Internal Penetration Testing
What happens after the perimeter is breached?
Simulating a compromised workstation or rogue insider, we test how far an attacker could move laterally through your network and what sensitive data they could access.
Overview
Internal penetration testing assumes an attacker has already gained access to your internal network—whether through a phishing attack, compromised credentials, a rogue employee, or a physical breach. Starting from a standard user workstation, we attempt to escalate privileges, move laterally through your network, access sensitive systems, and exfiltrate data. This testing reveals the real damage an attacker could cause once inside your perimeter.
What We Test
Our internal penetration testing engagements cover these key areas:
Active Directory
Domain configuration, group policies, trust relationships, and privilege escalation paths within your Windows environment.
Network Segmentation
Firewall rules, VLAN configurations, and access controls evaluated for lateral movement opportunities.
Privilege Escalation
Local and domain privilege escalation techniques tested to determine how quickly an attacker could gain admin access.
Sensitive Data Access
File shares, databases, and applications probed for unauthorized access to confidential information.
Credential Harvesting
Password storage, credential caching, and authentication tokens evaluated for theft opportunities.
Internal Applications
Business applications, intranets, and internal tools tested for vulnerabilities and access control weaknesses.
Our Approach
We operate like real adversaries, using the same techniques seen in actual breaches. Our testing reveals not just individual vulnerabilities, but complete attack paths through your environment.
Initial Access
Starting from a standard user workstation, we establish our foothold and begin internal reconnaissance.
Privilege Escalation
We attempt to gain elevated access through misconfigurations, vulnerable services, and credential attacks.
Lateral Movement
Using discovered credentials and vulnerabilities, we move through your network toward high-value targets.
Objective Completion
We demonstrate impact by accessing domain admin, sensitive data, or other agreed-upon objectives.
Common Findings
These are issues we frequently discover during internal penetration testing engagements:
Kerberoastable Accounts
HighService accounts with SPNs that allow offline password cracking, often leading to domain admin access.
LLMNR/NBT-NS Poisoning
HighLegacy protocols enabled that allow attackers to capture authentication credentials on the network.
Excessive Local Admin Rights
MediumUsers with local administrator access on multiple workstations, enabling credential harvesting and lateral movement.
Weak Network Segmentation
HighFlat network design allowing unrestricted access between workstations, servers, and sensitive systems.
Stored Credentials
CriticalPasswords in scripts, configuration files, or group policy preferences accessible to standard users.
Missing Patches
HighInternal systems running outdated software with known privilege escalation or remote code execution vulnerabilities.
Common Questions
Do we need to provide a laptop or VPN access?
Typically, yes. We either work on-site with a laptop connected to your network, or connect remotely via VPN. The goal is to simulate what an attacker with internal network access could accomplish.
Will internal testing disrupt our operations?
We design our testing to minimize impact. Techniques that could cause outages (like certain DoS attacks) are excluded unless specifically requested. Most testing is transparent to end users.
Should we tell our IT team about the test?
It depends on your goals. Telling IT allows them to assist if issues arise. Keeping it quiet tests your security monitoring and incident response capabilities. We'll advise based on your objectives.
Other Penetration Testing Options
External Penetration Testing
We attack your perimeter the way real adversaries would—scanning for exposed services, testing authentication mechanisms, and attempting to breach your internet-facing systems.
Wireless Security Testing
We assess your wireless networks for rogue access points, weak encryption, and attack vectors that could give adversaries a foothold into your environment.
Physical Penetration Testing
Combining physical security testing with social engineering, we evaluate whether attackers could gain physical access to sensitive areas and systems.
Ready to Strengthen Your Defenses?
Schedule a free consultation with our security experts to discuss your organization's needs.
Or call us directly at (445) 273-2873