7 Types of Penetration Testing: Which Does Your Business Need?

Organizations face unique security challenges based on industry, technology stack, and threat profile. Penetration testing isn't one-size-fits-all. Seven distinct testing types target different attack surfaces, from network infrastructure to mobile applications, each revealing specific vulnerabilities attackers could exploit.

This guide compares penetration testing types, including methodologies, typical costs, timelines, and use cases. Learn which tests your organization needs based on compliance requirements, infrastructure, and risk tolerance.

Overview of Penetration Testing Types

Penetration tests categorize by target system and testing methodology:

By Target System:

• Network Penetration Testing: Internal and external network infrastructure
• Web Application Testing: Web applications and APIs
• Wireless Testing: WiFi networks and wireless protocols
• Physical Testing: Physical security controls and social engineering
• Cloud Security Testing: Cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Mobile Application Testing: iOS and Android applications
• IoT/OT Testing: Internet of Things and operational technology

By Testing Approach:

• Black Box: No prior knowledge (external attacker perspective)
• White Box: Full knowledge (comprehensive security review)
• Grey Box: Partial knowledge (insider threat simulation)

1. Network Penetration Testing

Network penetration testing assesses infrastructure security identifying vulnerabilities in routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and workstations. Tests execute from two perspectives:

External Network Testing

Simulates internet-based attacks against publicly accessible assets:

• Perimeter firewall testing
• VPN security assessment
• Remote access services (RDP, SSH, VNC)
• Mail servers and DNS infrastructure
• Public-facing servers and applications
• DDoS susceptibility testing

Common Findings:

• Unpatched systems with known vulnerabilities
• Weak or default credentials on network devices
• Unnecessary services exposed to internet
• Misconfigured firewalls allowing unauthorized access
• SSL/TLS configuration weaknesses

Internal Network Testing

Assesses security from perspective of malicious insider or attacker who breached perimeter:

• Lateral movement opportunities
• Privilege escalation paths
• Active Directory exploitation
• Network segmentation effectiveness
• Sensitive data exposure on file shares
• Domain controller compromise attempts

Use Cases:

• Annual security assessments
• Pre-deployment testing for new infrastructure
• Post-breach validation
• PCI DSS compliance (quarterly external, annual internal)
• Network architecture validation

Typical Cost: $5,000-$25,000 depending on network size

Duration: 5-10 business days

2. Web Application Penetration Testing

Web application security testing identifies vulnerabilities in web-based applications, focusing on OWASP Top 10 risks and business logic flaws.

Testing Methodology

Testers analyze:

• Authentication: Login bypass, brute force protection, session management
• Authorization: Privilege escalation, insecure direct object references
• Input Validation: SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), command injection
• Business Logic: Payment bypass, workflow manipulation, race conditions
• Encryption: Transport security, sensitive data exposure
• Configuration: Server hardening, error handling, security headers

OWASP Top 10 Focus Areas

Professional web app testing prioritizes OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities:

1. Broken Access Control: Users accessing unauthorized functionality
2. Cryptographic Failures: Sensitive data transmitted or stored insecurely
3. Injection: SQL, NoSQL, OS command, and LDAP injection
4. Insecure Design: Missing security controls in design phase
5. Security Misconfiguration: Default settings, verbose errors, unused features
6. Vulnerable Components: Outdated libraries with known vulnerabilities
7. Authentication Failures: Weak passwords, broken session management
8. Software Integrity Failures: Unsigned code, insecure updates
9. Logging Failures: Insufficient logging preventing breach detection
10. SSRF: Server-side request forgery enabling internal system access

API Security Testing

Modern applications rely heavily on APIs requiring specialized testing:

• Authentication and authorization testing (OAuth, JWT)
• Rate limiting and DOS protection
• Input validation and injection testing
• Business logic abuse
• Data exposure through API responses

Use Cases:

• Pre-launch application security validation
• Annual security assessments
• Post-major release testing
• Third-party application security verification
• PCI DSS compliance for payment processing applications

Typical Cost: $8,000-$35,000 depending on application complexity

Duration: 7-14 business days

3. Wireless Network Testing

Wireless penetration testing assesses WiFi security identifying vulnerabilities in encryption, authentication, and network access controls.

