What is Network Penetration Testing?
Network penetration testing is a security assessment that maps your real attack surface, external and internal, to determine which systems an attacker can reach, from which entry points, and what damage they could cause once inside.
Attacker-focused and well-founded. Network penetration tests that go beyond automated scans and follow real attack paths. We assess how an attacker gains access, moves laterally, and escalates privileges to identify vulnerabilities that have real-world impact.
What is the testing scope?
External vs. internal: why both tests matter?
Most attacks start externally and continue internally. Testing only one layer leaves the other unvalidated.
External network testing
Tests your network from the internet as an attacker would. We map open ports, exposed services, misconfigured firewalls, VPN gateways, and legacy remote access endpoints. This is the first barrier between attackers and your systems.
Internal network testing
Simulates an attacker who has already gained initial access to your network. We test lateral movement, privilege escalation, Active Directory attacks, and network segmentation to show how far an attacker can move once inside.
Combined assessment
The most realistic view of your actual risk. We follow the complete attack chain from initial external access through internal movement to the highest-value targets. This reveals what a real breach would actually look like in your environment.
How do we approach network testing?
Discovery
We build a complete picture of your environment: assets, services, exposed systems, and network topology. Not just what is visible on paper, but what an attacker actually sees from the outside and can reach from the inside.
Exploitation
Vulnerabilities are tested in a controlled, non-disruptive way to validate actual exploitability and real-world impact. We chain weaknesses together the way real attackers do, demonstrating the full attack path rather than isolated findings.
Remediation
Every finding comes with a concrete fix recommendation, prioritized by risk and effort. We support your team through resolution and verify that fixes are effective with a retest.
What do you receive after testing?
Every network pentest delivers a complete evidence package. Not just a list of vulnerabilities, but the context and proof your team needs to act.
Executive summary
A risk overview written for leadership. Findings ranked by business impact, key risks summarized in plain language, and clear priorities for remediation investment. Management can read and act without needing a technical background.
Technical report
Full technical detail per finding: description, exploitation proof, CVSS score, root cause, and step-by-step reproduction instructions. Structured so your IT team can understand and fix every issue without follow-up questions.
Remediation roadmap
Concrete fix guidance prioritized by risk and remediation effort. Not just a problem list but a practical action plan. Helps your team work through findings in the right order and track progress to closure.
Retest included
After you have addressed the findings, we retest to confirm that each vulnerability has been effectively resolved. You receive written retest confirmation: the evidence auditors and cyber insurers expect.
What separates a scan from a pentest?
Organizations that rely only on automated scanning know their inventory. A penetration test shows their actual exposure.
Automated vulnerability scan
Fast and broad. Scans for known CVEs and common misconfigurations using signature-based detection. Cannot chain vulnerabilities, has no business context, and cannot confirm actual exploitability. A clean scan result does not mean your network is secure.
Network penetration test
Manual and context-aware. Our testers follow real attack paths, chain vulnerabilities the way attackers do, and test what scanners structurally miss: access control bypasses, privilege escalation routes, and misconfigurations that only become visible in combination.
The gap between them
A vulnerability scanner tells you what might be wrong. A penetration test shows you what would actually be used in an attack. For NIS2 compliance, insurance assessments, and executive reporting, documented manual testing is the standard that regulators and auditors expect.
How does network pentesting support NIS2?
NIS2 Article 21 requires appropriate technical measures to manage cybersecurity risks. A documented network pentest is the most direct way to demonstrate compliance.
Article 21 requires active validation
NIS2 Article 21(1) mandates that essential and important entities implement appropriate technical measures to manage cybersecurity risks. This is not satisfied by a policy document alone. It requires evidence that controls have been tested and validated in practice.
Segmentation and access control
NIS2 expects organizations to limit the impact of incidents through proper network segmentation and access controls. A network pentest directly tests whether these boundaries hold under real attacker pressure: whether segmentation can be bypassed, lateral movement is possible, and privileges can be escalated.
Audit-ready evidence
Our deliverable includes a compliance mapping that references specific NIS2 requirements per finding. This gives your audit team and the national supervisory authority a structured record that your network security is being actively tested and maintained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Assess Your Network Security
Get a complete picture of your network attack surface with a penetration test that follows real attack paths.