Our digital world has been increasingly facing all sorts of attacks and malicious acts. This has provoked individual users and companies to build high-security systems to prevent hackers, data breaches, and other malicious actors.
Also known as ethical hacking, penetration testing is one of the many ways to protect your organization and secure its defenses. However, conducting successful penetration testing requires quite a bit of technical expertise and high-quality tools. Mimicking the actions of malicious actors, penetration testing improves a company's security posture and eliminates any vulnerabilities.
The market of penetration testing tools is quite broad, has efficient solutions that serve any size company, and performs different functions according to the security needs.
To get the hang of the existing first-class penetration testing tools and help you make the most of it, we came up with a comprehensive list of the best penetration tools. So let’s get down to it.
Best Penetration Testing Tools: detailed list
In a nutshell, choosing and leveraging tools that have the ability to control the evolving and complex threat surface can be daunting. Luckily, these tools will not only save you time and money, they also will make sure your company’s safe and sound.
ITConnexion
| Services | Managed IT services, IT security services, cloud-based services, and software and web development services |
| Resources | Blog articles, case studies, news, digital learning guides, webinars, and events |
| Free version | No |
Based in Australia, ITConnexion is a well-established and renowned digital company that offers a wide range of IT services, including cybersecurity and penetration testing. It helps businesses deal with all kinds of cyber threats and breaches and prevent unauthorized access to their IT systems.
The main features of the company’s IT services include:
- IT Security Audit: Conducting comprehensive assessments of IT systems to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with security standards.
- Penetration Testing: Performing controlled attacks on systems to discover weaknesses and assess their susceptibility to real-world cyber threats.
- Threat Protection: Implementing security strategies to minimize risks and defend against potential cyberattacks.
- Identity Access Management: Managing user identities and access controls to prevent unauthorized entry to sensitive data and resources.
- Cyber Security Awareness Training: Educating employees about cybersecurity best practices to enhance their awareness and response to potential threats.
- Continuous Security Monitoring: Utilizing advanced monitoring tools and techniques to detect and respond to security incidents in real time.
- Incident Response: Developing and implementing a holistic incident response system to combat cybersecurity incidents and minimize their impact on business operations.
Lastly, ITConnexion follows cybersecurity principles outlined by the ACSC (Australia Cyber Security Centre) to ensure comprehensive protection against evolving cyber threats.
SEIRIM
| Services | Penetration testing, cybersecurity consulting, vulnerability assessment, risk assessment, ransomware protection, and incident response |
| Resources | Blog, portfolio |
| Free version | No |
SEIRIM is an online company that offers a wide range of digital services, including cybersecurity, SEO, SEM, strategy consulting, and website and app development. Penetration testing is one of the cybersecurity services that the company specializes in.
The company's penetration testing service goes beyond traditional vulnerability assessments, as it actively probes systems and personnel to find potential weaknesses. It involves customized attack methodologies that SEIRIM’s expert team creates based on your organization's specific needs and risk profile.
They also conduct employee testing through simulated social engineering attacks to enhance staff awareness and response to security threats. But what sets SEIRIM apart is that its team carries out proactive threat hunting to identify vulnerabilities before performing full-scale penetration testing. It allows them to pinpoint potential security gaps and address them before they can be exploited.
Additionally, SEIRIM’s team provides comprehensive documentation of their findings and recommendations for vulnerability remediation. It helps them make sure that their clients have a clear understanding of their security vulnerabilities and actionable steps to mitigate them effectively.
RoboShadow
| Services | Vulnerability assessment, anti-virus management, device coverage and reconciliation, encryption management, MFA auditing and compliance, and Cyber Heal |
| Resources | Blog |
| Free version | Yes |
RoboShadow is an online platform designed to help businesses with internal and external vulnerability assessment. It offers a wide range of cybersecurity tools and services to enhance organizational security.
- Vulnerability Scanner Engine: It conducts internal and external scans to provide comprehensive attack surface vulnerability reports. It also includes port scanning for external IPs and websites and offers daily automated scanning and free vulnerability reporting.
