Penetration testing
done right

Leave the limits of traditional testing behind to meet compliance goals and reduce risk and security vulnerabilities faster

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Pen testing that actually reduces risk

Status-quo penetration testing (“pen test”) options are cumbersome consulting projects that take weeks or months to deliver a noisy report. Instead, the Bugcrowd Platform‘s modern Pen Testing as a Service (PTaaS) delivers actionable results for compliance and risk reduction at the speed of digital business.

Launch standard or customized testing in less than 72 hours with a pentester team designed for your needs, tap endless capacity for testing at scale as a subscription, and see prioritized findings 24/7 in a rich dashboard.

More speed & scale

Launch in less than 72 hours with prioritized vulnerabilities flowing directly into existing DevSec tools and processes for fast remediation. Easily repeat tests at scale and organize and manage them all through the Bugcrowd Platform.

More impact

Meet compliance goals (PCI, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001) and surpass them when needed. Our platform activates trusted, expert penetration testers for your needs from an elastic bench to find more critical vulns than traditional testing.

More agility

We’ll propose a scope that fits your needs and assets exactly for your penetration test strategies. For external web apps and networks, buy and configure pen tests directly or via AWS Marketplace.

More transparency

View timelines, prioritized findings, analytics, and penetration tester progress through the methodology checklist 24/7 in the Bugcrowd Platform’s rich Penetration Testing Dashboard.

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Key benefits of penetration testing through Bugcrowd

Continuous security management
Moves from point-in-time snapshots to ongoing security oversight for earlier visibility into risk and faster mitigation of exploitable issues
Increased efficiency
Combines automated and human testing to be more efficient, reduce costs, and allow security teams to scale their efforts without expanding their infrastructure
Faster, more informed remediation
Enables faster identification and real-time remediation guidance by integrating intelligence-led risk prioritization directly into existing systems and workflows
Enhanced collaboration
Creates constant communication channels between in-house security teams and testers, leading to quicker resolution of security issues
Compliance adherence
Helps organizations meet strict compliance requirements by providing a structured, traceable, and regular security testing program

A pen test offering for everyone

STANDARD

Zero-complexity testing for compliance

External Web Apps/Networks, APIs, Mobile Apps, Cloud

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Includes:

Launch within 3 business days
Platform-generated report
PTaaS Dashboard
Integration with SDLC
12 months of retesting (with 1 report update) for Web Apps, Networks, and APIs

PLUS

Customized testing for bespoke requirements

Ext/Int Web Apps/Networks, APIs, Mobile Apps, Cloud

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Everything in Standard +

Custom scoping and report
Special pentester requirements: Geolocation/testing time restrictions, special skill sets, CREST certification, etc.
12 months of retesting (with 1 report update) for all asset types
Advanced Targets (IoT/Hardware, Crypto, Binary, OT. Onsite Testing) at extra cost

MAX

Maximum risk reduction delivered continuously

Ext/Int Web Apps/Networks, APIs, Mobile Apps, Cloud

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Everything in Plus +

Choice of continuous or on-demand testing
Methodology-driven pen testing for coverage combined with bug bounty for discovery

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Why do companies choose Bugcrowd for pen testing?

Hybrid approach

PTaaS uses both automated scanners to find common vulnerabilities and experienced human testers for in-depth manual assessments that automated tools often miss
Cloud-based platform

A centralized platform provides real-time visibility into testing activity and risk, enabling teams to manage testing, monitor progress, and collaborate directly with testers
Continuous and on-demand

Instead of annual assessments, organizations can schedule tests as needed or on a regular schedule to anticipate emerging issues as environments and development cycles evolve
Integrated reporting

PTaaS platforms provide curated findings, clear documentation, and often allow for customized reports to meet compliance needs

Penetration Testing Service Dashboard

See penetration test results as they happen

Never be in the dark about your pen test results again. View prioritized findings, action items, analytics, and pentester progress 24/7 in a rich dashboard, and communicate with the pentester directly when needed. When ready, your final report (see sample for Standard pen test – Web App) is available for download from the same dashboard.

Curated Pentester Teams

The penetration testers you deserve

Other pen test providers take a cookie-cutter approach to pen testing regardless of your specific assets, environment, or needs–virtually guaranteeing low-impact results. Instead, our platform’s CrowdMatch^TM AI technology curates qualified, engaged teams for your precise requirements (and rotates testers whenever needed), bringing high-quality results that have earned us global CREST accreditation for pen testing.

