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An internal penetration test shows what a hacker could do if they were already inside your company network. It answers the scary question: what happens after an employee clicks a bad link? We find those security holes before a real attacker does, and we do it fast.
What An Internal Penetration Test Actually Does
Think of your security like a house. Most companies lock the doors and windows. An internal penetration test is like having an expert start inside the house to see if they can crack the safe or find spare keys. This shows you the real damage an insider threat or a compromised account could cause.
Our OSCP, CEH, and CREST certified testers hunt for weaknesses that automated scanners miss. They find the small cracks that let an attacker jump from a regular user account to full control of your network. This manual, human approach is how we find the critical flaws that software can't.
This process ensures our test is structured and gives you clear, actionable results to improve your security.
Why Internal Penetration Testing Is So Important
In the past, internal tests were a "nice to have." Not anymore. With phishing attacks and insider threats on the rise, checking your internal security is essential. An internal test finds critical risks that an external-only test would completely miss.
You might be surprised by the difference between what's checked on the outside versus the inside. You can learn more in our guide on internal vs external penetration testing.
The market shows how important this has become. The internal pen-testing market was valued at $533.3 million in 2020 and is projected to hit $1.7 billion by 2025. This growth isn't just a trend; it shows businesses understand internal testing is a critical security control. An internal penetration test is a key part of any good security plan.
Our affordable manual pentests deliver the in-depth insights you need, with a full report in your hands within a week. Contact us through our form to see how we can help.
Common Attack Paths We Find On Your Network
Getting inside your network is just the start for an attacker. They don't just grab one file and leave. Think of a burglar who finds an unlocked window. They don't just steal the TV; they search the whole house for the safe, jewelry, and car keys.
Our OSCP and CREST certified experts mimic this exact process. We follow the common trails attackers use to turn one compromised laptop into a full network takeover. This isn't about theoretical risks; it's about showing you exactly how a breach would happen so you can fix the real problems, fast.
The flow is simple. We start with a foothold and dive deep into your systems to find the flaws that automated scanners always miss.
How Attackers Get From One Employee To Total Control
One of the most common things we find is privilege escalation. It sounds technical, but it just means an attacker turns a regular employee's account into a powerful administrator account. This often starts with something simple, like an employee falling for a phishing email.
Once inside, the attacker uses that access to scan the network for weak spots. This could be an old server that hasn't been patched, a forgotten test account with a simple password, or a misconfigured setting. An attacker's goal is always to move across the network, collecting more passwords and access until they hit the jackpot.
Real Attack Scenarios An Internal Pentest Uncovers
During our tests, we find active, exploitable problems that could lead to a major breach tomorrow. Because our process is manual and fast, we can find these issues and get you a report in about a week. You can start fixing them right away.
Here are a few classic attack paths we find all the time:
- Outdated Software: It's very common to find servers or apps running old code with known security holes.
- Weak Passwords: You'd be surprised how often we find admin accounts with simple passwords or default ones that were never changed.
- Open Network Shares: We often find network drives anyone can access, full of sensitive files like salary spreadsheets or customer lists.
- Active Directory Weaknesses: A few simple mistakes here can give an attacker the keys to your entire network.
Uncovering Deeper Flaws In Your System Architecture
We don't just stop at the common stuff. Our CEH-certified experts dig deeper to find fundamental flaws in how your systems are built. For example, a bug on a network printer might be used to take over a critical file server.
This deep dive also means checking for major hardware vulnerabilities. Our team is skilled at identifying if your systems are vulnerable to critical system vulnerabilities like Spectre and Meltdown, which a determined attacker could exploit. These are the high-impact findings that only an expert-led, manual pentest can find.
Our Fast And Affordable Internal Pentesting Process
We built our process for IT managers and founders who are tired of the old way of doing things. You shouldn't have to deal with high prices, slow timelines, and reports that don't find anything useful. We deliver a comprehensive manual internal pentest report in about a week.
You get clear answers you can use to improve your security right away. You don't get the enterprise price tag or the month-long wait. Here’s how we get it done.
