Cloud Penetration Testing

Scope

Focuses on cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and GCP, including IAM, storage, compute, and networking

Focuses on on-premise networks, servers, firewalls, VPNs, and internal systems

Environment

Public cloud and hybrid environments operating under shared responsibility models

Internal corporate networks and externally exposed infrastructure

Primary Objective

Identify misconfigurations, excessive permissions, exposed storage, and cloud identity risks

Identify weaknesses that allow unauthorized network access or lateral movement

Attack Surface

IAM roles, security groups, storage buckets, container services, serverless functions, APIs

Open ports, outdated services, weak segmentation, remote access systems

Common Vulnerabilities

Over-permissioned IAM roles, exposed S3 buckets, misconfigured security groups, privilege escalation paths

Weak password policies, unpatched servers, insecure RDP/VPN access, AD misconfigurations

Testing Approach

Simulates a cloud-focused attacker abusing identity, permissions, and misconfigurations

Simulates an attacker attempting to gain a network foothold and move laterally

Authentication & Access Control

Evaluates cloud IAM, federation, role assumption, and privilege boundaries

Evaluates Active Directory, domain permissions, and privileged account security

Visibility & Monitoring

Assesses logging, alerting, and cloud-native monitoring controls

May review perimeter monitoring and internal detection controls if scoped

Impact if Compromised

Large-scale data exposure, cross-account access, cloud environment takeover

Domain compromise, ransomware deployment, internal system access

Ideal For

Organizations operating in AWS, Azure, GCP, or hybrid cloud environments

Organizations validating traditional network and internal infrastructure security