Testing Scope

• Encryption Analysis: WEP cracking, WPA/WPA2/WPA3 attacks, weak passphrases
• Authentication Testing: RADIUS server security, certificate validation
• Rogue Access Point Detection: Identifying unauthorized WiFi networks
• Client Attacks: Evil twin attacks, WiFi phishing
• Bluetooth Security: Device pairing, data exposure
• Guest Network Segmentation: Isolation from corporate resources

Common Vulnerabilities

• WPA2-PSK with weak passwords vulnerable to brute force
• WPS enabled allowing PIN attacks
• Unencrypted guest networks
• Insufficient network segmentation
• 802.1X misconfiguration allowing unauthorized access
• Bluetooth devices with default PINs

Use Cases:

• Office wireless network validation
• Retail and hospitality guest WiFi security
• Healthcare wireless infrastructure (medical device connectivity)
• Warehouse and manufacturing facility testing

Typical Cost: $4,000-$12,000

Duration: 2-5 business days

4. Physical Penetration Testing

Physical testing evaluates physical security controls and social engineering defenses, simulating unauthorized facility access attempts.

Testing Components

Physical Access Testing:

• Tailgating and piggybacking attempts
• Badge cloning and unauthorized access
• Lock picking and door bypass
• Security camera blind spots
• After-hours access attempts
• Dumpster diving for sensitive information

Social Engineering:

• Phishing campaigns testing email security awareness
• Vishing (voice phishing) targeting help desk and employees
• Pretexting scenarios gaining trust for information disclosure
• USB drop testing (malware-laden USB drives left on premises)
• Impersonation (delivery person, maintenance, contractors)

Real-World Scenario Examples

Physical penetration tests reveal surprising weaknesses:

• Security guards allowing access without proper verification
• Employees holding doors open for friendly-seeming strangers
• Sensitive documents left unsecured in common areas
• Workstations unlocked with access to critical systems
• Server rooms accessible without authentication

Use Cases:

• High-security facility validation
• Data center security assessment
• Corporate headquarters security review
• Financial institution compliance testing
• Healthcare facility HIPAA security validation

Typical Cost: $10,000-$40,000 depending on complexity and locations

Duration: 5-15 business days

5. Cloud Security Testing

Cloud penetration testing assesses security of cloud infrastructure, applications, and configurations across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and multi-cloud environments.

Cloud-Specific Testing

Infrastructure Testing:

• IAM policy review (overly permissive roles)
• Storage bucket security (public S3 buckets, exposed Azure blobs)
• Network security group configuration
• Serverless function security (Lambda, Azure Functions)
• Container security (Docker, Kubernetes misconfigurations)
• API gateway security

Common Cloud Vulnerabilities:

• Publicly accessible storage with sensitive data
• Over-privileged IAM roles violating least privilege
• Missing encryption for data at rest and in transit
• Insecure API endpoints
• Unpatched cloud instances
• Exposed management interfaces
• Weak authentication (no MFA, long-lived credentials)

Compliance Considerations

Cloud testing addresses compliance requirements:

• HIPAA: Healthcare data protection in cloud environments
• PCI DSS: Cardholder data security in cloud infrastructure
• SOC 2: Cloud service provider security controls
• FedRAMP: Federal cloud security requirements

Use Cases:

• Pre-production cloud deployment validation
• Cloud migration security assessment
• Multi-cloud security posture review
• DevSecOps pipeline integration testing
• Compliance-driven cloud security validation

Typical Cost: $12,000-$50,000 depending on cloud complexity

Duration: 7-20 business days

6. Mobile Application Testing

Mobile app penetration testing identifies security flaws in iOS and Android applications, including client-side vulnerabilities, insecure data storage, and weak server communication.