Step 1: We Scope Your Internal Penetration Test
First, we figure out exactly what you need. This is a quick conversation, not a long consulting project. We’ll ask about your goals, whether it’s for a compliance audit like SOC 2 or simply to improve your internal security.
This step is about defining the playground for our testers. We'll agree on which parts of your internal network are in scope. This ensures the test is targeted, efficient, and tied directly to what matters for your business. A well-defined scope ensures we test what's most important.
Step 2: Our Certified Experts Hunt For Vulnerabilities
Next, our certified experts get to work. Our team holds top certifications like OSCP, CEH, and CREST, which means they’re trained to think like real attackers. They don’t just run a scanner and give you the automated results.
They manually hunt for weaknesses inside your network. This human-led approach is how we find complex flaws and chain together small issues to create a major attack path. These are the critical gaps that automated tools are completely blind to.
Step 3: We Deliver Your Actionable Pentest Report
Finally, we deliver your report. Forget those 100-page PDFs filled with technical jargon. Our reports are straightforward, clear, and built for action. We prioritize findings based on risk, so you know exactly what to fix first.
Each finding comes with a plain-English explanation of the problem and clear, step-by-step guidance on how to fix it. We give you the proof you need to understand the risk and the exact instructions your team needs to resolve it. Our goal is to empower you, not confuse you.
Our Internal Pentest Timeline Versus Traditional Firms
One of the biggest frustrations with pentesting is the speed. Traditional firms can take weeks or even months to deliver a final report. We designed our entire process to be different, getting you actionable results fast.
This efficient model means you get the security answers you need without the long waits. To learn more about building a solid security program, check out our guide on penetration testing best practices. If you're ready for a faster, more affordable internal pentest, fill out our contact form.
How Our Reports Make Your Compliance Audits Easier
Meeting compliance standards like SOC 2, PCI DSS, or HIPAA can be a headache. Our internal penetration test reports are designed to make the entire audit process smoother. They provide the clear, third-party evidence that auditors want to see.
Our pentest becomes proof that you’re actively managing your internal security risks. It's definitive proof of due diligence.
Turning Security Findings Into Clear Compliance Evidence
Think of your compliance framework as a checklist. An auditor’s job is to confirm you have the right controls in place. Our reports give them exactly what they need to see, presented clearly and professionally. For example, ISO 27001 requires you to manage technical vulnerabilities.
Our report provides concrete proof that you're actively identifying and fixing the exact kinds of weaknesses the standard requires. Our reports are written for your technical team and your auditor. We provide the step-by-step fix details your engineers need and the clear risk evidence your auditor can use.
Mapping Vulnerabilities Directly To Specific Controls
We speak the language of compliance. Our OSCP, CEH, and CREST certified experts know how the vulnerabilities they find map to specific controls within major frameworks. This gives you exactly what you need for your audits.
- SOC 2: Our test results help satisfy criteria for Security, Availability, and Confidentiality.
- PCI DSS: Requirement 11.3 explicitly calls for internal penetration testing. Our report is the definitive evidence you need.
- HIPAA: The Security Rule demands a thorough risk analysis. An internal pentest is one of the most effective ways to do this.
More Than Just A Checkbox For Your Audit
While compliance is a huge driver for testing, the real goal should be to improve security. A recent survey found that about 20% of organizations run tests only for compliance, not to actually reduce risk. You can get more details from the impact of frequent pentesting.
We help you bridge that gap. Because our process is fast and affordable, you get both a test that makes auditors happy and findings that make you safer. To see what this looks like, check out our penetration testing report example.
What To Do After You Get Your Pentest Report
Getting your internal pentest report isn't the finish line; it's the starting gun. Too many companies get a technical report and are left to figure out what to do next. We don't work that way. Our process is built around turning findings into actual security improvements.
We don't just email a PDF and disappear. This is a partnership designed to genuinely improve your security, not just check a box.
How We Help You Prioritize The Important Fixes
Your report will be clear and written in plain English. At the top, you'll find a prioritized list of vulnerabilities ranked by risk: Critical, High, Medium, and Low. This tells your team exactly where to focus first.
