Penetration testing services providers help businesses uncover vulnerabilities within their computer systems, networks, and applications. They are managed service providers that help companies by exposing defects and known security vulnerabilities and testing the security of their communication channels and integrations. They perform this by simulating cyberattacks that target known vulnerabilities and general application components in an attempt to breach core systems, which helps detect exploitable vulnerabilities. They may also use several open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools. The service providers document these potential vulnerabilities and report them to the clients. Some service providers may also offer assistance to remediate the vulnerabilities and further perform retesting.
Penetration testing software, the software counterpart of penetration testing services providers, lets users perform penetration testing and gather intelligence on potential known security vulnerabilities. Businesses can deploy penetration testing software in lieu of or in addition to penetration testing services to maximize security awareness and protection. Penetration testing services go hand in hand with vulnerability assessment services providers, incident response services provicers, and threat intelligence services providers. Cybersecurity consulting providers may also often provide manual penetration testing as part of their services.
To qualify for inclusion in the Penetration Testing Services category, a services provider must:
- Provide access to penetration testers
- Perform different types of penetration testing, including black box testing, white box testing, and gray box testing
- Document exploitable vulnerabilities and report them to clients
- Provide recommendations to improve the client’s security architecture
