Adding Pentesting to Your Managed Service Stack – The Smart (and Profitable) Move

If you're running an MSP, chances are you've got cybersecurity services on the menu. Firewalls, endpoint protection, maybe even SOC monitoring. But there’s one big gap many MSPs overlook or don't optimize– penetration testing.

You know your clients need it and odds are you've done engagements in the past. Cyber insurance providers ask for it, compliance regulations require it, and SMBs are starting to be required to show proof that their networks are secure.

Manual penetration testing sounds expensive, complicated, and like something you need a CISSP wizard to pull off.

That’s where K1C comes in.

We’re built for MSPs with SMB clients, providing affordable, manual penetration testing that scales with your business – and makes you look like a cybersecurity hero.

Why Manual Pentesting Beats the Scans

Most MSPs either skip penetration testing altogether or offer automated vulnerability scans disguised as pentests. Those scans are fine for catching low-hanging fruit, but real attackers aren’t running Nessus, Vonahi, or Horizon3 and calling it a day.

Here’s why manual penetration testing is the upgrade your stack needs:

• Automated scans miss complex vulnerabilities – Real hackers exploit business logic flaws, chained vulnerabilities, and configuration errors that scanners just don’t catch.
• Simulated real-world attacks – Manual pentesting mimics actual threat actors, showing exactly how far someone can get into your client’s network.
• More valuable reporting – Instead of a mile-long list of false positives, you get actionable insights on real risks, helping your clients prioritize and fix what matters.

With K1C, you can offer real penetration testing without hiring a red team or dedicating your top engineers to the task.

How K1C Makes Pentesting Easy for MSPs

Here’s the thing – K1C was built for resellers.

We know SMB clients aren’t Fortune 500 companies with unlimited budgets. Our penetration testing services are designed to fit the needs (and budgets) of 10-25 user environments that MSPs typically serve.

Why MSPs Love Partnering with K1C:

1. White-Labeled for Your Brand – Resell our services under your name and expand your security offerings without doing the heavy lifting.
2. Manual Testing at Automated Prices – We keep costs down by focusing on the most critical attack surfaces, delivering impactful results without enterprise-level pricing.
3. Scalable for SMB Clients – Whether your client needs a quick internal pentest or external perimeter testing, we tailor engagements to fit their size and risk level.
4. Free Remediation Testing – After your clients fix vulnerabilities, we re-test for free to ensure the job is done. It’s a value-add your clients will love.
5. Fast Turnaround – Get results in under a week, keeping projects moving and clients happy.

Making It Part of Your Offering

Adding penetration testing to your stack doesn’t have to mean overhauling your services. Here’s how successful MSPs are folding it in:

• Security Bundles – Offer pentesting as part of your premium cybersecurity package alongside vulnerability scans and endpoint protection.
• Compliance Audits – When clients face PCI DSS, HIPAA, or SOC 2 requirements, bundle penetration testing as part of the process.
• Annual Reviews – Make pentesting part of yearly IT audits, giving clients peace of mind (and meeting insurance requirements).
• Incident Response Add-On – After an incident, offer penetration testing to validate the environment and prevent future breaches.

The best part? It’s recurring revenue. Clients who test once are likely to sign up for quarterly or annual re-testing, giving you predictable, ongoing income.

Why SMBs Need This (Even if They Don’t Know It Yet)

Your SMB clients might not think they’re big enough to be hacked – but that’s exactly why they’re targets.

• 43% of cyberattacks target SMBs – but only 14% are prepared to defend themselves.
• Cyber insurance often requires penetration testing for policy renewals.
• Client trust is at stake – One breach can destroy relationships with customers and partners.

By offering manual penetration testing, you help your clients stay ahead of threats—turning cybersecurity from a reactive cost into a proactive investment.

Why K1C?

K1C isn’t a giant pentesting firm chasing enterprise clients. We’re laser-focused on MSPs and SMBs.

• Affordable, manual testing that won’t price you out of engagements.
• Built to scale with MSPs – Offer penetration testing to 10 clients or 100, we grow with you.
• Free Retest – We retest the environement within 90 days of the initial test to ensure all remediation steps have succesfully been implemented.

Ready to boost your security offerings and bring real penetration testing to your clients?
👉 Let’s schedule a scoping call and see how K1C can fit into your stack.

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