Vulnerability Assessment & Exploitation

No, and we're direct about it. This service produces the tested evidence and prioritized remediation plan that support a FISMA assessment, an RMF authorization package, or a FedRAMP ConMon submission. It doesn't complete the assessment, grant the ATO, or certify compliance, those decisions belong to your Authorizing Official, your 3PAO, or your C3PAO.

A scan produces a list of potential problems ranked by a generic severity score. This service adds manual validation and controlled exploitation to prove which of those findings a real attacker could actually use, the step most "scan-and-report" vendors skip.

No. Every action is bounded by a signed Rules of Engagement, permitted windows, abort procedures, no data destruction, no exfiltration of real sensitive data beyond authorized proof. The objective is to prove exploitability safely, then stop.

We'd point you to the methodology and the people: NIST 800-115/PTES/OWASP alignment and the specific certifications our testers hold. We also offer a tightly scoped initial engagement so you can evaluate the work at low risk before a larger commitment.

CISA's assessment services are a legitimate option, and we'd tell you to use them where they fit. But CISA's capacity is finite and often backlogged. Avalon delivers to your deadline, your ATO renewal or ConMon date, on your schedule.

A typical full-scope engagement runs 4–8 weeks end to end, scaling with the size and complexity of the environment. A single small application or external footprint can run as short as 2–3 weeks.

This service identifies and proves exploitability, it isn't remediation (see our Remediation & Patch Management service), it doesn't grant an authorization or certification, and it isn't continuous monitoring. We're explicit in the SOW about exactly where the line falls.