- Defender and AV Manager: This service manages Windows Defender and third-party antivirus for governance and compliance. It also provides full coverage reporting for Windows Defender and monitors the status of enabled and updated third-party antivirus software.
- Cyber Coverage: It tracks devices, including laptops, desktops, and servers, across your network to make sure that they comply with security policies like Active Directory and Microsoft 365. It also helps you find “feral devices” that might pose security risks.
- Encryption Coverage: With this service, RoboShadow offers Bitlocker management for compliance across desktops, servers, and removable devices. It provides detailed reporting on Windows Share encryption and minimizes risks associated with lost or stolen devices.
- Cyber Heal: This service enables the detection and remediation of vulnerabilities using Cyber Heal technology. Experts at RoboShadow also remove vulnerable software before it can be exploited.
Other services that the company offers include device security updates, MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) auditing, and certified support. All these services help your organization improve its security posture and pass an internal penetration test.
Astra
| Services | Intelligent vulnerability scanner, manual pen testing vulnerability management dashboard, publicly verifiable certificate, and integrations with other tools |
| Resources | Blog, help articles, security checklist, security courses, support and documentation |
| Free version | No ($7 for a week trial period) |
Astra's is a powerful cybersecurity solution that comes with automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing functionalities. Its scanner can perform more than 8,000 different tests, such as checking for Sans 25, OWASP Top 10, and known CVEs to ensure the security of digital systems.
Better yet, the tool covers all the essential tests required to achieve GDPR, SOC2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 compliance. Additionally, it also incorporates manual VAPT conducted by skilled security analysts. This approach allows for the detection of nuanced vulnerabilities, including business logic errors, which automated scanners might overlook.
Another excellent feature of this tool is its user-friendly and intuitive dashboard that works as a central hub for managing and monitoring vulnerabilities. It simplifies the process by offering potential losses, risk scores, and actionable suggestions for fixes.
Astra also provides its users with a publicly verifiable certificate as proof. This certificate boosts confidence in stakeholders and allows them to check the system's security on their own. Lastly, you can integrate it with a wide range of other tools you’re using to streamline your workflows.
Pentest Tools
| Services | Reconnaissance tools, web vulnerability scanners, offensive tools |
| Resources | Blog, platform tutorials, changelog, API reference, FAQ |
| Free version | 2 free scans |
Pentest Tools is a flexible and easy-to-use pentest arsenal with a selection of powerful cloud-based tools, automation, and flexible reporting.
If you’re looking for a fast and automated solution, Pentest Tools features, such as pentest robots, attack surface mapping, bulk scanning, and internal network scanning, will serve you well. If you’d need more manual work, this company has a dedicated team of testers that makes sure the workflow of the platform is optimized.
Even though a good pentester can never be replaced by automation, that automation can make human expertise exponentially more effective. As a result, this platform builds focused automation that works in the context of offensive security specialists as opposed to blanket automation that aims to replace the entire workflow.
Even though Pentest Tools platform doesn’t offer a free version of its software, you can use 2 free scans to test if that’s something suitable for your company. Check out their website to find out more information.
OnSecurity
| Services | Physical penetration testing, phishing simulation, mobile application testing, web application testing, cloud security testing, internal infrastructure testing |
| Resources | Blog, FAQ |
| Free version | No |
OnSecurity’s innovative approach to pentesting ensures you get the best experience possible. The portal allows businesses to easily quote, book, and review penetration test findings in a simple and user-friendly way.
With OnSecurity you’re in good hands as all its testers are CREST-certified. The company’s cost-effective approach ensures you get actionable results in hours, not days, therefore your quote is based on the actual time taken, without any padding or rounding up to the nearest day.
And that’s not all! OnSecurity’s rapid reporting ensures there’s no waiting around before any action can be taken. Also, their free scanning tool will notify you as soon as a new vulnerability arises. By detecting security issues in real-time, OnSecurity will ensure you’re always one step ahead of hackers.
