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Internal Network Pentest Guide

Table of contents

An internal network pentest is a security test from inside your company's network. Think of it as hiring a certified expert to see what a disgruntled employee or a hacker with stolen login details could do. We find these hidden security gaps before a real attacker does.

This is critical because most major data breaches start with a single compromised account. Our affordable manual pentests deliver your report in about a week, so you can fix issues fast.

What an Internal Network Pentest Really Means

Imagine your business is a fortress with high walls and guards. That's your external security. But what happens if an attacker tricks a guard and gets inside?

An internal network pentest checks how secure you are once someone is already inside. It answers the question, "What is the worst that could happen now?" Our certified ethical hackers, holding certifications like OSCP, CEH, and CREST, find the vulnerabilities that automated tools miss but real attackers love to find.

A diagram illustrating the three-step process: Inside Access, Find Vulnerabilities, and Report Risks.

We find the hidden security gaps inside your network before a real attacker can. This gives you a clear, affordable path to securing your business from within.

Internal vs External Pentesting At a Glance

It’s easy to get internal and external testing confused, but they check for different risks. Think of it like this: an external test checks your locks, while an internal test checks what happens when someone steals a key.

This table breaks down the key differences to help you see where each test focuses.

AspectInternal Network PentestExternal Network PentestStarting PointAssumes attacker has insider accessSimulates an attacker from the internetPrimary GoalFind vulnerabilities inside the perimeterBreach the external perimeter defensesTypical ThreatsInsider threats, compromised accounts, malwareHackers, automated bots, script kiddiesCommon FindingsWeak passwords, unpatched systems, privilege escalationExposed ports, firewall misconfigurations, web flaws

To learn more, you can check out our guide on internal vs external penetration testing.

Why Bother With an Internal Pentest

Focusing on an insider's view helps uncover how an attacker could move across your network and access sensitive data. It's a key part of any good security plan and a comprehensive IT security audit checklist will always include it.

Instead of waiting months for a report from a traditional firm, we deliver our findings within a week. You get affordable, expert-led manual testing without the long delays. Our report is a simple roadmap for fixing your biggest risks.

Why Your Business Needs Internal Pentesting

Most companies focus on their digital front door, but the most damaging attacks often start from the inside. An internal network pentest finds those hidden security gaps before they become a disaster.

This is not just a technical checkup. It is an essential part of meeting compliance standards like SOC 2, PCI DSS, and HIPAA. These rules require you to prove your internal controls are strong enough to protect sensitive data. An affordable pentest delivers that proof quickly.

Find Vulnerabilities Before Attackers Do

Think of it like a fire drill for your cybersecurity. We act like a real attacker to show you how a breach would actually happen, step by step. This helps you find and fix the flaws that matter most.

Research from over 50,000 pentests shows attackers can gain full control of a network shockingly fast. You can read the full report on cybersecurity insights to see just how fast attacks unfold. Our manual pentests are performed by certified experts holding OSCP, CEH, and CREST credentials, who find what scanners miss.

Meet Compliance and Protect Your Reputation

Passing an audit is not just about ticking boxes. It is about proving your security controls actually work. An internal network pentest is one of the best ways to show auditors your controls are effective.

A breach on your internal network can lead to huge fines, lost customers, and a damaged reputation. A fast, affordable pentest helps you avoid all that by showing you exactly where to focus your security efforts.

Get Actionable Results Without the Wait

Let's be honest, traditional pentesting firms are often slow, expensive, and find very little. We built our service to be the exact opposite. We deliver a comprehensive report within a week so you can get to work fixing what matters now.

Our final report is an actionable, prioritized list of fixes written in plain English. You get the clarity you need to make your entire organization more secure, without frustrating delays or high costs.

How We Deliver Fast Affordable Pentests

Traditional pentesting is known for being slow, expensive, and a headache to manage. We built our service to be the opposite. You should not have to wait months for a report or pay enterprise prices for high-quality, manual testing.

