Network Penetration Testing
Ransomware, lateral movement, and data exfiltration all start somewhere in your network. We find the exact paths an attacker would use — before they get the chance.
What is Network Penetration Testing?
Simulate real-world network attacks to identify misconfigurations, unpatched systems, and exploitable weaknesses across your internal and external network infrastructure.
Most network compromises exploit weaknesses that were never properly assessed — misconfigured services, unpatched devices, and insufficient segmentation that make lateral movement straightforward once an attacker has initial access.
At a Glance
- Frameworks
- NIST SP 800-115, PTES, CIS Controls
- Typical Timeline
- 3–7 days depending on network size
- Report
- Executive summary + full technical findings
- Retest
- Complimentary, included in every engagement
- NDA
- Signed before any technical discussion
- Coverage
- Internal + External perspectives
Outcomes that move your security forward
What You Receive
Executive Summary Report
Non-technical overview of risk exposure and key findings for management
Full Technical Report
All findings with CVE references, CVSS scores, proof-of-concept evidence, and affected IP addresses
Risk Register
Complete inventory of vulnerabilities sorted by severity for easy prioritisation
Remediation Guide
Step-by-step fix instructions for each finding, written for your IT and network teams
Retest Report
Confirms all critical and high findings have been resolved after remediation
What We Test
Comprehensive internal and external coverage of your network attack surface.
How We Run This Engagement
Every engagement follows a defined, transparent process — no surprises, no hidden scope changes, and no invoice for work you did not agree to.
Scoping
Define IP ranges, target systems, and testing windows.
External Reconnaissance
Passive and active information gathering on exposed infrastructure.
Vulnerability Scanning & Manual Analysis
Identify potential weaknesses and eliminate false positives.
Exploitation
Attempt to exploit confirmed vulnerabilities to assess real impact.
Post-Exploitation & Lateral Movement
Assess what an attacker can reach once they have initial access.
Reporting & Retest
Risk-rated findings with step-by-step remediation guidance, followed by a complimentary retest.
Why Work With Vigilant Defenders
Manual Testing. Not Scanner Output.
Automated tools find known signatures. Our certified consultants find the chained attack paths, logic flaws, and context-specific vulnerabilities that no scanner will surface. Every finding we report is manually verified — zero false positives.
Reports Built for Action, Not Filing.
Every finding includes a proof-of-concept, a CVSS risk score, the affected system or endpoint, and step-by-step remediation guidance written for the team that has to fix it.
Internal and External. Both Perspectives.
We test both how an attacker would breach your perimeter from the internet and how far they could move once inside. Most incidents involve lateral movement through internal networks that were never properly segmented. We check both sides.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about this engagement.
External testing simulates an attacker targeting your organisation from the internet. Internal testing simulates a threat actor who has already breached the perimeter — or a malicious insider. Both perspectives are important for a complete picture of your risk.
Related services
Find Out How Far an Attacker Could Move in Your Network
Get a free scoping consultation — no commitment required. We’ll scope the right network penetration testing engagement for your environment and send a fixed-fee proposal within 24 hours.