What is Automated Penetration Testing? Tools & Differences

Automated penetration testing (or automated pentesting) uses specialised software to find weaknesses (vulnerabilities) in your computer systems and applications. It simulates common cyberattacks, helping you stay ahead of real-world threats.

Unlike manual tests, where a security expert does the work, automated tools can run around the clock to find and manage cyber threats and associated risks.

Designed to simulate an attacker’s actions, automated penetration testing software probes systems and applications for vulnerabilities. Unlike manual pentesting, which requires a human tester, computerised tools can function 24/7, ensuring continual detection and management of vulnerabilities.

With that said, machine learning and AI capabilities are yet to be seen in how this landscape changes in 2025 and beyond.

💡This Guide is part of our extenstive guide on penetration testing.

💡Key Takeaways

• Automated penetration testing utilises tools to automatically identify vulnerabilities, offering efficiency and continuous vulnerability management, whereas manual testing involves critical human analysis to identify complex issues.
• The most effective security assessments combine automated and manual penetration testing, leveraging the speed and scalability of automated penetration testing tools and the in-depth, context-aware analysis provided by human experts to ensure a comprehensive cybersecurity approach.
• Automated penetration testing tools are diverse and tailored for security needs, including web, network, and mobile app testing to ensure continuous monitoring of the threat landscape. They are essential for preliminary security tests, whereas manual testing is vital for detailed, adaptive vulnerability discovery and remediation.

Automated vs Manual Penetration Testing

Both automated and manual pen testing have their respective advantages and disadvantages, which can be summarised as follows:

Automated Penetration Testing

• Speed and Scalability: Automated security testing tools quickly scan large networks for known vulnerabilities but can’t test thoroughly for security vulnerabilities such as business logic or where human context is required.
• Efficiency: Ideal for preliminary stages of a security exercise to identify known vulnerabilities across numerous systems or applications.

Manual Penetration Testing

• Human Factor: Utilises critical thinking and adaptability to uncover vulnerabilities that an automated vulnerability scanner may miss.
• In-Depth Analysis: Provides a more thorough, context-aware examination during later stages of the penetration test.

How do you perform comprehensive security assessments?

The goal of obtaining a comprehensive security assessment is not to choose one method over the other but to integrate both automated and manual pentesting. This approach allows businesses to benefit from:

• The efficiency and continuous vulnerability management provided by tools.
• The detailed, adaptive vulnerability discovery and remediation offered by human analysts.

By merging these methods, organisations significantly enhance their security posture, ensuring a robust defence against cyber threats.

When to Use Automated Pen Testing?

Automated penetration testing is particularly advantageous under certain circumstances. Here are some scenarios when you should consider using automated scanners:

• Speed and Efficiency: These software swiftly scan many systems or applications. This is particularly useful when time is of the essence, and you need to conduct scans across a broad network with numerous endpoints.
• Early Vulnerability Detection: These tools are adept at identifying known vulnerabilities that attackers could potentially exploit. Then, you can proactively patch and protect your systems before they are compromised.
• Cost-Effective Initial Scans: Automated scans are an economical way to perform preliminary assessments. Automated penetration testing can be more cost-effective than hiring a specialized cybersecurity firm. They lay the groundwork for any subsequent in-depth testing that may be necessary, such as finding business logic issues, which is possible with ethical hackers only. Therefore, such tools provide a cost-effective strategy for initial security analysis.

4 Automated Pen Testing Tools

Some examples of automated pen testing tools include:

Nessus and OpenVAS

These versatile tools excel at network-wide vulnerability scanning. They compare system configurations and installed software against extensive databases of known security issues, providing detailed reports. Nessus from Tenable provides many features and reliability in terms of scanning.

Burp Suite

A favourite among our team at Cyphere and a more comprehensive web app for ethical hackers, Burp Suite offers a range of tools for mapping web applications, intercepting traffic, fuzzing inputs, and identifying vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting.

Metasploit

This robust framework provides ready-to-use exploits and modules for penetration testers. It simplifies exploiting known vulnerabilities, aiding testers in verifying whether a vulnerability can be used to gain access or compromise data.

Netsparker

Another web application vulnerability scanner that automates the detection of common web vulnerabilities, including OWASP Top 10 risks, provides clear remediation guidance for developers.

Limitations of Automated Pen Testing

Automated scanners are not infallible; they excel at identifying known vulnerabilities but have drawbacks:

• False Positives: They can incorrectly flag issues, leading to wasted resources on non-issues.
• Missed Vulnerabilities: Subtle or complex vulnerabilities that require human intuition are often overlooked.

To mitigate these issues, human analysts step in with the following:

• Contextual Analysis: They provide nuanced understanding, reducing false positives.
• Detection of Complex Vulnerabilities: Analysts can spot intricate issues that tools may not.

Automated pentest tools offer cost-effectiveness. They provide security testing tools to conduct preliminary analyses, which can then be expanded upon by skilled manual testing efforts. This blend of automated and manual testing allows for a thorough and cost-effective security assessment.

Advantages of Manual Penetration Testing

The human element in penetration testing brings several benefits:

• Comprehensive Vulnerability Discovery: Humans (pen testers) can find issues that automated scanners may miss. All findings can be verified and provide relevance from a risk perspective.
• Deep System Analysis: They deliver a thorough examination of systems and applications.
• Custom Threat Identification: Testers can uncover unique vulnerabilities tailored to specific environments. Security testers do it contextually by understanding customer business, functionality, and other logic applied to the target in scope.