Software Secured
| Services | Penetration testing, baseline penetration testing, developer training |
| Resources | Blog, case studies, testimonials |
| Free version | No |
As you might have guessed from the name, application security is the main focus at Software Secured. However, what sets this company apart is that the tests are conducted by real hackers, thus allowing you to see your app as an attacker would.
At Software Secured, penetration testing is not only a one and done process – the provider can also test your app as you build and grow, which is a great option for fast-growing SaaS companies.
But testing the code is not the only way Software Secured makes sure organizations deliver quality applications. The company also offers developer training led by industry experts and a variety of interactive courses and activities.
Trickest
| Services | Security workflow automation |
| Resources | Blog |
| Free version | No |
Trickest is a little bit different than the other services mentioned on this list. Rather than performing penetration tests for you, the Trickest platform allows bug bounty hunters, penetration testers, and security teams to build and automate their workflows.
Making offensive cybersecurity accessible to everyone is the main goal at Trickest, that's why the platform is extremely intuitive and easy to use even for beginners looking to break into the world of ethical hacking. What is great is that users can completely customize their workflows, import their old runs, and make use of a variety of open-source tools available on the platform.
All in all, Trickest is the perfect option for those organizations that already have a security department onboard – options for autoscaling and the fact that there is no manual infrastructure setup will surely speed up and enhance your team's security workflows.
Cyphere
| Services | Penetration testing, managed security, threat intelligence, data privacy |
| Resources | Blog |
| Free version | No |
Next on the list is Cyphere – a UK-based company providing penetration testing for your cloud, network, IoT, web and mobile apps.
You can choose from a wide range of penetration testing types, and when the tests are done, Cyphere will provide you with detailed technical and executive reports, a risk remediation plan and after care support. The nice thing about this company is that Cyphere serves a variety of industries from healthcare to retail and makes sure the vulnerabilities are eliminated, not just acknowledged.
If you're looking for a company that would take care of your cybersecurity altogether, look no further than Cyphere – besides penetration testing, they also offer threat intelligence, data protection and managed security services.
Cyberlands
| Services | Penetration testing, DDoS Simulation, DevSecOps as a Service |
| Resources | Blog, resource centers for different topics |
| Free version | No |
No matter what environment you want to test for vulnerabilities, Cyberlands has you covered.
While API security is the main focus at Cyberlands, they also deliver cloud, Kubernetes, mobile penetration testing and even DDoS simulations to truly put your systems to the test. Because the examination is tailored to the specifics of your app or environment, at the end of the tests Cyberlands offers recommendations and reports that are concise and easy to understand so your organization can take action right away.
Additionally, Cyberlands provides services for health institutions, banks and crypto exchanges, so you can be sure that their experts will detect even the smallest gaps in your security system.
Testhouse
| Services | Testing as a service, Managed Testing, Functional Testing, Penetration Testing, Performance Testing, Security Testing, Digital Assurance, Mobile Testing, Cloud Testing, Dynamics 365 Testing, DevOps |
| Resources | Blog, case studies, videos, brochures, webinars |
| Free version | No |
With over 22 years of experience in software testing and quality assurance, Testhouse is sure to help you deliver the best quality applications for Desktop, Mobile and the Web.
By conducting functional, security and performance testing, this provider is able to quickly detect defects not only in the code but also find any performance flaws that could affect the user experience. This is even more critical today as mitigating risks even before the application is launched will reduce costs significantly and protect your brand and reputation.
Additionally, Testhouse is not just restricted to testing your application for vulnerabilities but offers quality assurance advisory and consulting from scoping to development until go-live to get rid of bottlenecks during every phase of SDLC to help you achieve your business objectives.
Packetlabs
| Services | Penetration Testing, Objective-Based Penetration Testing, Ransomware Penetration Testing, Application Security Penetration Testing, DevSecOps, Cyber Maturity Assessment, Compromise Assessment, Purple Teaming, Red Teaming |
| Resources | Blog, Brochures, FAQs, Sample Reports, Methodology Guide |
| Free version | No |
The next provider is Packetlabs – a Canadian penetration testing company offering a variety of different tests and other security services. Canadian SOC2 certified cybersecurity firm specializing in expert penetration testing.
