Server & End-User Device Review
Server & End-User Device Build Review
Server & End-User Device Review Server & End-User Device Build Review We carry out security assessments of servers and end-user devices to identify security shortcomings and potential escalation of privileges. Our build reviews measure your systems against hardening best practice to find weaknesses before an attacker can exploit them.
Overview
What is a build review?
A build review is a detailed assessment of the configuration and security controls of a server or end-user device, comparing the build against recognised hardening standards to identify insecure settings, missing patches and weaknesses that could allow privilege escalation.
By reviewing systems from the perspective of an attacker who has gained a foothold, we help you close the gaps that turn a minor compromise into a full breach, and give clear remediation guidance to harden your estate.
What you'll receive
- ✓Scoping: agreed server and end-user device builds, gold images and access levels
- ✓Testing: hardening review, privilege-escalation testing and breakout attempts on sample builds
- ✓Executive report: a build-security summary for stakeholders
- ✓Technical report: findings rated by severity and mapped to the CIS Benchmarks
- ✓Remediation: hardening guidance for group policy, configuration and patching
- ✓Retest & debrief: a retest of fixes and a call to walk your team through the results
Why It Matters
The value of regular security reviews
Evaluate your controls
Regular security reviews enable organisations to comprehensively evaluate their security measures, including the effectiveness of controls, configurations, and policies.
Strengthen your posture
Identifying weaknesses allows organisations to strengthen their security posture and better protect their assets and data against evolving threats.
Meet compliance
Regular security assessments are essential for compliance with industry regulations and data protection laws, demonstrating your commitment to a secure environment.
High-Level Methodology
A structured, five-phase approach
Scoping & Access
We agree the server and device builds in scope and how we will access them — typically a standard user account plus a copy of the build configuration — so we can assess each system safely, without disruption.
Baseline Comparison
We compare each build against recognised hardening benchmarks such as the CIS Benchmarks, quickly flagging missing patches, insecure defaults and disabled controls across the estate.
Configuration Review
Our consultants manually review the configuration in depth — services, permissions, local policies, logging and installed software — to find weaknesses that generic benchmarks do not cover for your specific build.
Privilege Escalation Analysis
We assess whether a standard user or a compromised account could escalate privileges — checking for weak file and registry permissions, unquoted service paths, credential exposure and other local escalation routes.
Reporting & Remediation
We deliver a clear report that prioritises findings by risk, with specific hardening recommendations for each build, and support your team through remediation and any follow-up validation.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do you test both Windows and Linux builds?
Yes. We review Windows and Linux server builds as well as Windows and macOS end-user devices, assessing each against the appropriate hardening benchmarks.
How much does a build review cost?
Cost depends on the number and variety of build types in scope — different operating systems, server roles and device images each require review. Contact us for a customised quote.
What information is required to scope a test?
To accurately scope a penetration test, we typically need information about your network range (IP addresses), domain names, key systems and applications, and any specific security concerns you have.
How is a build review different from a penetration test?
A penetration test simulates an external or internal attacker probing for exploitable weaknesses. A build review takes an authenticated, configuration-level look at a specific system to verify it is hardened correctly — the two are complementary.
What are the most common issues you find?
Recurring findings include missing patches, insecure service and file permissions, weak local policies, cached or stored credentials, unnecessary software and services, and local privilege-escalation routes.
Ready to harden your builds?
Get a fast, transparent quote for your server and end-user device review, or talk to a consultant about scoping the right engagement.