Our mission is simple: deliver a comprehensive, actionable internal network pentest report in about a week. That speed means you can start fixing important vulnerabilities now, not months from now. We make expert security testing accessible, straightforward, and affordable.

Our Straightforward Pentesting Process

We have removed all the unnecessary complexity that slows down old-school firms. Our process is built for speed and clarity, ensuring you get the results you need without the usual runaround. It all starts with a quick, simple scoping call to get the ball rolling.

Our team is made up of skilled, certified professionals who live and breathe security. They hold top industry credentials like OSCP, CEH, and CREST. These are not just acronyms, they are proof of real-world expertise in finding security holes.

Manual Testing by Certified Experts

Unlike firms that just run automated scanners, we perform manual pentests. Our experts think like actual attackers, using their skills to find the subtle vulnerabilities that automated tools always miss. They uncover the real attack paths that could lead to a breach.

We focus on finding impactful vulnerabilities that truly matter to your business. Our goal is not to give you a long list of low-risk fluff, but to find the critical weaknesses an attacker would actually use against you.

Delivering Your Report in About a Week

Why should you wait a month or more for your results? Every day you wait is another day your systems are at risk. We have streamlined our entire process to get your final pentest report in your hands in about one week.

Your report will be fast, clear, and actionable. We write in plain English and provide step-by-step guidance your team can use to fix problems right away. To help things go smoothly, check out our guide on how to prepare for a penetration test.

Common Vulnerabilities We Find Inside Networks

Once an attacker is inside a network, the path to your most important data is often shockingly simple. Our job during an internal network pentest is to find those easy paths before a real threat actor does.

The most common issue is painfully basic: weak, reused, or default passwords. Another huge problem is unpatched software. When a security patch is released, it is a public announcement of a vulnerability. Failing to apply these updates leaves your systems exposed.

The Most Frequent Security Gaps We Uncover

During a typical internal network pentest, our certified experts connect the dots. They show how a series of small flaws can chain together to create a major security incident. It is this attacker's mindset that makes a real manual pentest so valuable.

We often find misconfigured file shares that expose confidential information to the entire network. Our pentesters, holding certifications like OSCP and CEH, excel at showing how an attacker could escalate from a standard user to having full control over your network.

Top 5 Internal Network Vulnerabilities

While every network is different, we see the same weaknesses time and again. This table breaks down the five most common vulnerabilities we find and explains why they are so common. Understanding these is the first step toward a more secure network.

VulnerabilityPotential ImpactWhy It's CommonWeak or Default PasswordsFull account compromise, access to sensitive systemsPoor password policies, users reusing credentials, and failure to change vendor defaults.Unpatched SoftwareSystem takeover, malware infection, data theftIT teams are often overwhelmed, and patch management can be complex and time-consuming.Misconfigured PermissionsUnauthorized data access, privilege escalationPermissions are often granted loosely for convenience and are rarely reviewed or tightened later.Lack of Network SegmentationAttacker can move freely across the networkFlat networks are easier to manage but allow a single compromise to threaten the entire organization.Outdated Operating SystemsWidespread system compromise, compliance failureMigrating from legacy systems like old Windows Server versions is expensive and disruptive.

How These Findings Affect Your Business

The vulnerabilities we uncover are direct business risks. A single unpatched server could lead to a data breach resulting in huge compliance fines under SOC 2, PCI DSS, or HIPAA. Worse, it could destroy customer trust.

Our internal network pentest report explains these risks in plain English. We show you step-by-step how we exploited the weakness so you understand how an attacker would do the same. We deliver these clear, manual pentest results within a week so you can immediately start fixing what matters.

Understanding Your Pentest Report

A pentest report is useless if it is a 100-page document filled with confusing technical jargon. Our reports are built for IT managers, CISOs, and founders who need to understand business risk and fix problems fast.

