mimics real attacks.

Benefits of Professional Penetration Testing Services

Going it alone can be tempting, especially for smaller teams. But DIY approaches often fall short. Professional penetration testing services, like those offered by QSecure, deliver several key advantages:

1. Expertise: Certified testers bring years of experience and up-to-date knowledge.
2. Comprehensive Coverage: All bases covered, from surface-level issues to hidden risks.
3. Actionable Insights: Reports aren’t just lists of problems; they come with clear guidance on how to fix them.

For businesses serious about cybersecurity, outsourcing to specialists is a smart move.

Ethical hacking techniques (automated and manual)

Automated vs. Manual Penetration Testing

There is no such thing as automated penetration testing. It is just a buzzword for a glorified vulnerability scan. A large portion of a penetration test is done manually, in which human ethical hackers think outside the box, uncovering flaws that scanners miss.

Why Businesses Need Professional Penetration Testing Services

Shockingly, 60% of data breaches occur due to unpatched vulnerabilities, flaws that could have been identified and mitigated through proactive measures like penetration testing. These statistics are a stark warning for businesses of all sizes. Cybercriminals are relentless, and they’re actively scanning networks for weak points. 

Without professional intervention, your organization is essentially leaving the door unlocked.

Choosing the Right Penetration Testing Provider

What to Look for in a Penetration Testing Provider

Experience in Penetration Testing: A provider should have a proven track record of identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities across diverse environments. Ask for case studies or testimonials that demonstrate their expertise.

Expertise in Compliance and Vulnerability Assessment Services: If your business operates in regulated industries, compliance is non-negotiable. Your provider should understand standards like GDPR, DORA, PCI-DSS, and others, ensuring your tests align with legal requirements.

Why is QSecure the best choice? 

When it comes to protecting your business, settling for anything less than the best isn’t an option. QSecure is renowned for its penetration testing services, delivering unmatched value through:

• Personalized penetration testing services for businesses of all sizes.
• Certified ethical hacking professionals with hands-on experience.
• A proven track record of top-quality penetration testing services with customer testimonials to back it up. 
• Simple, clear written reports that help C-level executives and board members understand the associated risks.
• Advanced knowledge acquired through training programs, studying the latest tactics, techniques, procedures, and research work performed in-house.

Final Thoughts

Hackers are always searching for weaknesses, and if they find yours first, the consequences can be catastrophic. Penetration testing flips the script, giving you the upper hand in this high-stakes game. It’s not just about avoiding breaches; it’s about building resilience, protecting your reputation, and ensuring long-term success.

QSecure is heading to Athens for Beyond Expo 2025. From April 4-6, some of the brightest minds in tech will gather to explore what’s next. This isn’t just another industry event. It’s a proving ground for the future.

We will be at the national Cyprus pavilion.

CDMA|QSecure participated in this event during "Technology's Impact on Society and Business Around the World" session, where Michael Nicolaou presented how the global lockdown impacted our business, how QSecure adapted to the crisis and what are the plans as the world returns back to normal.

Watch as a certified ethical hacker breaks into 3 computers in just minutes

We are delighted to join our friends from RUNESEC to present a joint talk on Zygos webinar with the title "Cyber ​​Security in a Pandemic Year - Is Your Law Office Ready? ". The webinar will be in the Greek language.

CDMA|QSecure participated in this event during "Technology's Impact on Society and Business Around the World" session, where Michael Nicolaou presented how the global lockdown impacted our business, how QSecure adapted to the crisis and what are the plans as the world returns back to normal.

When the pandemic first hit last year and we all rushed to work from home, some businesses thrived. Typically, these were the ones that had already got a robust IT infrastructure in place for their people to work anywhere, at any time, on any device. Productivity and profits can and should be improved when your business prioritises its technology.