Wireless Infrastructure Resilience Testing

Wi-Fi network penetration testing is an advanced form of security assessment that simulates real-world attack scenarios to evaluate the resilience of an organization’s wireless infrastructure against compromise. It goes beyond testing encryption or passwords—the goal is to comprehensively verify whether vulnerabilities in the wireless network could be exploited to gain access to internal systems and threaten the confidentiality or availability of data.

For regulated organizations, particularly in the financial sector, Wi-Fi testing can form part of a broader security assurance framework aligned with ICT resilience requirements under regulations such as DORA or NIS2. These frameworks require regular vulnerability testing and verification of both technical and organizational security controls across the entire infrastructure.

Why test Wi-Fi networks?

Configuration checks alone are not sufficient – the resilience of Wi-Fi networks should also be verified through controlled security testing under realistic conditions.

Testing benefits	Description
Simulation of real attacks	Verification of resilience against spoofing, deauthentication, handshake cracking and Evil Twin attacks.
Verification of technical security	Testing encryption, network segmentation and traffic isolation.
Detection of configuration errors	Analysis of access point configurations and related security policies.
Assessment of lateral movement risks	Determining whether an attacker could pivot from Wi-Fi access into the internal infrastructure.
Testing incident response capabilities	Evaluation of how effectively security teams can detect and respond to attacks originating from the wireless layer.
Identification of human-factor risks	For example, employees connecting to unauthorized or rogue wireless networks.

What requirements does DORA set for Wi-Fi network penetration testing?

Under the DORA framework, Wi-Fi network testing falls under “basic testing”, meaning mandatory routine infrastructure security testing. The regulation expects organizations to meet the following requirements:

Regular testing of access networks, particularly if they provide connectivity to systems supporting critical or important business functions.
Testing after significant changes, such as the deployment of new access points, configuration changes, or relocation to new premises.
Documentation of identified vulnerabilities, including recommendations for remediation and subsequent verification through retesting.
Inclusion of third parties, if they have access to the corporate Wi-Fi network or operate their own network within a shared ICT environment.

Requirements for testing teams

DORA also places strong emphasis on the quality and qualifications of entities performing advanced security testing. Testers must meet specific criteria, including the following:

Advanced knowledge of wireless protocols and Wi-Fi security mechanisms.
Experience with radio spectrum analysis and packet capture tools, such as Wireshark, Aircrack-ng, or Kismet.
Ability to perform active attack simulations, including Evil Twin, Man-in-the-Middle (MITM), deauthentication attacks, and credential harvesting.
Experience with forensic outputs and reporting, ensuring that incidents and findings are documented in line with regulatory and audit requirements.
Independence of the testing team from development teams, operational IT departments, and infrastructure vendors.

How does testing work in practice?

Defining the scope of testing

Identification of the target environment, types of access points to be tested, and relevant attack scenarios.

Preparation of the technical scenario

Selection of appropriate tools and techniques based on the security configuration of the specific Wi-Fi infrastructure.

Execution of simulated attacks

Performing agreed tests including attempts to obtain credentials, bypass encryption, or move laterally into the internal network.

Recording and analysis of results

Evaluation of identified weaknesses, including configuration vulnerabilities, lack of segmentation, or human-factor risks.

Reporting and recommendations

Delivery of both a technical and a management report summarizing findings, severity levels, and remediation recommendations.

Follow-up

Consultation on findings, employee awareness training, or retesting after remediation measures have been implemented.

Why work with BDO?

BDO provides Wi-Fi network penetration testing as part of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. We help organizations identify and remediate technical vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by real attackers. Our approach combines manual testing, scripted automation, and deep knowledge of real-world attack techniques.

Regulatory expertise
BDO understands the requirements of DORA, NIS2 and related cybersecurity frameworks. We help integrate testing outputs into ICT risk management systems and continuous resilience improvement processes. The results of our tests can be effectively used during audits, inspections and security reporting to management.
Independence and credibility
As an independent consulting firm, we do not provide proprietary technologies and therefore deliver truly objective assessments. Cooperation with BDO represents a clear signal of quality and credibility for regulators and clients.

Certified team with expert experience
Our specialists hold certifications such as OSCP, CRTP, eCPPT, BSCP, CEH, CRT, CPSA, CISSP, CCISO and others. They have experience testing large banks, insurance companies and ICT providers.

Main contacts

Martin Hořický

Manager • CISO

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Marek Kovalčík

Partner

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