Strengthening Enterprise Security Through Network Penetration Testing

Client Profile

A large-scale manufacturing company with multiple offices, data centers, and cloud environments relied on an extensive IT infrastructure to manage operations, supply chain logistics, and customer data. Due to increasing cyber threats, the company needed to assess its internal and external network security to prevent unauthorized access, data breaches, and compliance violations.

Challenges Faced

Before undergoing Network Penetration Testing, the company identified multiple security concerns:

  • Unpatched vulnerabilities in firewalls, routers, and servers, increasing the risk of exploitation.
  • Weak access controls, allowing potential unauthorized access to internal resources.
  • Misconfigured network devices, leading to exposure of critical services.
  • Lack of segmentation, making lateral movement easy for attackers.
  • Potential insider threats, with employees having excessive privileges.
  • Compliance concerns with ISO 27001, PCI DSS, NIST 800-53, and CIS Controls.
Our Approach

To enhance network security, we conducted a comprehensive Network Penetration Testing engagement, identifying vulnerabilities and providing remediation strategies.

Scoping & Threat Modeling

We collaborated with the client to define:

  • Scope of testing, including external and internal networks, cloud environments, VPNs, and remote access points.
  • Threat models specific to enterprise networks, such as unauthorized access, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration.
  • Testing methodologies, including Black Box, Gray Box, and White Box testing.
Security Testing Execution

Using industry-standard frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, NIST 800-115, and CIS Benchmarks, we conducted rigorous network penetration testing, covering:

  • External Network Penetration Testing – Assessing publicly exposed assets like firewalls, VPNs, web servers, and email servers for exploitable vulnerabilities.
  • Internal Network Penetration Testing – Simulating an attacker inside the corporate network to evaluate lateral movement, privilege escalation, and data access risks.
  • Vulnerability Scanning & Exploitation – Identifying and exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in servers, databases, and endpoints.
  • Firewall & IDS/IPS Evasion Testing – Testing security controls against sophisticated attack techniques.
  • Wi-Fi Security Testing – Assessing wireless network encryption, rogue AP detection, and unauthorized access risks.
  • Network Segmentation Testing – Evaluating whether critical systems are properly isolated to prevent lateral movement.
  • Privilege Escalation & Lateral Movement Testing – Identifying how attackers could escalate privileges and move across the network.
  • Social Engineering Testing – Simulating phishing and credential harvesting attacks to assess employee awareness.
Findings & Risk Assessment

After completing the penetration test, we provided a detailed security report, including:

  • Critical, High, Medium, and Low-risk vulnerabilities, with business impact analysis.
  • Proof-of-Concept (PoC) exploits, demonstrating how attackers could exploit weaknesses.
  • A prioritized remediation roadmap, helping the company fix vulnerabilities efficiently.
Remediation Support & Network Security Best Practices

To ensure the network remained secure, we provided:

  • Firewall hardening recommendations to block unauthorized access.
  • Network segmentation strategies, limiting lateral movement.
  • Patch management guidance, ensuring systems remain up-to-date.
  • Secure Wi-Fi configurations, preventing unauthorized connections.
  • Zero Trust Network Architecture (ZTNA) implementation, reducing attack surfaces.
  • Re-testing of critical vulnerabilities, ensuring proper remediation.
Compliance & Continuous Security

After implementing security fixes, the company achieved:

  • A more resilient network, eliminating critical security risks.
  • Compliance readiness for ISO 27001, PCI DSS, NIST 800-53, and CIS Benchmarks.
  • Improved threat detection and incident response capabilities.
  • Implementation of continuous network monitoring, ensuring long-term security.

Results Achieved

Within six weeks, the company successfully:

  • Eliminated all critical vulnerabilities, reducing cyber risks significantly.
  • Strengthened access controls, preventing unauthorized access.
  • Hardened network infrastructure, making it resistant to attacks.
  • Adopted a proactive cybersecurity strategy, enhancing overall resilience.
Conclusion

By leveraging our Network Penetration Testing expertise, we helped the manufacturing company proactively identify vulnerabilities, strengthen security controls, and achieve compliance with industry regulations. Our structured approach, from threat modeling to remediation, ensured the network remained resilient against cyber threats.

Need Network Penetration Testing?

If you’re looking to secure your network against cyber threats and compliance risks, reach out to us today for a customized penetration testing engagement.

COE Security LLC

COE Security is a leading cybersecurity services provider, offering comprehensive solutions to address the evolving threat landscape. We have a proven track record of helping organizations of all sizes mitigate risks, strengthen defenses, and recover from cyberattacks. Our team of experienced cybersecurity professionals possesses deep expertise in the latest technologies and best practices, enabling us to deliver tailored solutions that meet your unique security needs.

We offer a wide range of services, including:
Security Services
  • Application Penetration Testing – Assessing the security of applications by simulating real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities.
  • Mobile Application Penetration Testing – Evaluating the security of mobile applications on Android and iOS to detect potential risks.
  • Web Application Penetration Testing – Identifying and mitigating security flaws in web applications to prevent cyber threats.
  • Thick Client Penetration Testing – Testing desktop applications to uncover security gaps that could be exploited by attackers.
  • API Penetration Testing – Ensuring the security of APIs by detecting vulnerabilities that could lead to unauthorized access or data leaks.
  • Network Penetration Testing – Evaluating network infrastructure for weaknesses that hackers could exploit to gain access.
  • Hardware Penetration Testing – Identifying security flaws in hardware components that could compromise overall system security.
  • Operational Technology Security Testing – Protecting critical industrial control systems from cyber threats and potential disruptions.
  • Cloud Penetration Testing – Assessing cloud environments for vulnerabilities to ensure the security of cloud-based assets.
  • AWS Penetration Testing – Conducting security assessments for AWS environments to detect and mitigate risks.
  • GCP Penetration Testing – Evaluating security risks in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to safeguard cloud assets and infrastructure.
  • Azure Penetration Testing – Identifying vulnerabilities in Microsoft Azure cloud environments to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Alibaba Penetration Testing – Ensuring the security of Alibaba Cloud infrastructures against evolving cyber threats.
  • AI & LLM Penetration Testing – Assessing security risks in artificial intelligence (AI) and large language model (LLM) applications.
  • Red Teaming – Simulating advanced attack scenarios to test an organization’s cyber resilience against real-world threats.
  • Social Engineering Service – Identifying human-related security weaknesses through phishing, impersonation, and other social engineering tactics.
  • Product Penetration Testing – Evaluating security vulnerabilities in software and hardware products before deployment.
  • IoT Security – Securing connected devices to prevent them from becoming entry points for attackers.
  • DevOps & Secure Software Development – Embedding security into the software development lifecycle.