Testing Scope

Client-Side Testing:

• Reverse engineering and code analysis
• Local data storage security (databases, files, keychain)
• Hardcoded secrets (API keys, encryption keys)
• Insecure cryptography implementation
• Jailbreak/root detection bypass
• Binary protection (obfuscation, anti-tampering)

Network Communication:

• Certificate pinning validation
• API authentication and authorization
• Data transmission encryption
• Session management
• Man-in-the-middle attack susceptibility

Platform-Specific Testing:

• iOS: Keychain security, inter-app communication, push notification security
• Android: Intent handling, content provider security, permission model abuse

OWASP Mobile Top 10

Professional mobile testing addresses OWASP Mobile risks:

1. Improper Platform Usage
2. Insecure Data Storage
3. Insecure Communication
4. Insecure Authentication
5. Insufficient Cryptography
6. Insecure Authorization
7. Client Code Quality
8. Code Tampering
9. Reverse Engineering
10. Extraneous Functionality

Use Cases:

• Pre-launch security validation
• Financial services apps (banking, fintech)
• Healthcare apps handling PHI
• E-commerce applications
• Gaming applications with in-app purchases

Typical Cost: $10,000-$30,000 per platform

Duration: 7-14 business days

7. IoT and OT Security Testing

Internet of Things (IoT) and Operational Technology (OT) testing assesses security of connected devices, industrial control systems, and SCADA environments.

Testing Focus

IoT Device Security:

• Default credentials and weak authentication
• Firmware analysis and reverse engineering
• Insecure network protocols
• Physical interface security (JTAG, UART)
• Update mechanisms and signed firmware
• Device-to-cloud communication security

OT/SCADA Testing:

• Industrial protocol security (Modbus, DNP3)
• HMI (Human-Machine Interface) vulnerabilities
• PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) security
• Network segmentation between IT and OT
• Legacy system vulnerabilities
• Safety system integrity

Use Cases:

• Manufacturing facility security
• Energy sector (power generation, oil & gas)
• Smart building systems
• Healthcare medical devices
• Transportation systems

Typical Cost: $15,000-$60,000 depending on environment complexity

Duration: 10-20 business days

Testing Approach: Black Box vs White Box vs Grey Box

Beyond target systems, testing methodology impacts scope and findings:

Black Box Testing

Testers receive no internal knowledge, simulating external attacker with no privileged information:

Advantages:

• Real-world attacker perspective
• Identifies externally exploitable vulnerabilities
• Tests security-through-obscurity assumptions
• Validates perimeter defenses

Disadvantages:

• May miss complex internal vulnerabilities
• Time-consuming reconnaissance phase
• Limited coverage compared to white box

White Box Testing

Complete knowledge provided including source code, architecture diagrams, credentials, and documentation:

Advantages:

• Comprehensive security review
• Identifies complex logic flaws
• Efficient time usage (no blind reconnaissance)
• Thorough code-level vulnerability detection

Disadvantages:

• Less realistic attacker simulation
• May not validate detection capabilities
• Requires sharing sensitive information with testers

Grey Box Testing

Partial knowledge simulating insider threat or compromised user account:

Advantages:

• Balances efficiency with realism
• Focuses on high-value attack paths
• Simulates common breach scenarios
• Tests internal security controls

Use Case Guidance:

• Black Box: External threat assessment, perimeter testing
• White Box: Pre-deployment security validation, comprehensive audit
• Grey Box: Insider threat simulation, post-breach movement testing

Compliance-Driven Testing Requirements

Regulatory frameworks mandate specific penetration testing:

PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry):

• Annual network penetration test (internal and external)
• Testing after significant infrastructure changes
• Segmentation testing validating cardholder data isolation
• Web application testing if processing payments

HIPAA (Healthcare):

• Risk assessments should include technical safeguard validation
• Network and application testing recommended annually
• Testing must address ePHI protection

SOC 2:

• Penetration testing expected as security control
• Annual testing minimum for most trust service criteria
• Remediation validation required

FFIEC (Financial Services):

• Penetration testing for internet-facing applications
• Frequency based on risk assessment
• Testing by independent third parties

Organizations requiring compliance assistance should ensure penetration tests meet auditor expectations and regulatory requirements.

Choosing the Right Penetration Test

Select testing types based on:

Industry-Specific Guidance:

• Financial Services: Network (external/internal) + web application + API + physical. PCI DSS required annually.
• Healthcare: Network + web application + wireless + IoT (medical devices). HIPAA risk assessment driven.
• Retail/E-commerce: Web application + API + network + PCI DSS segmentation. Quarterly if processing payments.
• SaaS Providers: Web application + API + cloud infrastructure. SOC 2 compliance driven.
• Manufacturing: Network + IoT/OT + wireless. Focus on OT network segmentation.
• Technology Companies: Web app + mobile + API + cloud. Pre-launch and annual testing.

