Penetration testing (typically shortened to “pentesting”) helps corporations discover and repair safety vulnerabilities by means of moral hackers launching deliberate assaults. A sure stage of pentesting upkeep can be automated due to advances in expertise that enable for computerized vulnerability scanning across the clock. On this information, we dive deep into the options, professionals, and cons of the highest six penetration corporations that will help you resolve which one is the suitable selection for your online business and funds.
High penetration testing corporations comparability
Moreover pricing, there are lots of different components that you need to think about when selecting the perfect penetration testing firm in your wants. Listed below are a number of the most vital standards to research:
Beginning worth | Pentest capability | Scan behind logins | Compliance | Skilled remediation | |
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Astra Safety | $1,999 per 12 months | Net and cellular functions, cloud infrastructure, API, and networks | Sure | PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOC2, ISO 27001 | Sure |
Intruder | $157 per thirty days billed yearly | Web sites, servers, and cloud | Sure | PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOC2, ISO 27001 | No |
Cobalt | Contact for quote | Net and cellular functions, APIs, networks, and cloud | No | SOC2, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, ISO 27001, CREST, NEST | Sure |
Acunetix | Contact for quote | Net functions | Sure | OWASP, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, HIPAA | Sure |
Invicti | Contact for quote | Net functions and APIs | Sure | OWASP, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, HIPAA | Sure |
Breachlock | $2,000 for a one-time check | Net functions, cloud, and networks | Sure | SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, ISO 27001, NIST, CREST, GDPR | Sure |
Astra Safety: Greatest total

Astra Safety gives a spread of pentesting choices to go well with all kinds of wants, together with internet functions, cellular functions, cloud safety infrastructure, APIs, and networks. It additionally affords a vulnerability scanner that gives greater than 8,000 assessments and may even scan behind logged-in pages. Smaller corporations can buy scanners and pentests à la carte based on the clear pricing plans, whereas bigger corporations can go for the bundled enterprise plan or request a customized quote for the precise companies they want.
SEE: What Is Cloud Penetration Testing & Why Is it Necessary? (TechRepublic)
Why I selected Astra Safety
I selected Astra Safety as a result of it affords one of many largest pentest capacities of all of the penetration testing corporations I thought-about. This broad number of choices means each small companies and huge corporations will possible be capable to discover an Astra pentest choice to go well with their wants, whether or not they’re a startup that solely wants one goal to be examined or a big enterprise with a various infrastructure to guard.
Pricing
- Net app
- Scanner: $1,999 per 12 months or $199 per thirty days for 1 goal.
- Pentest: $5,999 per 12 months for 1 goal.
- Enterprise: Begin at $9,999 per 12 months for a number of targets throughout completely different asset varieties.
- Cellular app
- Pentest: $2,499 per 12 months for 1 goal.
- Enterprise: Begins at $3,999 for 1 goal.
- Cloud safety
- Primary: Contact gross sales for a quote.
- Elite: Contact gross sales for a quote.
Options
- Synthetic intelligence and machine studying assist automate assessments.
- Vulnerability scanner can run greater than 8,000 assessments.
- Helps publicly verifiable pentest certificates.
- Capable of scan behind logged-in pages.

Execs and cons
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Intruder: Greatest for vulnerability scanning

Along with its steady pentesting companies, Intruder additionally harnesses the facility of automation to supply each exterior and inside vulnerability scanning for around-the-clock protection. This method helps shoppers discover and repair essential vulnerabilities, even when it’s not but time for the following scheduled pentest. In the event you want vulnerability scanning along with pentesting, then you will get all of it from the identical firm with Intruder.
Why I selected Intruder
I chosen Intruder due to its inside and exterior vulnerability scanning instruments, that are comparatively inexpensive. Do notice that you just’ll want the Premium plan if you wish to add-on the continual penetration testing instrument. I additionally appreciated that Intruder affords a 14-day free trial in addition to integrations with fashionable instruments like Slack and GitHub.
Pricing
- Important: Begins at $157 per thirty days billed yearly or $174 per thirty days billed month-to-month for 1 utility and 1 goal.
- Professional: Begins at $221 per thirty days billed yearly or $284 per thirty days billed month-to-month for 1 utility and 1 goal. A 14-day free trial is obtainable.
- Premium: Contact gross sales for a customized quote.
Options
- Add targets by IRL, IP tackle, or cloud integration.
- Compliance experiences are at all times audit-ready.
- Schedule varied scans and set parameters based on enterprise priorities.
- Steady pentesting ensures speedy response instances.

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Cobalt.io: Greatest for on-demand pentesting

Cobalt takes a Pentest-as-a-Service method, offering on-demand penetration to corporations as wanted. Relying on which plan you go for and the kind of testing engagement, Cobalt can typically begin pentesting in as little as 1-3 enterprise days. Its versatile, credits-based mannequin permits every firm to distribute the work based mostly on their enterprise priorities or asset complexities (credit are bought in yearly packages).
Why I selected Cobalt.io
I selected Cobalt due to its quick response instances and versatile pricing mannequin. This distinctive mannequin helps companies save money and time, which is at all times a optimistic since penetration testing may be prolonged and expensive. In the event you want on-demand pentesting quick, that is undoubtedly a penetration testing firm value trying out.
Pricing
Cobalt affords three pricing tiers — Customary, Premium, and Enterprise — however doesn’t disclose how a lot each prices or what number of credit they get. For pricing particulars, contact the gross sales crew for a quote.
Options
- Exams are compliant with many various business requirements.
- Personalized crew is chosen from a pool of 400+ safety specialists based on every consumer’s wants.
- Each preset and configurable reporting choices can be found.
- Free retesting included with all plans.

