As a business leader, you’re constantly making decisions about how to best protect your organization—balancing risk, investment, and outcomes. When it comes to cybersecurity, one area that’s often misunderstood is penetration testing, especially the distinction between internal and external testing. 

Understanding the difference isn’t just a technical concern—it’s a strategic priority. Without both, your defenses may be dangerously incomplete. 

At Cambric Security, we provide both types of testing because we’ve seen first-hand how businesses that skip one side of the equation often discover too late that they were exposed. 

External Penetration Testing: The Front Door Check 

Think of external penetration testing as checking the locks on your front doors and windows. 

This testing simulates how an attacker from outside your organization—like a criminal group or state-sponsored actor—might try to breach your network via: 

• Exposed web applications 

• Firewalls and VPNs 

• Email servers 

• Cloud misconfigurations 
   

The goal? Identify and exploit vulnerabilities in systems that are accessible from the public internet. These are the same points that attackers scan daily, often in an automated fashion, looking for any opportunity to break in. 

Without regular external testing, you’re relying on hope—not evidence—that your perimeter is secure. 

Internal Penetration Testing: What Happens After the Breach 

Now imagine an attacker has already gotten past the front door—via a phishing email, a stolen password, or a rogue USB device. Internal penetration testing is about assessing what they can do next. 

This test simulates a breach from inside your network, targeting: 

• Workstations and internal servers 

• Domain controllers and user accounts 

• Access controls and privilege escalation paths 

• Lateral movement opportunities (how far an attacker can spread) 
   

Internal testing exposes how far an intruder can go if they gain even the smallest foothold—and how quickly they could escalate access or steal sensitive data. 

This is especially critical for regulated industries or any organization holding customer, financial, or proprietary information. 

Why You Need Both as a Business Leader 

If you’re only testing the outside, you’re ignoring the reality of modern threats—most breaches today start with a human error (like a phishing attack) and continue from the inside out. 

Here’s what happens when you combine both: 

• Holistic visibility into real-world attack paths 

• Actionable insights for your IT or security team 

• Stronger security posture for compliance and due diligence 

• Confidence when answering to boards, customers, or regulators 
   

It’s not about paranoia—it’s about preparedness. 

How Cambric Security Helps 

At Cambric Security, we partner with business leaders who want more than a technical scan. We provide: 

• External and internal penetration testing, tailored to your environment 

• Clear reporting, in plain business terms—what it means, what’s at risk, and what to do next 

• Remediation support, helping your team strengthen defenses where it matters most 

• Ongoing guidance, so testing becomes a strategic security tool, not a one-time check 
   

Whether you’re preparing for a compliance audit, assessing vendor risk, or simply trying to sleep better at night—we’re here to help. 

Next Steps 

If you haven’t had both internal and external penetration testing done in the past 12 months, it’s time to act. 

Let’s talk about where your business stands, what risks you may be overlooking, and how we can help you stay secure—inside and out. 

Cambric Security is ready when you are.