What is privilege escalation, and how easily can it occur in mature organisations?

Understanding the core question

The question of what is privilege escalation, and how easily can it occur in mature organisations is one that organisations of all sizes increasingly need to address. As cyber threats evolve in sophistication and frequency, understanding this topic is essential for making informed security decisions.

This article examines the key aspects of this challenge, drawing on real-world penetration testing experience and established security frameworks. Whether you are a CISO, IT manager, or Board member, the insights here will help you navigate this critical area.

Too often, organisations approach this topic with assumptions rather than evidence. A rigorous, testing-led perspective reveals nuances that theoretical frameworks and compliance checklists routinely miss.

The critical role of identity in modern attacks

Identity and access control weaknesses remain among the most consistently exploited attack vectors in penetration testing engagements. Despite advances in multi-factor authentication and zero trust architectures, fundamental weaknesses persist in most enterprise environments.

Attackers target identity systems because compromising a single privileged account can unlock access to the entire network. Weak password policies, legacy authentication protocols, and excessive privilege assignment create opportunities that skilled testers exploit routinely.

The challenge is compounded in complex environments where Active Directory, cloud identity providers, and legacy systems coexist. Trust relationships between these systems create attack paths that are invisible to individual system administrators but immediately apparent to a determined attacker.

Putting principles into practice

Translating security principles into effective practice requires clear processes, defined responsibilities, and measurable outcomes. The gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it consistently is where most organisations struggle.

Successful implementation starts with understanding your current state honestly, defining realistic objectives, and building a roadmap that addresses the highest-risk items first. Penetration testing plays a crucial role in this process by providing objective evidence of where you stand.

The organisations that achieve the best results are those that treat security as a continuous improvement process rather than a project with a defined end point. Regular testing, honest assessment, and systematic remediation create a virtuous cycle of increasing resilience.

Actionable steps for your organisation

Start by honestly assessing where your organisation currently stands in relation to this topic. Identify the gaps between your current practices and industry best practice, and prioritise the areas where improvement would have the greatest impact on your security posture.

Engage with experienced penetration testing professionals who can provide an objective, evidence-based assessment of your specific environment. Generic advice and theoretical frameworks only take you so far — real insight comes from testing your actual systems, processes, and people.

Moving forward with confidence

Understanding what is privilege escalation, and how easily can it occur in mature organisations is essential for building a robust security programme. The insights and approaches discussed in this article provide a foundation for making informed decisions and driving meaningful improvement in your organisation's security posture.