Internal Penetration Testing
Cybersecurity Begins at Home Base
When it comes to data breaches and other compromises to your organization’s sensitive information, a surprising amount of the time it’s an inside job. Either unintentionally or maliciously, your internal network access can be used against you. A stunning 60% of data breaches are caused by insiders, and they have the potential to be even more catastrophic than external hacks. Fortunately, there’s a solution: internal penetration testing.
An internal penetration test, also referred to as a pen test, is a type of security assessment that simulates the actions of an attacker who already has access to your network. By imitating real-world threats, an internal penetration test can help you identify vulnerabilities in your systems and networks before a malicious actor does.
Not only can internal penetration tests help you find security holes in your networksand systems, but it can also help you assess the effectiveness of your current security controls. By testing your organization’s response to an attack, you can identify areas of vulnerability where your security needs improvement.
Security from the Inside Out
When it comes to cybersecurity, attacks from the outside are often a primary focus and internal threats frequently get overlooked. However, according to recent research, 94% of organizations have experienced insider data breaches. That makes it critical to ensure your organization is prepared for a security issue that comes from within. Just as with external penetration testing, turning these tests inward not only manages the risk, but also helps organizations that are subject to security compliance requirements, such as PCI DSS and HIPAA.
Employees, vendors, partners, third-party contractors, and other internal players all have access to your internal network, either through legitimate log-in credentials or simply through their physical presence. This means they also have the potential to cause a data breach. By conducting an internal penetration test, you can find out how easy it would be for one of these insiders to exploit a vulnerability and gain access to sensitive information.
These risks are not just due to disgruntled employees or one of these insiders having malicious intent. They can simply be compliance errors, such as an employee who forgets to log out of their computer, leaving that system open for someone else to slip in. No matter the intent, the consequences of an insider threat can be just as damaging as an external attack.
With internal penetration testing from TrollEye Security, your company can take a proactive approach to protecting your organization from insider data breaches. Our “white hat” ethical hackers simulate real-world attacks to help you identify security vulnerabilities in your networks and systems. We also assess your current security controls to ensure they are effective in detecting and responding to an attack. Our pen testing specialists can also conduct physical penetration testing to challenge the strength of your physical, on-site security measures

When it comes to internal security and controls, don't rely on hope. Trust TrollEye's internal penetration testing. Contact us today.
Reviews You Can Rely On
If you’re curious about the experiences of other business owners with our penetration testing, we invite you to browse through some of our reviews. We build a relationship of trust with our clients, and we’re proud of the work we’ve done to help them secure their organizations.
The TrollEye Security Internal Penetration Testing Process
At TrollEye Security, we approach an internal penetration test the same way a real-life threat actor would. By mimicking their exact steps, approaches, tools, techniques and processes, we accurately simulate what would happen if your organization were to be compromised. Here are the steps we take during an internal pen test run.
Planning
During the planning phase, we work with you to understand your organization’s specific goals and objectives for the internal penetration test. We also develop a comprehensive understanding of your network architecture and systems. This helpsus create a tailored pen testing approach that meets the unique needs of your company.
Discovery
Next, we begin the process of discovery, which is when we identify all potential entry points into your network. This includes finding open ports, weak passwords, and unpatched systems. We also look for any misconfigurations that could be exploited.
Attack
Once we have identified all potential entry points, we attempt to exploit them. This helps us determine how easy it would be for a malicious actor to gain access to your systems and data.
Reporting
After the test is complete, we compile all of our test findings into a detailed report. This report includes information on all vulnerabilities that were discovered during the course of the tests, as well as recommendations on how to remediate them. We also provide guidance on how to improve your overall security posture.
With internal penetration testing, physical penetration testing, and social engineering assessments, you can truly have a complete view of how well your internal security measures are performing.
TrollEye Security: Your Best Offensive Line
Using offensive cybersecurity strategies, TrollEye Security anticipates and thwarts cyberattacks before they harm an organization by exposing vulnerabilities so they can be corrected. TrollEye Security offers comprehensive, all-in-one solutions. However, our pen testing services don’t end there. To be the most effective, penetration tests should not be performed once a year as part of a one-time operation. Cyber-attackers will continue to come up with new ways to attack organizations. Through our continuous penetration testing services, we ensure that your network and software are constantly secured, plugging gaps, patching leaks, surpassing compliance requirements, and tightening up your defenses. We can also perform dark web monitoring to see if any of your data, passwords, or other sensitive information has already been compromised. If hackers can’t find a vulnerability in your company network to act on, they will know to move on.

