In an era where cyber threats are evolving faster than ever, most organizations understand the importance of securing their external perimeter. Firewalls, antivirus programs, and intrusion prevention systems are standard defences. But what about the threats that originate from within?
Insider attacks, misconfigurations, and compromised devices pose some of the greatest risks to data integrity. That’s where internal network penetration testing comes in. However, before launching an engagement, businesses must ensure complete clarity on scope, methodology, and expectations and that begins with a transparent penetration testing quote.
Aardwolf Security sets the industry benchmark by providing customized, detailed quotes that help organizations align testing objectives with strategic security goals.
Understanding Internal Network Penetration Testing
Internal network penetration testing simulates an attacker who already has access to your corporate environment through a compromised device, a malicious insider, or an infected laptop.
The objective is to evaluate how effectively your internal defences detect, prevent, and respond to such intrusions.
During testing, cybersecurity professionals assess:
- Password strength and reuse across systems.
- Patch management and software version control.
- Segmentation between departments or business units.
- Privilege escalation and lateral movement potential.
- Endpoint detection and logging effectiveness.
Unlike external testing, which focuses on the perimeter, internal testing reveals how secure your systems truly are once that perimeter has been breached.
The Importance of a Detailed Penetration Testing Quote
A professional penetration testing quote is more than a pricing document it’s a roadmap.
Aardwolf Security believes that transparency begins before testing starts. Their quotes clearly define:
- Scope: Which internal networks, departments, or devices are in scope.
- Methodology: Frameworks such as NIST SP 800-115 or PTES used for testing.
- Testing Type: Whether the approach will be black box, grey box, or white box.
- Duration: Estimated testing timeline and report delivery.
- Deliverables: Technical findings, executive summaries, and remediation guidance.
- Retesting Options: Provisions for verifying remediation effectiveness.
A clear quote prevents misunderstandings, ensures compliance, and provides full visibility into how resources are allocated during testing.
Why Internal Testing Is Essential
The majority of data breaches involve internal factors either negligence or deliberate misuse.
According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report (2025), insider threats account for nearly 60% of all incidents.
Common risks identified during internal network penetration testing include:
- Weak or shared administrative passwords.
- Outdated Windows and Linux servers.
- Unpatched software vulnerabilities.
- Unsecured file shares exposing confidential data.
- Lack of segmentation between user and admin networks.
By simulating realistic insider attacks, Aardwolf Security helps organizations uncover these risks before they become costly breaches.
What’s Included in a Professional Quote
When you request a penetration testing quote for internal testing, the following key components should always be included:
Engagement Objectives:
Define whether the goal is compliance, risk reduction, or security maturity assessment.
Scope Definition:
List specific subnets, servers, workstations, and directory systems in scope.
Access Level:
Clarify whether testers will have limited or full network access.
Testing Methodology:
Outline testing tools, frameworks, and rules of engagement.
Reporting Structure:
Include sample report outlines or templates for transparency.
Pricing & Timelines:
Provide itemized pricing with clear deliverable dates.
Post-Test Support:
Specify whether remediation consultation and retesting are included.
These details distinguish professional, ethical testing firms from those that provide generic or incomplete quotes.
Aardwolf Security’s Internal Testing Methodology
Aardwolf Security delivers internal network penetration testing through a systematic, results-oriented process.
- Discovery & Scoping
Identify all internal assets, users, and systems to test.
- Vulnerability Identification
Use scanning tools and manual techniques to locate unpatched software, weak credentials, and open shares.
- Exploitation
Simulate real-world attacks to validate identified vulnerabilities.
- Privilege Escalation
Determine if user-level access can be elevated to admin privileges.
- Lateral Movement
Test how easily attackers could move across departments or systems.
- Data Exfiltration Simulation
Assess whether sensitive data can be accessed or extracted unnoticed.
- Reporting & Remediation
Deliver detailed findings with practical recommendations.
- Retesting
Verify that corrective actions have been implemented effectively.
This approach ensures your internal environment is not only tested but fortified.
Why the Quote Matters as Much as the Test
An unclear or incomplete quote often leads to scope gaps, budget overruns, or misaligned expectations.
By contrast, a transparent penetration testing quote gives stakeholders executives, IT teams, and auditors confidence in every stage of the process.
For example, when a financial institution requested internal testing from Aardwolf Security, the detailed quote outlined three network zones, 200 endpoints, and five domain controllers.
This clarity allowed the company to allocate internal resources effectively and complete the engagement ahead of schedule.
After testing, Aardwolf discovered:
- Weak Active Directory configurations.
- Outdated endpoint protection software.
- Open SMB shares containing customer data.
The organization implemented Aardwolf’s recommendations and reduced internal risk exposure by 89% within two months.
Business and Compliance Impact
Regular internal network penetration testing not only improves security it also supports compliance with key standards:
- ISO 27001 – Information security management.
- SOC 2 – Operational and data integrity controls.
- PCI DSS – Cardholder data security.
- HIPAA – Healthcare information protection.
When supported by a precise penetration testing quote, organizations can demonstrate clear alignment between cost, coverage, and compliance outcomes.
Why Choose Aardwolf Security
Aardwolf Security stands apart as a leader in ethical hacking and risk assessment.
Their testing engagements are guided by three principles: clarity, precision, and partnership.
They provide:
- Certified experts (OSCP, CREST, CEH).
- Transparent, itemized quotes for all testing services.
- Comprehensive reports for both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Post-remediation validation and retesting.
- Long-term collaboration for continuous security improvement.
Choosing Aardwolf means investing in integrity, not just testing.
Conclusion
In cybersecurity, clarity is strength and that starts with a transparent quote.
A well-defined penetration testing quote gives structure to the testing process, ensures accountability, and builds confidence across all stakeholders.
When delivered by experts like Aardwolf Security, it transforms internal network penetration testing into a strategic business advantage revealing not only vulnerabilities but opportunities to strengthen your organization from the inside out.
