Manual Pentesting vs. Automated: which one is better for my business?

Pentesting, a crucial element in cybersecurity, is the abbreviated term for penetration testing. This method stands out as the most efficient approach for long-term system protection, guarding against a variety of cyberattacks.

In this process, a company engages a cybersecurity expert to test its system with the primary objective of identifying potential vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities could be exploited by a malicious actor, someone who steals private information or extorts organizations for financial gain.

The cybersecurity experts hired for these testings are ethical hackers—a professional who leverages hacking abilities for the greater good.

Ethical hackers typically assess the system's vulnerabilities using creative and counterintuitive methods. This approach is necessary because black hat hackers employ similar techniques to carry out attacks. In essence, ethical hackers must think like an attacker or a malicious user.

However, there is more than one way to conduct pentesting: the process can be either manual or automated. What are the differences between these approaches? Which one best aligns with the security needs of each company? What criteria should a company consider when selecting a pentesting method?

The human touch: in-depth manual pentesting

The manual pentesting process is addressed by security experts with a deep understanding of systems and creativity, discovering vulnerabilities meticulously. This approach is ideal for companies that prioritize a tailored, hands-on methodology, especially in complex and unique infrastructures.

The human touch ensures a refined examination, uncovering specific and customized risks that automated tools might overlook. For organizations valuing precision in their security strategy, manual pentesting stands as an indispensable ally.

In this mode of penetration testing, security professionals not only detect high impact vulnerabilities but also play a key role in identifying, reporting, and crafting resolutions for high-impact security risks. It is within the realm of manual pentesting that vulnerabilities posing a real and substantial threat to the business are brought to light.

To understand better, is essential to know the main characteristics of the manual pentesting process:

• Tailored approach: Ethical hackers assess the system with a customized and hands-on methodology, adapting to the unique infrastructure and security concerns of the company.

• Human intelligence: Manual pentesting relies on the expertise and creativity of skilled cybersecurity professionals to identify vulnerabilities that automated tools may overlook.

• Refined analysis: Security experts employ in-depth analysis, considering various attack vectors and potential scenarios to uncover complex vulnerabilities.

• Strategic thinking: Ethical hackers approach the testing with strategic thinking, anticipating the tactics that malicious hackers might employ to breach the system.

• Focus on high-risk areas: Manual testing allows for a targeted examination of high-risk areas, ensuring that critical vulnerabilities are prioritized in the security improvement process.

• Detailed & Insightful reporting: The findings are presented in a comprehensive report, offering not only identified vulnerabilities but also recommendations and insights for strengthening overall security.

• Adaptability: The manual process allows for adaptability during testing, enabling cybersecurity professionals to explore emerging vulnerabilities or unexpected attack vectors.

• Interactive engagement: Our Ethical Hackers are available to our customers and work together to report and fix vulnerabilities.

• Continuous improvement: Manual pentesting often involves a collaborative feedback loop with the organization, fostering continuous improvement in the security posture based on evolving threats and vulnerabilities.

Speed and efficiency: Automated Pentesting

Unlike manual pentesting, automated pentesting offers tools that expedite the vulnerability identification process. This method is ideal for companies seeking a rapid and comprehensive overview of their security posture, especially in large-scale environments.

These tools conduct massive scans, significantly enhancing the efficiency of security analyses. While sacrificing some of the personalization of manual pentesting, the speed and scalability make automated approaches a strategic choice for organizations that face complexities of modern cybersecurity.

Here are the characteristics of the automated pentesting method:

• Scalability: Automated tools enable the testing of large-scale systems efficiently, allowing for comprehensive coverage of an organization's infrastructure.

• Speed and efficiency: Automated pentesting significantly accelerates the vulnerability identification process, providing a rapid overview of the security posture.

• Regular audits: Suited for organizations requiring frequent security assessments, automated pentesting provides a consistent and automated way to conduct regular audits.

• Cost-effectiveness: Automated testing can be more cost-effective for organizations with budget constraints, as it requires fewer human resources compared to manual testing.

• Simultaneous testing: Automated testing tools can perform multiple tests simultaneously, making them efficient for analyzing different aspects of the system concurrently.

• Data-driven reporting: Automated pentesting tools generate detailed reports based on the data collected during scans, providing a structured overview of identified vulnerabilities.

Which is the best pentest for your Compliance needs?

Many companies seek to perform pentesting to comply with the most relevant Compliance certifications at an international level.

For this goal, automated testing may be the best option. At Strike we have the Automated Testing Compliance plan, that runs automated tests and reports to meet the standards of certifications such as SOC2, HIPAA and ISO 27001.

Here's how it works:

• Once the domain is verified, the user will be able to turn on the automated scans and start getting results in a very fast way.
• When the automated testing finishes, the report will be ready to download and check the compliance box.

On the other hand, compliance standards such as PCI DSS and SWIFT demand a comprehensive assessment of security measures, that requires the human expertise and intuition that manual penetration testers bring to the table. By engaging in a meticulous examination of systems, applications, and network infrastructure, manual pentesting not only satisfies compliance requirements but also ensures a higher level of assurance in identifying and mitigating potential risks, thereby fortifying an organization's overall cybersecurity posture.

Quick Test: Chart for Easy Decision-Making

The following chart captures the main characteristics of each method, offering a parallel comparison to aid in decision-making.

Whether prioritizing human intelligence or seeking the speed of automated scans, this overview aims to assist organizations in making informed choices aligned with their unique security needs.