Internal Network Penetration Testing in Chicago

Because Your Internal Assets Are Meant to Stay Internal.

Internal network pen test Chicago

How Secure Are Your Internal Systems?

Most organizations focus primarily on protecting the perimeter of their environment from external threats. But how could your systems be exploited if that perimeter is breached? What damage could a malicious, or simply misinformed, employee or individual cause if the security controls of your internal environment are ineffective? Internal penetration testing evaluates security strengths and weaknesses inside your network so you can improve your overall infosec posture.

HALOCK’s qualified team of internal network penetration testers will work with you to evaluate those internal security controls and make detailed recommendations for improvement. HALOCK is a local company and your neighbor, helping you strengthen your compliance and overall security profile.

5 Star Penetration Testing services
– Mechanical distributor

Reasonable Security

DoCRA Reasonable checklist

What is Internal Network Penetration Testing?

Internal penetration testing is a more thorough process than an automated vulnerability scan. Our comprehensive testing efforts focus on exploiting weaknesses and trying to gain access to assets positioned within the private network. The tests are performed internally to the environment to simulate insider threats, targeting networks, hosts, and responding services.

We also leverage specialized internal network penetration testing tools to deliver comprehensive assessments.

internal network penetration test

 

Why do we need an Internal Penetration Test?

The perimeter cannot be relied upon exclusively to protect internal systems. An attacker needs only one path to gain access. Once inside, an insecure internal network can be exploited to rapidly escalate privileges and risk your data and operations.

Assessing network safeguards with internal penetration testing tools and techniques is critical to prevent malicious users from unauthorized access to your protected data. Internal attacks have severe results and often go undetected for longer periods of time. Performing an internal pen test identifies vulnerabilities on critical internal assets, demonstrates the impact if exploited, and provides clear direction on improvements that can be implemented to manage that risk. This is a big challenge, and regulatory bodies incorporate it into their compliance requirements. PCI DSS requires internal network penetration tests and network segmentation testing annually, unless you are a service provider, which requires internal penetration testing every six months.

 

“…the PEN test went well, and business was not affected by it, which is very important during our busy season.”

– Logistics and Freight Transportation company

 

Why should HALOCK perform our Internal Network Penetration Test?

HALOCK has the experience to best simulate internal network testing conditions, such as when an attacker is a malicious individual internal to the organization, when an external attacker has achieved internal access by compromising an internal endpoint, or has achieved entry point through an external host. For over two decades, HALOCK has conducted thousands of successful penetration tests for companies of all sizes, across all industries.

HALOCK’s dedicated penetration test team is highly qualified, possesses advanced certifications, and is equipped with the labs, tools, and methodologies necessary to consistently deliver quality, accurate, detailed, and meaningful results.

The team leverages industry standard methodologies to ensure a thorough and comprehensive test is conducted under safe and controlled conditions. HALOCK’s reports are content rich, regularly stand the scrutiny of regulatory requirements, exceed expectations of auditors, and frequently receive the praise of our customers. HALOCK’s expert team discovers vulnerabilities not yet published and often not yet discovered. Exploits are pursued, documented step by step, with screen capture walkthroughs, to provide both the technical and visual clarity. This helps you easily see how you can ensure corrective actions can be prioritized and remediation is effective.


What Internal Networks Should We Test?

Rarely does an attacker gain access by directly targeting a specific sensitive asset. This is intuitive because those sensitive assets are typically the most protected. In most cases, attackers gain initial access by targeting networks and services that are perceived as a lesser concern to the organization. The security is commonly less robust, allowing the attacker to gain an initial foothold. From this position, the attacker then escalates and pivots until they amass the rights needed to gain access to the critical asset. A smaller organization may include the entire environment. A larger organization typically selects representative ranges spanning servers, workstations, networks, voice, and other assets. This allows the penetration tester to explore controls across the spectrum of the organization and the relationship between the components of the environment.

 

“Always 100% satisfied with HALOCK, one of the best in my opinion.”

– CISO, Credit Union

 

A Comprehensive Network Security Testing Methodology

  • RECONNAISSANCE: Initial reconnaissance activities to locate responding hosts and services across each public IP range and facilitate the development of the target list.
  • TARGET PLANNING: Initial targets are selected based on perceived opportunity and prioritized for first stage attacks.
  • VULNERABILITY ENUMERATION: Vulnerabilities, both published and undocumented, are enumerated to identify potential exploits to pursue on each targeted host.
  • VULNERABILITY VALIDATION: Additional testing to confirm valid vulnerabilities, eliminate false positives, and validate target selection.
  • ATTACK PLANNING: Utilizing the information gathered, the methods, tools, and approaches are selected to pursue services likely to present opportunity to gain access.
  • EXPLOIT EXECUTION: Tests are conducted to establish command and control, ideally with persistence, to vulnerable hosts, applications, networks, and services.
  • PRIVILEGE ESCALATION AND LATERAL MOVEMENT: Post-exploit actions are performed to gain additional access, penetrate further into the internal environment, escalate privileges, compromise lateral hosts, and harvest additional information.
network security hierarchy

Deliverables

Project Plan: Prior to testing, HALOCK will develop a project plan detailing the specific plan, timing, and related considerations. This ensures all parties know what to expect throughout the execution of testing and reporting.

Penetration Test Report: The complete penetration testing results are documented in our content rich report which includes the background, summary of findings, detailed findings, scope and methodology, and supplemental content for context and reference. Samples are available upon request.

 

network penetration testing
  • Background: An introduction of the general purpose, scope, methodology, and timing of the penetration test.
  • Summary of Findings: A brief but concise overview summarizing the results at a glance, such as key critical findings requiring priority attention, system or recurring issues, and other general results.
  • Detailed Findings: Comprehensive results of each vulnerability, including a description of the vulnerability observed and criticality, the impact, recommendations for remediation, evidence where the vulnerability was observed, step-by-step demonstrations of exploits performed, and additional reference materials.
  • Scope and Methodology: A detailed recap of the specific scope of what was tested, the methodologies utilized, and related historical information necessary for audiences such as auditors to understand the specifics of the test approach.
  • Supplemental Content: Additional content and guidance, such as recommended post-assessment activities, that provide added value to the audience of the report.

 

Consider a Penetration Testing program to assess your safeguards throughout the year for a proactive security approach.

 

internal penetration testing

 

What Penetration Testing Services does HALOCK offer?

 

KEEPING YOU INFORMED ON CYBERSECURITY NEWS, TRENDS, DEVELOPMENTS

HALOCK Breach Bulletin is a news update on risks, threats, and breaches informing you of the attack, Indicators of Compromise (IoC), prevention and action steps.

HALOCK Exploit Insider gives you a pen tester’s perspective on approaches and risks they have seen in their engagements to keep you aware of the threats that may impact you.

Cybersecurity Awareness Posters

HALOCK, a trusted risk management and penetration testing company headquartered in Schaumburg, IL, near Chicago, advises clients on reasonable security, risk assessments, and compliance throughout the US.

 

Review Your Security Posture