They offer a number of services to help strengthen your security posture including infrastructure penetration testing, web and mobile application testing, ransomware pen testing, social engineering, red team exercises, source-code reviews and exploit development.
Their team of highly-trained, certified ethical hackers are all in-house (never outsourced) and provide more than just a vulnerability scan with 95% manually simulated real-life attacks to uncover all of your network vulnerabilities.
Core Sentinel
| Services | Penetration testing for web applications, internal and external infrastructures, secure code review, web application firewall |
| Resources | Whitepapers, guides |
| Free version | No |
Core Sentinel is an Australian based company offering penetration testing services for your mobile and web apps, wireless networks, and internal or external infrastructures.
Their penetration testers are OSCE/OSCP certified and have years of experience providing professional services for insurance, banking, finance and government organizations, so you can be sure all your compliance and security needs will be taken care of.
Additionally, instead of solely focusing on preventing outside attacks, Core Sentinel also puts a lot of emphasis on securing the internal systems and offers solutions to minimize risky employee behavior.
UnderDefense
| Services | Cloud security assessment, web app pen test, mobile app pen test, IoT pen test, pen testing for compliance, internal/external pen testing, network pen testing, data security, and social engineering |
| Resources | Blog, case studies, resource hub, guides, webinars, video tutorials, datasheets, and reports |
| Free version | Yes |
UnderDefense is an online platform that makes for a single-stop shop for faster, better, and easier cybersecurity. It offers a wide range of solutions, including penetration testing, to help you improve the security posture of your organization.
The platform works with ethical hackers, MDR, IR, and vCISO teams who conduct thorough analyses to identify vulnerability chains and provide clear remediation guidelines for a holistic cybersecurity approach. They also help you stay informed about evolving security trends, discover effective solutions, and address emerging risks.
UnderDefense offers three types of penetration testing services:
- Black Box: They simulate real-world attacks with minimal information about your company to identify technical vulnerabilities and human-related security issues.
- Gray Box: This service involves attacking your business with general information about your infrastructure, including logins and passwords to assess its current security status.
- White Box: This service is about conducting tests with full knowledge, including logins and passwords, and having complete access to application or system architecture and code. It’s designed to detect hidden vulnerabilities that may go unnoticed in other types of penetration tests.
Lastly, UnderDefense also offers free post-remediation testing to make sure that all identified security vulnerabilities have been properly addressed.
RedRays
| Services | SAP Penetration Testing |
| Resources | Blog |
| Free version | No |
RedRays is a reliable security company that offers fully managed services for businesses of all types and sizes. It specializes in SAP Penetration Testing, which is a targeted testing approach that includes black-box, white-box, and gray-box testing.
The company has an expert team of testers who follow a strategic process to find vulnerabilities in SAP systems and address them for enhanced security.
The process includes the following steps:
- Information Gathering: Collecting relevant data about the SAP system, including landscape details, versions, user information, and patch levels.
- Vulnerability Exploitations: Discovering and leveraging weaknesses in the SAP system through a combination of automated software and manual testing.
- Privilege Escalation: Uncovering and exploiting vulnerabilities to elevate privileges within the SAP system to gain higher levels of access and control.
- Post-Exploitation: Performing additional exploitation activities, such as extracting sensitive data and maintaining persistent access within the compromised SAP system.
- Reporting and Remediation: Compiling a detailed report outlining identified vulnerabilities, prioritizing them based on risk, and providing recommendations for effective remediation.
This comprehensive SAP Pentest methodology that RedRays follows makes it an ideal choice for businesses to fortify the security of their SAP systems.