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Acunetix: Greatest for small companies

Acunetix is an internet utility safety product owned by Invicti that’s geared in direction of small companies that don’t want the bells and whistles of enterprise-grade pentesting. Acunetix is supposed for internet functions, so it could’t be used to check different infrastructure like networks and APIs. Acunetix’s vulnerability scanner can detect 7,000+ internet vulnerabilities and combines each DAST and IAST scan outcomes for very thorough reporting.
Why I selected Acunetix
I selected Acunetix as a result of its automated pentesting will assist small companies save time whereas looking for 1000’s of potential vulnerabilities. I additionally preferred that it gives limitless customers and limitless scans versus charging for every seat or scan, which can assist to save lots of smaller corporations cash and trouble.
Pricing
Acunetix doesn’t disclose pricing, so that you’ll must contact the gross sales crew for a quote.
Options
- Vulnerability experiences are categorized by order of severity.
- Check over 7,000 varieties of internet vulnerabilities.
- Can schedule one-time or recurring scans.
- Doable to scan a number of environments on the identical time.

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Invicti: Greatest for giant corporations and enterprises

Invicti (previously Netsparker) is just like Acunetix, but it surely’s designed for giant corporations and enterprises versus small companies. Invicti’s proof-based scanner harnesses the facility of automation to rapidly establish vulnerabilities and ship actionable information. Invicti’s automation and scalability enable enterprise cybersecurity groups to safe lots of and even 1000’s of websites without delay.
Why I selected Invicti
I picked Invicti as a result of its automated vulnerability scanner is particularly designed with the wants and scope of huge corporations in thoughts. I additionally like that it affords a wholesome number of integrations, connecting to many fashionable developer and communication instruments.
Pricing
Invicti doesn’t disclose pricing — contact the gross sales crew for a quote.
Options
- On-premise and on-demand deployment choices obtainable.
- Onboarding help and coaching offered.
- Versatile assist choices.
- Superior scanning handbook toolkit.

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BreachLock: Greatest for versatile pentesting choices

BreachLock gives three completely different pentesting frequencies to select from, so you’ll be able to choose the one which works for your online business. Choose both one-time safety validation, annual safety validation, or steady safety validation based on your wants. All three varieties of assessments are run in-house by Breachlock’s pentesting crew and include limitless on-line remediation assist in addition to audit-ready experiences.
Why I selected BreachLock
I chosen BreachLock due to the numerous completely different pentesting choices it gives, which makes it probably the most versatile penetration testing corporations on the market. I additionally recognize that its pricing is clear and clearly lays out what stage of service you’ll get with every of the completely different pentesting packages.
Pricing
- One-time Safety Validation: Begins at $2,000 per engagement.
- Annual Safety Validation: Begins at $5,000 per 12 months.
- Steady Safety Validation: Contact gross sales for a customized quote.
Options
- Free handbook re-tests included with every plan.
- Devoted undertaking supervisor for Annual and Steady plans.
- White glove onboarding and implementation assist obtainable.
- Limitless on-line remediation assist.

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How do I select the perfect penetration testing firm for my enterprise?
To pick the perfect penetration testing firm in your wants, you first must resolve what sort of assist you might be in search of. Would you like automated scanning, handbook testing, or each? Subsequent, make an inventory of all of the targets, functions, and asset varieties that you just want examined. Additionally think about the frequency of pentesting that you really want: Do you solely want a one-off check or around-the-clock surveying in your total infrastructure?
SEE: Easy methods to Run a Cybersecurity Threat Evaluation in 5 Steps (TechRepublic Premium)
When you’ve bought a transparent concept of those parameters, attain out to your prime selections to start gathering pricing quotes. Many pentesting corporations use a quote-only pricing mannequin as a result of every pentesting engagement is exclusive. Every gross sales crew has an in-depth dialog with you about your wants and funds and creates a quote based mostly on what you inform them. You may also be capable to entry a free trial or demo of a vulnerability scanner, relying on the pentesting firm.
When you’ve vetted all of your prime selections and obtained your pricing quotes, it’s time to make your remaining number of the perfect penetration testing firm for your online business. In the event you’re on the fence, you might be able to first interact the corporate for a limited-time, scope-limited undertaking so you’ll be able to see how they work in motion with out committing to an annual contract proper out of the gate.
Methodology
To pick the perfect penetration testing corporations, I consulted service documentation and buyer opinions. In the course of the writing of this evaluate, I thought-about options reminiscent of pentest capability, compliance requirements, and professional remediation. I additionally weighed further components reminiscent of pricing, customer support, and turnaround time.