Budget Prioritization:

If budget constrains comprehensive testing, prioritize:

1. First Priority: External network testing (validates perimeter security)
2. Second Priority: Web application testing (for organizations with web apps or APIs)
3. Third Priority: Internal network testing (validates insider threat and lateral movement defenses)
4. Fourth Priority: Specialized testing (wireless, physical, mobile, cloud) based on specific risk profile

Cost Comparison Summary

Testing Type	Typical Cost Range	Duration	Best For
Network (External)	$5,000-$15,000	3-5 days	All organizations
Network (Internal)	$8,000-$20,000	5-7 days	Large networks, PCI DSS
Web Application	$8,000-$35,000	7-14 days	SaaS, e-commerce, finance
Wireless	$4,000-$12,000	2-5 days	Offices, retail, healthcare
Physical + Social Engineering	$10,000-$40,000	5-15 days	High-security facilities
Cloud Infrastructure	$12,000-$50,000	7-20 days	Cloud-native businesses
Mobile Application	$10,000-$30,000	7-14 days	Consumer apps, fintech
IoT/OT	$15,000-$60,000	10-20 days	Manufacturing, energy

Note: Costs vary based on scope size, complexity, compliance requirements, and geographic location. Pricing includes testing, reporting, and remediation consultation.

Frequency Recommendations

Testing frequency depends on risk tolerance and change rate:

• Annual Testing: Minimum baseline for most organizations, compliance requirements (PCI DSS, SOC 2)
• Semi-Annual Testing: High-risk organizations, frequently changing environments
• Quarterly Testing: Financial services, critical infrastructure, very high-risk profiles
• After Major Changes: Infrastructure upgrades, application releases, architecture changes
• Post-Incident: Following security breaches to validate remediation

Organizations mature security programs supplement periodic penetration tests with continuous vulnerability management, bug bounty programs, and automated security testing.

Red Team vs Penetration Testing

Organizations sometimes confuse penetration testing with red team exercises:

Penetration Testing:

• Identifies as many vulnerabilities as possible
• Known timeframe and scope
• Detailed documentation of all findings
• Tests specific systems or applications
• Typically 1-4 weeks

Red Team Exercises:

• Simulates advanced persistent threat (APT)
• Unknown to most staff (tests detection and response)
• Goal-oriented (access specific data, achieve domain admin)
• Tests entire security program including people and processes
• Typically 4-12 weeks

Most organizations benefit from penetration testing. Red team exercises suit organizations with mature security operations seeking to validate detection and response capabilities.

Choosing a Testing Provider

When selecting penetration testing services:

• Certifications: OSCP, GPEN, CEH, GWAPT, GCPN, GXPN for testers
• Methodology: Adherence to PTES, OWASP, NIST SP 800-115 standards
• Industry Experience: Healthcare, finance, retail, etc.
• Tool Stack: Commercial tools + open source + custom scripts
• Report Quality: Request sample reports evaluating technical detail and actionability
• Remediation Support: Ongoing consultation answering fix questions
• Insurance: Professional liability coverage protecting client interests
• References: Client testimonials and case studies

Maximizing Testing Value

Organizations maximize penetration testing ROI by:

1. Clear Scoping: Define objectives, constraints, success criteria upfront
2. Stakeholder Coordination: Involve IT, security, development, and business teams
3. Environment Preparation: Ensure test environments stable, documented, accessible
4. Prioritized Remediation: Address critical findings within recommended timeframes
5. Retesting: Validate fixes are effective before closing findings
6. Knowledge Transfer: Use findings training development and operations teams
7. Continuous Improvement: Compare results across tests tracking security posture improvement

subrosa provides comprehensive penetration testing services across all testing types including network infrastructure, web applications, wireless, physical security, cloud environments, mobile applications, and IoT/OT systems. Our OSCP and GPEN certified testers follow industry-standard methodologies ensuring thorough coverage, actionable findings, and effective remediation support. We customize testing approaches based on industry, compliance requirements, and risk profile, helping organizations build robust security programs.