We also think about the real-world business impact. A critical flaw on a test server is a problem, but a medium-risk flaw on your customer database is a five-alarm fire. Our report gives you that context. A report is only useful if it leads to action.
We Provide Clear Guidance On How To Fix Things
For every vulnerability we find, we provide straightforward guidance on how to fix it. We explain the problem, show you how we exploited it, and then give your team step-by-step instructions to patch the hole. There's no guesswork.
This guidance is practical and written for your technical team to follow easily. It cuts out the confusing back-and-forth that happens with many pentesting companies. Frequent internal penetration testing has a huge impact on security over time.
We Verify The Fixes With A Free Retest
Once your team has implemented the fixes, we come back and check your work. Every engagement includes a free retest to verify that the vulnerabilities we found are truly gone. This is a critical step that many budget-friendly providers skip.
The retest gives you confidence and provides auditors with proof that you not only found your security gaps but actually closed them. From findings to the final retest, we're here to help you turn insights into action. If you're ready for a security partner who helps you fix things, just fill out our contact form.
Your Internal Penetration Test Questions Answered
We talk to IT managers and startup founders every day who are tired of the old way pentesting is done. They have deadlines and budgets, and they need straight answers. Here are the most common questions we get about our fast, affordable internal penetration tests.
How Can Your Internal Pentest Be So Affordable?
Simple: we cut out the bloat. Traditional firms have massive sales teams, layers of project managers, and long reporting cycles. All of that overhead gets passed on to you. We don't do that.
Our model is lean, and you work directly with our expert pentesters. By focusing on efficient manual testing and clear reporting, we eliminate unnecessary costs. This lets us deliver a high-quality, expert-led internal pentest at a price that makes sense.
What Makes Your Certified Pentesters So Qualified?
Our team is made up of certified professionals who live and breathe security. We don’t have junior analysts running automated scanners. Every tester holds top-tier industry certifications that prove they have serious hands-on skills.
You can expect our team to have credentials like:
- OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional): The gold standard for practical hacking skills.
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker): Shows a deep understanding of attacker tools and tactics.
- CREST (Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers): A globally respected certification for technical skills and ethics.
These certifications mean our experts think like attackers, leading to findings that are far more valuable for your business.
How Quickly Will I Get My Internal Pentest Report?
Speed is one of our core promises. We know you need answers fast, especially with a compliance deadline approaching. From our kickoff call to you having the final report, our entire process for an internal penetration test typically takes about one week.
We designed our workflow for efficiency. We skip the weeks of back-and-forth and get right to testing. This means we can deliver a comprehensive report while the information is still fresh and relevant, allowing you to start fixing vulnerabilities right away.
What Kind Of Findings Can I Expect In The Report?
You can expect to see real, exploitable vulnerabilities that pose a genuine risk to your business. We don't pad our reports with low-impact "fluff." Because our testing is manual and human-driven, we find the critical issues that automated scanners almost always miss.
Common findings include things like Active Directory misconfigurations, missing patches on critical servers, and weak or default credentials. We provide step-by-step proof for every single finding, so your team knows exactly what the problem is and why it needs to be fixed.
What If My Team Needs Help Understanding The Report?
We don’t just email you a PDF and disappear. A pentest report is useless if your team can't act on it. That's why we write our reports in clear, plain English, with straightforward remediation guidance for every finding.
If your team has questions, we're here. We'll happily jump on a call to walk you through the findings, explain the business impact, and help you prioritize the fixes. Our goal is to be your security partner, not just a one-time vendor.
Does The Internal Penetration Test Include A Retest?
Yes, absolutely. Every one of our internal penetration test engagements includes a free retest. Once your team has had a chance to fix the vulnerabilities we found, we’ll come back to verify that the fixes actually work.
This is a critical step. It gives you confidence that the security gaps have been closed properly, and it provides concrete proof to auditors of a complete vulnerability management process.
Ready for a faster, more affordable Affordable Pentesting that delivers real results? Contact us through our form to get a quote and schedule your test.