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Network Penetration Testing

A Network Penetration Test (also referred to as an internal or infrastructure penetration test) is designed to assess the security of an organization’s internal environment from the perspective of an attacker who has already gained a foothold.

These engagements focus on how an adversary could move through internal systems, escalate privileges, and access sensitive data or critical infrastructure.

Access and Engagement Setup​

In most cases, Network Penetration Tests are conducted via a VPN connection provided by the client. This allows our testers to securely tunnel into the internal network and assess the environment as an internal threat actor.

Scope, access method, and any provided credentials are defined prior to testing to ensure the engagement accurately reflects realistic attack scenarios.

Typical Target Environments​

Internal infrastructure environments commonly include:

  • Active Directory environments with domain-joined Windows systems
  • File servers, database servers, and application servers
  • Linux systems used for hosting services, automation, or backend workloads
  • Network services such as DNS, LDAP, SMB, SSH, and RDP

Testing focuses on identifying weaknesses in authentication, authorization, configuration, and trust relationships across the environment.

Testing Focus Areas​

During a Network Penetration Test, we assess:

  • Credential exposure and reuse
  • Misconfigurations and insecure services
  • Privilege escalation paths
  • Lateral movement opportunities
  • Active Directory security controls and trust boundaries
  • Excessive permissions and weak segmentation

The goal is to determine how an attacker could progress from initial access to high-impact compromise.

Web Applications Discovered Internally​

It is common for internally hosted web applications to be discovered during infrastructure testing. When this occurs:

  • The application is assessed for common and high-impact security issues
  • Testing is limited in scope compared to a full Web Application Penetration Test (WAPT)
  • Findings are included as part of the network penetration testing report

For in-depth web application security testing, we recommend a dedicated WAPT engagement.

Deliverables​

All Network Penetration Tests include a manually produced and verified report prepared by experienced penetration testers.

Clients receive:

  • A detailed report outlining attack paths and verified findings
  • Clear severity ratings based on real-world impact
  • Actionable remediation guidance for each issue
  • An executive summary describing overall network security posture

Optional Debriefing​

An optional debriefing meeting may be scheduled upon request. This session includes:

  • A walkthrough of key attack paths and escalation techniques
  • Clarification of remediation priorities
  • Open discussion with technical and non-technical stakeholders

CyberSanctus network penetration tests provide realistic insight into how internal environments can be compromised — and how to defend against it.