Pen test or vulnerability assessment?
A vulnerability assessment scans your systems for known weaknesses and ranks them by severity. A penetration test goes further: a tester tries to exploit weaknesses to show what an attacker could actually reach. Regular assessments plus a periodic penetration test is the common pairing. Sanapptx runs both: assessments ranked critical to low, and network, web app, and social engineering tests.
How do a vulnerability assessment and a penetration test compare?
Vulnerability assessment
Which known weaknesses do we have, and how bad is each one?
Penetration test
If someone attacked us, what could they actually reach?
Vulnerability assessment
Internal and external scans against known vulnerabilities.
Penetration test
A scoped, authorized attempt to exploit weaknesses in networks, web apps, or people.
Vulnerability assessment
Broad. Covers every system in scope, one finding at a time.
Penetration test
Deep. Follows chains of weaknesses to a goal, such as admin access or client data.
Vulnerability assessment
A findings list ranked critical, high, medium, and low, with fixes.
Penetration test
A report showing how access was gained, what was reached, and what to fix first.
Vulnerability assessment
Ongoing or at least quarterly, and after major changes.
Penetration test
At least once a year, and after major changes.
Vulnerability assessment
PCI DSS calls for quarterly scans, and external ones must come from an Approved Scanning Vendor. HIPAA risk analyses often include them.
Penetration test
PCI DSS calls for annual penetration tests. Auditors and insurers often ask for one.
Vulnerability assessment
Number of systems and IP addresses in scope, and how often you scan.
Penetration test
Scope, number of applications, test types, and how much time testers get.
Vulnerability assessment
Generally low. Scans look for weaknesses without exploiting them.
Penetration test
Higher, because testers actively exploit weaknesses, so scope and timing are agreed in advance.
Which one fits your company?
Vulnerability assessment fits when
- You've never had a security baseline and need to know where you stand.
- You need quarterly evidence for PCI or a HIPAA risk analysis.
- You just changed your network, firewall, or cloud setup.
- You want a steady fix list for your IT team to work through.
Penetration test fits when
- Your vulnerability scans are mostly clean and you want to know what they miss.
- An auditor, client, or insurer has asked for a penetration test.
- You run web applications that handle customer or payment data.
- You want to see whether staff fall for phishing.
Sanapptx runs both
We offer both on their own, or together in Security as a Service, which bundles vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and staff training for one monthly fee. Because the same team runs your network and patches your systems, a critical finding goes to the team that can fix it, and the next scan shows whether it's closed.
Frequently asked questions
Is a vulnerability scan the same as a penetration test?
No. A scan finds known weaknesses and ranks them. A penetration test tries to use those weaknesses to reach something that matters, which shows real impact.
Which one should we do first?
Usually the vulnerability assessment. Fix the critical and high findings, then run a penetration test to find what the scan can't see.
How often do we need a penetration test?
At least once a year, and after major changes such as a new application, a network redesign, or a move to a new cloud.
Do PCI or HIPAA require these?
PCI DSS calls for quarterly vulnerability scans, with external scans from an Approved Scanning Vendor, and annual penetration tests. HIPAA requires a risk analysis, and these tests are often part of it.
What kinds of penetration tests do you run?
Network, web application, and social engineering tests. We scope each test with you before it starts.
What does each one cost?
A vulnerability assessment is priced by the systems in scope and how often we scan. A penetration test is priced by scope and test type. We scope it with you, then quote.
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- Sales
- (214) 447-0244
- Support
- (972) 591-0151
- sales@sanapptx.com
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- 5700 Tennyson Parkway
Plano, TX 75024