Featured resource
Tech Upskilling Playbook 2025
Tech Upskilling Playbook

Build future-ready tech teams and hit key business milestones with seven proven plays from industry leaders.

Learn more
  • Course
    • Libraries: If you want this course, consider one of these libraries.
    • Security

Pen Testing: Network Initial Access

Gaining initial access is a pivotal step in a penetration test. This course will teach you how to identify and exploit network vulnerabilities to gain initial access.

Matthew Lloyd Davies - Pluralsight course - Pen Testing: Network Initial Access
by Matthew Lloyd Davies

What you'll learn

Gaining initial access to a network is a critical first step in penetration testing. In this course, Pen Testing: Network Initial Access, you’ll learn to breach perimeter defenses and exploit common network protocols. First, you’ll explore network scanning and fingerprinting techniques to identify potential targets. Next, you’ll discover methods for bypassing firewalls and perimeter defenses, including exploiting known vulnerabilities and leveraging misconfigurations. Finally, you’ll learn how to escalate privileges to gain deeper network access. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge needed to effectively assess network security in a penetration testing context.

Table of contents

About the author

Matthew Lloyd Davies - Pluralsight course - Pen Testing: Network Initial Access
Matthew Lloyd Davies

Matt has a degree in Chemical engineering and a PhD in mathematical chemistry. He is also a GIAC certified incident handler and penetration tester and has regulated cyber security in the UK civil nuclear sector for many years.

More Courses by Matthew