To keep your organization safe, our services provide you with a comprehensive assessment of internal and external testing information. The vulnerability of your network and web applications drops significantly when these risks are effectively managed, so you can return to work with more confidence and peace of mind.
Take the proactive approach to cyber risk management with TrollEye Security. Call us today for your free consultation.
Internal vs. External Penetration Testing
What’s the difference between internal and external penetration testing? Internal penetration testing focuses on emulating the actions of an insider threat, such as a disgruntled employee or contractor. It is conducted within an organization’s network, looking for in-house flaws. The main goal of internal pen testing is to find out if someone with inside access can compromise or sabotage a system, such as by injecting malware or otherwise exploit security weaknesses.External penetration testing, on the other hand, mimics the actions of an outside attacker, such as a hacker, and is only conducted remotely. It simulates the approaches that would be used to hack an organization’s network by someone without insider access. The primary goal of external pen testing is to identify and fix cyber security flaws, reducing the risk of a breach.

Both types of pen tests are important for identifying vulnerabilities in your system and satisfying compliance standards. However, internal testing is often overlooked because it can be seen as more difficult to perform. At TrollEye Security, we have the experience and expertise necessary to carry out an internal penetration test effectively, making a real difference in your organization’s cyber risks.
Our Process and the Benefits of Internal Penetration Testing
TrollEye Security uses the same tools, techniques, and processes as real-life threat actors to accurately simulate what would happen if your organization were to be compromised. By mimicking their exact steps, we are able to find vulnerabilities that other testing methodologies might miss.The benefits of using this type of offensive approach to network security through internal penetration testing are extensive. They include:
- Identifying both obvious and more hidden security flaws
- A more comprehensive understanding of your network architecture and systems
- Improved detection of insider vulnerability threats
- Increased confidence in your organization's cyber security posture
- Demonstrating proactive compliance for regulatory agencies
- The ability to tailor the testing approach to meet your unique network architecture and web application assets
- The identification of all potential entry points into your network
- The ability to exploit those entry points to determine how easy it would be for a malicious actor to gain access to your systems and data
- The identification of all potential entry points into your network
- A detailed assessment of your current and potential vulnerabilities, as well asrecommendations on remediation

Partnering with TrollEye Security

When you bring TrollEye Security onto your cyber risk management team, we’ll first conduct an extensive review of your network and determine the scope of your needs. Following this initial consultation, we will design a program tailored to your company's unique needs and risks, as well as your network systems. We estimate the time it will take to test live assets, software repositories, and web services, as well as the number of social engineering targets if necessary. We then decide on the Rules of Engagement (ROE) together, which describe the parameters of each test, including the date, time, and extent of testing.
We will schedule the first test after we have completed the MSA (Master Service Agreement) and ROE. Our penetration testers will analyze and test your network vulnerability in a methodical and controlled way. We'll notify you immediately when a weakness is found so that you can take action to eliminate it as soon as possible.

Securing Your Network and Reducing Your Risk with Pen Testing
Cyber attacks on organizations are happening every moment, both from internal and external sources, but only those who are prepared will withstand the assault. The best time to plan for a problem is before it happens. For a detailed consultation on how our pen testing services can help you secure your organization, contact us today. We will be happy to answer any of your questions and get started on protecting your business.
Don't wait for a breach to expose your flaws. Learn how to shore up those vulnerabilities ahead of time with pen testing from TrollEye Security.