CERTIFICATIONS WE HOLD

Since 2015, Core Sentinel has been a trusted partner in cybersecurity, empowering businesses to secure their systems against evolving threats. From our roots as a dedicated penetration testing firm, we’ve grown into a leader in safeguarding critical infrastructure in Australia and worldwide.

Our mission is to protect your business by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them. With cutting-edge penetration testing and a relentless focus on system security, we deliver peace of mind in an increasingly complex threat landscape.

Over the past ten years, Core Sentinel has conducted thousands of penetration tests, uncovered hundreds of thousands of critical vulnerabilities, and helped clients across small business, startups, finance, healthcare, and various others, strengthen their defenses. Our team has grown to a number of certified experts, holding credentials like OSCP, OSCE, CREST, and CISA.

Our team of cybersecurity specialists brings decades of experience in penetration testing, ethical hacking, and system hardening. We’re driven by a passion for outsmarting attackers and ensuring your systems stay secure.

At Core Sentinel, we know your priority is protecting your data and systems. Our tailored penetration testing uncovers hidden weaknesses, from network vulnerabilities to application flaws, ensuring you stay ahead of threats and compliant with standards like SOC2, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, and aligned to frameworks such as OWASP, NIST, and ASD Essential Eight.

Ready to secure your systems? Contact Core Sentinel today for a penetration test that delivers actionable results.

Core Sentinel is a team of leading IT security enthusiasts which was founded in 2015 by one of the cyber security industry’s best known names: Steve McLaughlin. An OSCE, OSCP, and CREST-qualified penetration tester with more than 20 years’ experience, Steve has worked for some of the world’s biggest brands internationally, in a range of high-risk industries, including banking, finance, insurance, health, utilities, oil & gas, government and defence.

Steve made his start in the industry in Sydney in 2001. However, at the time, cyber security was still very much in its infancy in Australia, so in 2004, he moved to the UK, where the security landscape was much more mature. Where he could learn from the best and take on cutting-edge, business-critical challenges.

For the next 7 years, Steve worked for a number of high-profile employers, including Aggreko UK, Mott MacDonald UK and Student Loans Company UK, developing extensive hands-on experience at both conducting penetration tests, and coordinating them. He also completed his Masters Degree in Network Engineering (with Distinction) through Charles Sturt University.

In 2010, with 7 years of world-leading cyber security experience under his belt, Steve returned to Australia, where he has worked in senior positions at Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), Ambulance NSW, Service NSW, Wesfarmers Insurance, Caltex, and The University of Sydney.

Steve McLaughlin – Qualifications & certifications

• OSCE (Offensive Security Certified Expert)
• OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)
• OSWP (Offensive Security Wireless Professional)
• TCNA (Tenable Certified Nessus Auditor) [TRG-NES-TCNA]
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
• Certified Information Security Manager(CISM)
• Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (CISSP-ISSAP)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• CCSK (Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge)
• Certified Chief Information Security Officer (C|CISO)
• Security+ Certified
• CHFI (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator CHFI v3.0)
• RSA enVision Certified Systems Engineer 4.0
• Tripwire Enterprise 7.5 Operator
• CITP (Chartered IT Professional)
• CREST Registered Penetration Tester (CRT Pen)
• CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA)
• CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker CEH v6.0)
• CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional)
• CCDP (Cisco Certified Design Professional)
• CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate)
• CCDA (Cisco Certified Design Associate)
• MCSE:Security (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer: Security)
• MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer)
• MCSA:Security (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: Security)
• MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator)
• MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional MCP 2.0)
• Server+ Certified
• Network+ Certified
• A+ Certified
• IT Masters Degree (with Distinction)