Is Your Internal Pen Test Just a Glorified Vulnerability Scan?

Organizations today face an increasing number of internal threats—whether from malicious insiders, compromised credentials, or vulnerable systems exposed on the internal network. That’s why internal penetration testing has become a critical part of any mature cybersecurity program. But there’s a catch: not all internal “pen tests” are created equal.

In fact, some so-called “penetration tests” are little more than glorified automated vulnerability scans.

At Compass, we’ve been performing thorough, hands-on internal penetration testing for more than 15 years. We’ve seen firsthand how the term “pen test” is often used loosely—sometimes to describe assessments that lack even the most basic manual testing techniques. This creates a dangerous false sense of security, especially when the results are used to inform board-level risk decisions or satisfy compliance obligations.

So how do you know if your internal pen test is the real deal?

The Automation Trap: Vulnerability Scans Disguised as Pen Tests

Automated vulnerability scanners are valuable tools. They identify known vulnerabilities, missing patches, and misconfigurations quickly. But that’s where they stop. They don’t exploit vulnerabilities. They don’t pivot through a network. They don’t test your detection and response capabilities.

Too often, we’ve seen internal “pen test” reports that are nothing more than formatted outputs from tools like Nessus or OpenVAS. These assessments may look technical—but they’re fundamentally passive. If your provider runs a scanner, exports the results, and calls it a pen test, you’re not getting the value—or insight—you think you are.

What a Real Internal Penetration Test Should Include

An authentic internal penetration test goes far beyond tool output. It involves skilled testers simulating the actions of an attacker who has already gained a foothold in your environment—whether through a phishing attack, compromised VPN credentials, or an insider threat.

But perhaps the most important element? Human creativity. Unlike automated tools, human testers think like adversaries. They use logic, intuition, and creativity to chain together seemingly low-risk vulnerabilities into high-impact compromises. They recognize unusual configurations, find overlooked exposures, and adapt their tactics in real time—something no scanner can replicate.

Here’s what you should expect in a true internal penetration test:

• Password and Hash Capture: Can the tester extract password hashes from systems or domain controllers? Can they crack them? Weak internal credentials are often the first step in lateral movement.
• Credential Reuse and Privilege Escalation: Are compromised credentials reused across systems? Can the tester escalate to domain admin?
• Authenticated Access and Lateral Movement: Is the tester able to move laterally between systems, access sensitive shares, or identify high-value targets?
• Evasion Techniques: Are they testing your endpoint defenses? A real attacker won’t sit back and let antivirus catch them.
• Creative Exploitation Paths: Can the tester spot and combine low-severity misconfigurations into a full compromise? These attack paths aren’t always obvious—they require experience and analytical thinking.
• Clear Documentation and Executive Summary: The final report should walk you through the exact steps taken, the systems accessed, and the impact of those actions—not just list CVEs.
• Remediation Guidance: You need clear, actionable next steps—not just a dump of raw findings.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for a Sample Report

One of the simplest ways to vet your internal penetration testing provider is to ask for a redacted sample report. A high-quality pen test report will show evidence of manual testing and real-world attack simulations. It should include:

• Screenshots of successful attacks (e.g., password hashes, shell access)
• A narrative of the attack path
• Impact analysis and business risk
• Tactical and strategic remediation recommendations

If the report looks like a spreadsheet of plugin IDs and severity scores, you’re not getting a penetration test—you’re getting a scan.

Internal Testing Is Too Important to Get Wrong

Internal penetration testing is often your last line of defense. If an attacker bypasses perimeter controls or a disgruntled employee turns malicious, your internal environment becomes the battleground.

And in that scenario, it’s not enough to know what should be vulnerable. You need to know what an actual attacker could do with the access they gain. That’s where human insight makes all the difference.

Real attackers don’t follow checklists—they adapt, experiment, and persist. So should your testers.

Why Compass?

For over 15 years, Compass has delivered rigorous, hands-on penetration testing services to organizations across highly regulated industries—including healthcare, finance, education, and government. Our internal pen tests are conducted by experienced professionals who don’t cut corners. We don’t automate our way through an engagement—we think like attackers, act like attackers, and document our findings with clarity and purpose.

Whether you’re testing compliance with frameworks like PCI DSS, HIPAA, or CMMC—or you’re simply trying to understand your true exposure—we’re here to help you separate fact from fiction in your security posture.

Let’s Talk

If you’re unsure whether your internal pen test is providing real value—or you’re looking for a trusted partner to raise the bar—contact us today. We’ll review your current approach, share what to look for in a quality assessment, and help ensure your next test is more than just a checkbox.