We start with a plain-English executive summary that explains your security posture and the real-world business impact of our findings. This gives you the high-level view you need to make informed decisions without getting lost in technical details.

What to Expect in Our Reports

After the summary, we get straight to the point. Each vulnerability is detailed, ranked by severity, and explained in simple terms. We are not here to give you a laundry list of low-risk issues, we focus on weaknesses that could actually lead to a breach.

We provide step-by-step instructions showing you exactly how our certified pentesters exploited each issue. Most importantly, we give you practical, actionable recommendations for fixing every single problem. Our goal is to give you a clear roadmap your team can use immediately.

The Anatomy of a Finding

Each finding in our report is structured to give you everything you need to know without any fluff. This consistent format makes the information easy to use.

A typical vulnerability entry includes a simple name, a severity rating (Critical, High, Medium, Low), the business impact, and exact replication steps. Finally, we provide clear remediation guidance written for your technical teams to implement right away. We make sure the report empowers your team, not overwhelms them.

From Report to Remediation

The final report is just the beginning. Its real value comes from using it to strengthen your defenses. Because we deliver reports within a week, you can start on fixes while the information is still fresh.

You can prioritize the findings based on the severity ratings and business impact we outline. To see our straightforward approach, you can view a penetration testing report example. A fast, understandable report is what makes an internal network pentest a valuable and affordable investment.

Choosing the Right Pentesting Partner

Let's be honest, finding a good partner for an internal network pentest can be a nightmare. You find firms that are slow, wildly overpriced, and deliver reports that are impossible to act on. Even worse, they often find nothing of real value.

You need a partner that focuses on three things: speed, affordability, and real expertise. We built our service around hitting those three marks. We are the go-to alternative for companies that need actual results without the enterprise price tag.

Focus on Speed and Affordability

In cybersecurity, time is your enemy. A simple question for any vendor should be, "How quickly can I get a final report?" If their answer is weeks or months, they are stuck in the past.

We deliver our comprehensive, manual pentest reports in about a week. That speed means your team can get to work fixing things now. Just as important is affordability. Top-tier manual testing should not cost a fortune. You need an expert internal network pentest that fits your budget and timeline.

Verify True Expertise and Certifications

Expertise is not about how long a company has existed, it is about proven, hands-on skill. Ask for the certifications of the actual testers who will be on your network. Top-tier credentials show a deep understanding of how modern attackers operate.

Look for pentesters who hold respected certifications like OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), and CREST. Our team is made up of professionals who hold these exact certifications. As you choose a partner, it helps to understand the broader landscape of essential information security services for SMEs.

The Affordable Alternative That Delivers

Ultimately, you need a partner who gets it. They need to understand the pressure you are under with tight timelines and budget constraints. Traditional firms often miss the mark, leaving you with a slow, expensive process and a useless report.

We built our service to fix this broken model. We combine the deep, manual testing skills of certified professionals with a process designed for speed and affordability. You get a high-quality internal network pentest that uncovers real risks and gives you a clear roadmap for fixing them, all within a week.

Your Questions Answered

We get a lot of questions about internal pentesting. Here are some of the most common ones, with straightforward answers to give you the clarity you need.

How Much Does an Internal Pentest Cost?

The final price really depends on the size and complexity of your network. But our whole business is built around making expert testing affordable. We skip the high overhead of traditional firms, which means you get clear, upfront pricing for top-tier manual testing.

How Long Does a Pentest Take?

While the hands-on testing might only take a few days, the most important part for you is getting the results. That is why we deliver a comprehensive, actionable report in about one week. This means you can start fixing things right away.

What Certifications Do Your Pentesters Have?

Our team holds industry-leading certifications that prove they have serious hands-on skills. We are talking about credentials like the OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), and CREST. This ensures your test is run by qualified pros who know how to think like an attacker.

Ready to uncover the hidden risks inside your network without breaking the bank or waiting weeks for a report? Get a fast, no-nonsense quote from us by reaching out through our contact form.

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