Pen Testing Services: Professional Penetration Testing Guide

Professional penetration testing services provide expert security assessment identifying vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. This guide covers pen testing service types, costs, selection criteria, and what to expect when engaging professional testers.

What Are Pen Testing Services?

Pen testing services deliver authorized simulated attacks by certified security professionals who identify vulnerabilities in your systems, networks, applications, and infrastructure. Unlike automated vulnerability scanning, professional penetration testers manually exploit weaknesses, demonstrating real-world attack scenarios and business impact.

Professional services include comprehensive scoping, manual testing execution, detailed reporting with remediation guidance, executive summaries for leadership, and retesting to validate fixes, typically costing $15,000-$100,000+ depending on scope and complexity.

Types of Pen Testing Services

1. Network Penetration Testing

Tests external perimeter and internal network security identifying misconfigurations, vulnerable services, and lateral movement opportunities. Cost: $15,000-$40,000.

2. Web Application Penetration Testing

Comprehensive testing of web applications identifying SQL injection, XSS, authentication flaws, and business logic vulnerabilities. Cost: $20,000-$50,000.

3. Mobile Application Testing

Security assessment of iOS/Android applications testing client-side security, API vulnerabilities, and data storage. Cost: $15,000-$35,000.

4. Wireless Penetration Testing

Assessment of wireless networks (Wi-Fi) testing encryption, authentication, and rogue access point detection. Cost: $10,000-$25,000.

5. Cloud Penetration Testing

Security testing of AWS, Azure, GCP environments identifying misconfigurations, IAM issues, and container vulnerabilities. Cost: $20,000-$60,000.

6. Social Engineering Testing

Simulated phishing, vishing (voice phishing), and physical security testing assessing human element. Cost: $15,000-$40,000.

7. Red Team Engagements

Comprehensive adversary simulation testing all security controls with realistic attack scenarios. Cost: $50,000-$200,000+.

Service Type	Duration	Typical Cost	Best For
Network Pen Test	1-3 weeks	$15K-$40K	Infrastructure security
Web App Pen Test	2-4 weeks	$20K-$50K	Application security
Mobile App Testing	1-3 weeks	$15K-$35K	Mobile platforms
Cloud Pen Test	2-3 weeks	$20K-$60K	AWS/Azure/GCP
Red Team	4-8 weeks	$50K-$200K	Mature security programs

What to Expect from Pen Testing Services

Phase 1: Scoping and Planning (Week 1)

• Define testing objectives and scope
• Identify systems and applications in scope
• Determine testing methodology (black box, gray box, white box)
• Establish rules of engagement
• Schedule testing windows
• Obtain necessary authorizations

Phase 2: Testing Execution (Weeks 2-3)

• Reconnaissance and information gathering
• Vulnerability identification
• Manual exploitation of identified vulnerabilities
• Privilege escalation attempts
• Lateral movement testing
• Data exfiltration simulation
• Documentation of findings

Phase 3: Reporting (Week 4)

• Detailed technical report with vulnerability details
• Executive summary for leadership
• Risk ratings (Critical, High, Medium, Low)
• Remediation recommendations
• Proof-of-concept documentation
• Compliance mapping (PCI DSS, HIPAA, etc.)

Phase 4: Debrief and Retesting

• Presentation of findings to stakeholders
• Q&A session with security team
• Remediation guidance
• Retesting after fixes (typically included or additional fee)

Selecting Pen Testing Providers

Evaluate providers based on:

• Certifications: OSCP, CEH, GPEN, GWAPT, OSCE
• Experience: Years in business, similar client engagements
• Methodology: Structured approach (PTES, OWASP, OSSTMM)
• Reputation: Client references and reviews
• Insurance: Professional liability and E&O coverage
• Reporting Quality: Sample reports demonstrating depth
• Tool Expertise: Manual testing not just automated scans
• Communication: Responsiveness and clarity
• Compliance Experience: PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2 testing

Pen Testing Pricing

Costs vary significantly based on scope:

Factor	Impact on Cost
Scope Size	More systems/apps = higher cost
Complexity	Custom apps more expensive than standard
Testing Depth	Black box cheaper than white box
Duration	Longer engagements cost more
Urgency	Rush testing adds 20-50% premium
Location	On-site testing adds travel costs

Compliance-Driven Pen Testing

Many regulations require annual penetration testing:

• PCI DSS: Requirement 11.3 - annual external and internal pen tests
• HIPAA: Requires security risk assessments including penetration testing
• SOC 2: Often includes pen testing as control evidence
• FedRAMP: Annual penetration testing required
• ISO 27001: Regular technical vulnerability assessments

Compliance-focused pen testing must follow specific requirements, include proper documentation, and be performed by qualified assessors. Many organizations combine compliance testing with broader security assessments.

Preparing for Penetration Testing

Maximize testing value by preparing properly:

Before Testing Begins

• Document all in-scope systems and applications
• Provide necessary credentials for authenticated testing
• Identify critical business functions to avoid disruption
• Notify relevant teams (IT, security, management)
• Establish communication channels with testers
• Ensure incident response team is aware
• Back up critical systems

During Testing

• Maintain open communication with testing team
• Monitor systems for unexpected impacts
• Respond promptly to tester questions
• Document any disruptions or concerns

After Testing

• Review findings thoroughly
• Prioritize remediation based on risk
• Develop remediation timeline
• Schedule retesting after fixes
• Update security controls and procedures
• Document lessons learned

Internal vs. External Pen Testing Services

Factor	Internal Team	External Provider
Expertise	Limited to team skills	Deep specialist expertise
Objectivity	Potential bias/blind spots	Independent assessment
Cost	Staff time + tools	Fixed project cost
Compliance	May not meet requirements	Meets compliance standards
Continuity	Ongoing availability	Project-based engagement

Best practice: Use external providers for annual compliance testing and major assessments, supplement with internal testing for continuous validation.

Conclusion

Professional penetration testing services provide essential security validation identifying vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. Quality pen testing goes beyond automated vulnerability scanning, expert testers manually validate vulnerabilities, demonstrate exploitability, assess business impact, and provide actionable remediation guidance tailored to your environment.

Selecting the right pen testing provider requires evaluating certifications, experience, methodology, and reputation. Costs range from $15,000 for focused assessments to $200,000+ for comprehensive red team engagements, but represent fraction of potential breach costs averaging $4.45 million.

Organizations benefit most from regular penetration testing (annual minimum, quarterly for high-risk) combined with continuous vulnerability management, SOC monitoring, and strong incident response capabilities. Pen testing should be viewed as essential security investment, not optional expense, providing validated security assurance, compliance evidence, and roadmap for security improvements.

subrosa provides professional penetration testing services across all domains, network, application, cloud, mobile, and social engineering, delivered by certified experts with proven track record protecting organizations across industries.