Ethical hackers or penetration testers validate findings, offering tailored remediation strategies. This combination of manual insight and automated efficiency ensures a well-rounded security evaluation.

How is automated pen testing performed (procedures)?

Automated penetration testing follows a systematic process:

Scoping

Define the test’s goals, targets, and methods and obtain necessary permissions. Cyphere obtains this permission using online authorisations to comply with the UK’s Computer Misuse Act. This is critical for ensuring the test’s legitimacy and focus.

Automated Tests

Tools perform diverse tasks:

• Network Scanning: Identify open ports, services, and potential entry points.
• Vulnerability Scanning: Uncover known software vulnerabilities.
• Configuration Audits: Detect insecure settings or misconfigurations.
• Credential Testing: Attempt to exploit weak or leaked passwords.

Exploitation

Tools attempt to leverage discovered vulnerabilities and security flaws, simulating actual attacks to reveal their severity and potential impact.

Reporting and Remediation

Results are analysed and presented in a clear report outlining actionable steps to fix vulnerabilities.

Rescan

After fixes are applied, a follow-up scan verifies that vulnerabilities have been successfully addressed.

Use cases of Automated Pen Testing

Boasting incredible versatility, automated penetration testing software accommodates various use cases across multiple environments. At Cyphere, we utilise automated pen testing software as part of our managed security services offerings to support continuous assessments for retail and insurance customers.

• Web Application Testing: Tools rapidly scan for common web vulnerabilities like SQL injection and cross-site scripting, aiding developers in building more secure applications.
• Network Testing: Automated scans help identify and address huge vulnerabilities in complex networks that are difficult to manage manually.
• Mobile Application Testing: Tools assess the security of mobile applications, safeguarding sensitive data and protecting against exploits.

Automated Penetration Testing vs. Vulnerability Scanning

While both are security essentials and both rely on automated software, vulnerability scanning and automated penetration testing have distinct focuses:

• Vulnerability Scanning: Serves as the foundation for identifying vulnerabilities. Scanners identify known software weaknesses (CVEs) within systems. They are excellent for regular checks and compliance with security standards.
• Automated Penetration Testing: Goes deeper. Tools attempt to exploit found vulnerabilities, simulating an actual attack. This reveals if a vulnerability poses a severe risk and how far an attacker could penetrate your systems.

Automated Vs. Manual pen test: Which is best for you?

The choice between automated and manual pen testing depends on your organisation’s security needs, risk tolerance, and regulatory requirements. Here’s a breakdown to guide your decision-making:

When Automated Pentesting Excels:

• Large-Scale Environments: Automated tools rapidly scan extensive networks and systems, streamlining vulnerability identification and supporting security teams with tight timescales.
• Cost-Sensitive Operations: Automated testing offers a cost-effective initial assessment, helping prioritize investment.
• Baseline Compliance: Automated scans can verify adherence to basic security standards and frameworks.

Going beyond automated penetration testing, where manual pen testing is essential:

• Highly Regulated Industries: Manual pen testing, with its adaptability and human insight, is often required to meet the stringent compliance demands of sectors like finance or healthcare.
• Complex Attack Surfaces: Skilled testers can mimic real-world attackers, creatively chaining vulnerabilities and uncovering issues that automated tools might miss.
• Nuanced Risk Analysis: Manual testing provides granular insights into the true impact of vulnerabilities and allows for tailored remediation strategies.

A Strategic Combination

From our experience, we have found the most robust cybersecurity strategies leverage both automated and manual testing in a complementary manner to identify and remediate security threats. Automated scans provide a broad foundation for security validation exercises, while manual testing offers the depth and adaptability necessary to address complex cyber threats.

Expert Guidance

Consider consulting cybersecurity professionals for tailored advice on your organisation of automated pentesting and manual testing. Cyphere offers complimentary penetration testing consultations to help you design a security strategy that aligns with your business objectives and risk profile.

Summary

A robust cybersecurity strategy is crucial.

Automated penetration tests, using tools like Nessus and Burp Suite, offer efficient vulnerability scans across large networks and cloud environments. These automated scanning tools quickly identify known software flaws and missing security patches, simulating common cyber attacks.

Automated vulnerability scanners are essential for initial security efforts, providing a cost-effective way to uncover known software flaws and unintended exposure. This automated approach addresses many cybersecurity threats, including known software flaws.

However, automated scanning alone is insufficient. Manual penetration tests are crucial for uncovering complex security weaknesses that automated tools miss. Security professionals conduct in-depth analysis, identifying subtle software flaws and nuanced vulnerabilities, ensuring thorough application security.

Combining automated and manual penetration tests provides a comprehensive approach, leveraging the speed of automated scanning with the critical thinking of a skilled security team. This combined approach strengthens security efforts and minimizes the risk of cyber attacks. This blending of automated and manual approaches provides a robust cybersecurity strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is automated penetration testing?

Automated penetration testing uses tools to identify potential vulnerabilities in systems and applications.

When should I use automated security testing tools?

It would be best to use automated testing tools for routine security assessments, large-scale infrastructure, and cost-effective preliminary analyses. They can provide efficient and comprehensive security testing.

What are the limitations of automated vulnerability scanners?

An automated vulnerability scan may produce false positives and can miss complex vulnerabilities that require human logic to detect. These limitations may affect the overall effectiveness of the scanners.