Penetration testing (pen testing) is like a stress test for your network security. It simulates a real cyberattack to find vulnerabilities before attackers do. If you fail, it means there are gaps in your defences—gaps that could lead to breaches, ransomware, or data theft.
Passing a pen test on the first try isn’t just about checking a box for compliance or cyber insurance; it’s about knowing your security is rock-solid.
Why Pen Tests Are Tough to Pass
Pen testers don’t play nicely — they think like real attackers. They start with one compromised machine and try to move laterally, escalate privileges and access sensitive systems. Many networks make their job far too easy because:
- Permissions are too open – Most networks weren’t built with security in mind, giving devices way more access than they need
- Misconfigurations slip through – A single weak firewall rule or outdated setting can create an entry point
- There’s little or no segmentation – If attackers get in, they can move freely between systems
- Traditional security focuses on detection, not prevention – By the time you find the issue, it’s often too late
How Zero Networks Helps You Pass with Flying Colours
Instead of reacting to pen test findings after the fact, Zero Networks takes a proactive approach to make sure attackers (and pen testers) can’t get anywhere in the first place. It automatically segments your network and locks down privileged access with MFA, cutting off the excessive permissions that attackers (and pen testers) rely on.
- Network Segmentation
Most networks were built for connectivity, not security, leaving them too open on the inside. Once an attacker (or pen tester) gains access to a single machine, they can move laterally with ease, probing for vulnerabilities and escalating privileges.
Zero Networks enforces automated, agentless microsegmentation, restricting every asset to only the connections it actually needs. By learning network traffic over 30 days and automatically generating precise firewall rules, Zero Networks locks down unnecessary access points, making it nearly impossible for attackers to explore the network, exploit weaknesses or spread malware.
- Identity Segmentation
Most security models focus on securing devices, but attackers don’t just exploit machines—they target identities. If a compromised account has broad access across the network, it can be used to pivot between systems and escalate privileges.
Zero Networks solves this by segmenting access at the identity level, ensuring that even if an attacker gets hold of credentials, they can’t freely move between assets. Each user and system only has access to the resources they need, eliminating the “all-or-nothing” approach that many networks suffer from. The result? Attackers are locked out, and pen testers hit a wall.
- Multi-factor Authentication
Privileged access is a goldmine for attackers, and most pen test failures happen because admin-level connections like RDP, SSH and WinRM are too easily accessible. Zero Networks enforces just-in-time MFA, keeping these ports closed by default and only opening them when an authorised user verifies their identity. This means even if a pen tester (or real attacker) gets their hands on a valid username and password, they still can’t break through without completing an additional authentication step.
With Zero Networks, sensitive admin access is locked down, reducing attack surfaces and making lateral movement virtually impossible.
Why This Works
Pen testers rely on excessive permissions, open networks, and weak access controls to succeed. Zero Networks flips the script by removing those weak points before a test even begins. By enforcing network segmentation, identity segmentation and just-in-time MFA, organisations don’t just pass pen tests—they make sure attackers never stand a chance in the real world.
Zero Networks in Action
One organisation using Zero Networks recently underwent a penetration test—and the results were nothing short of a security win. The pen testers attempted to move laterally, escalate privileges, and breach sensitive systems, but Zero Networks’ automated segmentation and just-in-time MFA shut down every avenue of attack. No excessive permissions, no open access—just dead ends at every turn.
The testers struggled so much that they thought their tools weren’t working properly. In reality, Zero Networks had done exactly what it was designed to do: prevent unauthorised movement within the network. While the testers eventually found a way to prove they had executed their assessment, they acknowledged that Zero Networks had significantly raised the bar for security. Instead of scrambling to fix vulnerabilities post-test, the organisation walked away with confidence, knowing their defences were proactively stopping threats before they could begin.
A Proven Solution for Passing Pen Tests
Companies using Zero Networks have seen a dramatic shift in their pen test results. Attackers who once easily moved across networks now hit roadblocks at every turn. Security teams no longer waste time patching gaps after a failed assessment—instead, they walk into pen tests knowing their defences are solid.
Rather than relying on outdated security methods that react after an attack has already begun, Zero Networks helps organisations proactively eliminate security risks before they become a problem.
If you want to pass your next penetration test with ease and focus on strengthening your cybersecurity rather than fixing weak spots, Zero Networks is the way forward.
Want to see it in action? Learn more about how Zero Networks can keep your organisation ahead of attackers today.
