Pentest Vendor
How to Choose a Penetration Testing Vendor
How to Choose a Penetration Testing Vendor
How to Choose a Penetration Testing Vendor
The market is crowded with automated scanners posing as penetration tests. Here is how to filter the noise and find a partner that actually reduces risk.
The Three Types of Vendors
Don't just hire a vendor; choose a delivery model that fits your speed.
Vendor Type
Pros
Cons
Best For
Traditional Consultancy
Deep brand name recognition (e.g., Big 4).
Slow (weeks to quote/schedule), static reporting, disconnected from dev workflows.
Legacy organizations that prioritize "brand safety" over speed or remediation.
Automated
Scanners
Instant, very cheap.
High false positives, misses logic flaws, often rejected by auditors.
Checking a box (with low security value).
PTaaS
(Red Sentry)
Manual hacking + platform speed. Quotes in hours.
Modern Enterprises, SaaS platforms, and Agile teams requiring continuous security.
The Three Types of Vendors
Don't just hire a vendor; choose a delivery model that fits your speed.
The Three Types of Vendors
Don't just hire a vendor; choose a delivery model that fits your speed.
Vendor Type
Pros
Cons
Best For
Traditional Consultancy
Deep brand name recognition (e.g., Big 4).
Slow (weeks to quote/schedule), static reporting, disconnected from dev workflows.
Legacy organizations that prioritize "brand safety" over speed or remediation.
Automated
Scanners
Instant, very cheap.
High false positives, misses logic flaws, often rejected by auditors.
Checking a box (with low security value).
PTaaS
(Red Sentry)
Manual hacking + platform speed. Quotes in hours.
Modern Enterprises, SaaS platforms, and Agile teams requiring continuous security.
The Three Types of Vendors
Don't just hire a vendor; choose a delivery model that fits your speed.
TRADITIONAL CONSULTANCY
AUTOMATED SCANNERS
ENTERPRISE
Vendor Type
Pros
Cons
Best For
Traditional Consultancy
Deep brand name recognition (e.g., Big 4).
Slow (weeks to quote/schedule), static reporting, disconnected from dev workflows.
Legacy organizations that prioritize "brand safety" over speed or remediation.
The Three Types of Vendors
Don't just hire a vendor; choose a delivery model that fits your speed.
TRADITIONAL CONSULTANCY
AUTOMATED SCANNERS
ENTERPRISE
Vendor Type
Pros
Cons
Best For
Traditional Consultancy
Deep brand name recognition (e.g., Big 4).
Slow (weeks to quote/schedule), static reporting, disconnected from dev workflows.
Legacy organizations that prioritize "brand safety" over speed or remediation.
The Three Types of Vendors
Don't just hire a vendor; choose a delivery model that fits your speed.
If a vendor does any of these, run.
No Re-testing:
If they charge extra
Pay-Per-Vulnerability:
This creates a perverse incentive to find junk data just to charge you.
The "Instant" Report: If they promise a full pentest report 24 hours after signing, it’s an automated scan. Humans need time to think.
The Red Flags
The Red Flags
The Red Flags
If a vendor does any of these, run.
The "Instant" Report: If they promise a full pentest report 24 hours after signing, it’s an automated scan. Humans need time to think.
Pay-Per-Vulnerability:
This creates a perverse incentive to find junk data just to charge you.
No Re-testing:
If they charge extra
Certifications That Actually Matter
Certifications That Actually Matter
Certifications That Actually Matter
Company certifications prove process; individual certifications prove skill.
Company certifications prove process; individual certifications prove skill.
Company certifications prove process; individual certifications prove skill.
For the Company:
Look for SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001. This proves they handle your sensitive data securely.
Look for SOC 2 Type II or ISO 27001. This proves they handle your sensitive data securely.
For the Hackers:
Look for OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) and OSEP (Experienced Penetration Tester). Avoid vendors who only rely on CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) as it is theory-based, not hands-on.
Look for OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) and OSEP (Experienced Penetration Tester). Avoid vendors who only rely on CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) as it is theory-based, not hands-on.
The 5 Questions You Must Ask
The 5 Questions You Must Ask
Copy and paste these into your RFP or email chain.
"What percentage of the testing is performed by humans vs. automated tools?"
"Do you charge extra for re-testing/remediation verification?"
"Can I speak directly to the engineer testing my environment?"
"What certifications do the specific testers assigned to my project hold?"
"Is your report accepted by major auditors (Big 4) for SOC 2/ISO compliance?"
Why Red Sentry?
We built the model we wanted to buy.
We combine the depth of top-tier ethical hackers with the speed of a modern SaaS platform.
Quality
Certified pros (OSCP/CISSP), no students or outsourcing.
Speed
Get a quote in hours (not weeks) and launch your test in under 48 hours.
Transparency
Watch findings appear in real-time on your dashboard.
Speed
Get a quote in hours (not weeks) and launch your test in under 48 hours.
Quality
Certified pros (OSCP/CISSP), no students or outsourcing.
Transparency
Watch findings appear in real-time on your dashboard.
Why Red Sentry?
We built the model we wanted to buy.
We combine the depth of top-tier ethical hackers with the speed of a modern SaaS platform.
Speed
Get a quote in hours (not weeks) and launch your test in under 48 hours.
Quality
Certified pros (OSCP/CISSP), no students or outsourcing.
Transparency
Watch findings appear in real-time on your dashboard.
Why Red Sentry?
We built the model we wanted to buy.
We combine the depth of top-tier ethical hackers with the speed of a modern SaaS platform.