Internal Penetration Testing
Description
Internal penetration testing must be performed at least annually + after significant changes.
⚠️ Risk Impact
Pen testing surfaces vulnerabilities that automated scanning misses — business-logic flaws, chained vulnerabilities, social engineering paths. Annual cadence is the minimum for sustained security.
🔍 How EchelonGraph Detects This
EchelonGraph's Tier 1 Cloud Scanner automatically checks for this condition across all connected cloud accounts. Violations are flagged as high-severity findings with remediation guidance.
🔧 Remediation
Engage qualified internal or external pen testers. Cover web + API + infrastructure + social engineering. Document findings + remediation. Re-test critical findings.
💀 Real-World Attack Scenario
A merchant skipped internal pen testing for 2 years post-COVID. When they finally engaged a tester in 2024, the tester found 23 critical findings — including unauthenticated API endpoints created during the COVID rush. The accumulated vuln backlog represented 2 years of unknown exposure.
💰 Cost of Non-Compliance
PCI 11.3 violations block compliance. Avg vuln-related breach: $4.45M.
📋 Audit Questions
- 1.When was last internal pen test?
- 2.Scope covered?
- 3.Critical findings remediated?
- 4.Re-test evidence?
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Mapping
⚡ Common Pitfalls
- ⛔Pen test scope too narrow
- ⛔Findings not remediated before next test
- ⛔Pen tester not properly qualified
📈 Business Value
Regular pen testing catches what automated tools miss.
⏱️ Effort Estimate
Pen test engagement + remediation
EchelonGraph monitors continuous posture between pen tests
🔗 Cross-Framework References
Automate PCI DSS 11.3 compliance
EchelonGraph continuously monitors this control across all your cloud accounts.
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