ISSP (Information Systems Security Partners)
| Services | Penetration and security testing, vulnerability assessment, digital forensics and advanced response, cybersecurity consulting, threat hunting, anomaly detection, incident detection, and compliance control |
| Resources | Blog |
| Free version | No |
Established in 2008, ISSP (Information Systems Security Partners) is a cybersecurity company that specializes in fully managed security services, including penetration and security testing.
The company’s team follows a unique approach that involves daily advanced threat analysis in corporate infrastructures globally. It allows them to provide organizations with specialized insights and expertise to protect their systems against cyber threats, including sophisticated APTs (Advanced Persistent Threats).
ISSP aims to assist governments institutes, businesses, academic establishments, and industries in addressing the constant threat of cyberattacks. It provides cost-effective strategies to help organizations improve their security without hefty investments in infrastructure and professional teams.
The company achieves this by offering tailored SOC (Security Operations Center) services to make sure that its clients only pay for the specific security services they currently require.
Pentera
| Services | Automated Security Validation, Automated penetration testing, , and network security validation, |
| Resources | Blog, research papers, cybertoons, testimonials, case studies, white papers, webinars, podcasts, and datasheets |
| Free version | No (demo is offered) |
Pentera is a leading automated security validation platform that provides companies with a streamlined method to determine the integrity of their system’s cybersecurity layers. It’s designed for businesses of all sizes to identify security gaps within their systems and remediate cyber risk exposure across the complete organizational attack surface: On-Prem, Web, and Cloud.
The company’s in-house team consists of experienced red-teamers, ethical hackers, and cybersecurity experts who research the latest attack techniques and implement these tactics into their algorithmic attack engine. Pentera’s attack emulation keeps the company’s customers ahead of emerging threats. Pentera focuses on algorithm-based automated security validation to surgically identify critical gaps and reduce cyber risks by up to 80%.
Pentera also focuses on cost-effectiveness and allows companies to test their security controls on-demand. This approach enables organizations to reduce third-party costs by up to 60%, as they can lessen their reliance on outsourced services or traditional manual pentesting audits.
Lastly, the company provides its customers with a clear remediation roadmap based on business impact to help them address security issues without repetition and enhance productivity.
Best Penetration Testing Tools: final recommendations
Choosing the right penetration testing tool doesn’t have to be daunting. All of the mentioned tools provide universal or personalized features that will suit your needs best.
Here are our top picks:
-
Astra – a comprehensive penetration testing solution that efficiently identifies and remediates digital system vulnerabilities.
- ITConnexion – a leading digital company in Australia that specializes in cybersecurity services to help businesses of all sizes and types ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of their data and systems.
- SEIRIM – a well-established digital service provider that specializes in cybersecurity services, including penetration testing to help organizations enhance their overall cybersecurity resilience.
- RoboShadow – an all-in-one cybersecurity platform that offers internal and external vulnerability assessment services and remediation tools to improve organizational security.
- Pentest Tools – flexible and highly-automated penetration testing tool.
- OnSecurity – physical and digital penetration testing delivering reports in hours.
- Trickest – workflow building and automation platform.
- Cyphere – provides a wide range of penetration testing types and other cybersecurity services.
- Cyberlands – penetration testing services with a focus on API security.
- Software Secured – application security penetration testing.
- Testhouse – application testing and quality assurance.
- Packetlabs – penetration testing for a variety of different purposes.
- Core Sentinel – Australian company offering a variety of penetration testing services.
- UnderDefense – a one-stop platform for businesses seeking cybersecurity services, especially pen testing, to improve their organization’s security posture.
- RedRays – a specialized online provider of security solutions, with a core focus on penetration testing for SAP systems.
- ISSP (Information Systems Security Partners) – a cybersecurity company that offers a comprehensive range of fully managed security services to protect organizations against evolving cyber threats cost-effectively.
- Pentera – a well-reputed security platform designed to help businesses of all sizes to continuously validate the effectiveness of their security control and mitigate cyber risk exposure.
RoboShadow is an online platform designed to help businesses with internal and external vulnerability assessment. It offers a wide range of cybersecurity tools and services to enhance organizational security.
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