Gamified Testing

Reduce risk faster

Sometimes, the “pay for effort” approach in security strategies won’t deliver the results you want, particularly when risk reduction is the main goal. So, in addition to flat-rate pen test solutions, we offer a “pay for impact” incentivized testing model in which elite pentesters are rewarded based on results, with up to hundreds of eyes on your targets. For many customers, this approach provides maximum risk reduction.

Analytics and Reports

Insights for continuous improvement

The Bugcrowd Platform™ includes a rich security knowledge graph containing millions of data points about security issues, vulnerabilities, assets, environments, and skill sets developed over a decade of building customer solutions. These comprehensive reports enable dynamic, contextual workflows, AI-powered tools like CrowdMatch™, and rich analytics, reports, and recommendations to help you continuously monitor KPIs and improve your security posture.

Pen Test Products

Optimized for today’s most demanding
cybersecurity requirements

Network

Penetration Testing

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Web Application

Penetration Testing

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API

Penetration Testing

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Cloud

Penetration Testing

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Mobile

Penetration Testing

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IoT

Penetration Testing

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Social Engineering

Penetration Testing

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AI

Penetration Testing

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Continuous Attack Surface

Penetration Testing

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Bugcrowd Penetration Testing as a Service gives me, my team, and our clients complete peace of mind that Beebole is up and running securely. Bugcrowd has been nothing but fast, efficient, and meticulous.

Yves Hiernaux

CEO and Co-Founder, BeeBole

We’ve received some very interesting and unexpected traffic from a variety of researchers, and I think that kind of testing exercises our product more thoroughly than would be possible.

William Scalf

Security Architect, Softdocs

I could have called anyone to get a clean bill of health, but we called Bugcrowd because we wanted the most in-depth vetting of our security posture.

Chaim Mazal

Head of Global Information Security, ActiveCampaign

Penetration Testing FAQs

What is penetration testing?

Penetration testing, often referred to as “pen testing,” is a simulated cyberattack carried out by an authorized third party (or pen tester) to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in your systems, networks, or applications—before real attackers can.

Why is penetration testing important?

It helps organizations identify security weaknesses before malicious hackers can exploit them, ensuring better protection of sensitive data and compliance with security standards. It also provides valuable insights for improving your overall security posture.

How often should penetration testing be conducted?

The frequency of penetration testing depends on your organization’s internal policies, risk profile, or regulatory requirements. Many industry standards require testing at least once a year, and many organizations also test after major system changes or product launches to stay ahead of potential threats and remain compliant.

What are the different types of penetration testing?

There are many different types of pen testing, including network pen testing, web application pen testing, mobile application pen testing, cloud pen testing, API pen testing, AI pen testing, IoT pen testing, social engineering pen testing, and continuous attack surface pen testing.

What should be included in the scope of a pen test?

The scope should define which systems, applications, APIs, cloud environments, and networks will be tested to match your risk profile and compliance needs.

What is Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS)?

PTaaS is a modern approach that delivers faster, more flexible pen testing through the cloud. It combines expert human testers with real-time dashboards and DevOps integrations, allowing security teams to launch tests quickly, track progress live, and fix issues faster than traditional methods.

What is the difference between black box, white box, and gray box testing?

Black box testing has no prior knowledge of the system; white box testing has full knowledge, including source code access; gray box testing combines elements of both, with partial knowledge.

Who performs penetration testing?

Certified professionals known as penetration testers or ethical hackers conduct penetration testing, often holding certifications such as CEH, OSCP, or CISSP.

What is included in a penetration testing report?

A typical report includes an executive summary, identified vulnerabilities, risk assessments, detailed findings, and recommended remediation steps.

What are the common tools used in penetration testing?

Tools include Metasploit, Nmap, Burp Suite, Wireshark, Nessus, and OWASP ZAP among others.

What are the benefits of using Bugcrowd for penetration testing?

Benefits include access to skilled penetration testers, scalable security testing, paying only for valid findings, and enhancing security posture through diverse testing.

How is pen testing different from a bug bounty program?

Pen testing is time-boxed, scoped, and led by a defined group of testers. Bug bounty programs are ongoing, open to a broader group, and use a pay-for-results model to find emergent vulnerabilities.

What types of vulnerabilities are typically reported on Bugcrowd?

Common vulnerabilities include Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), SQL Injection, Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), and Authentication Bypass.

Can small businesses use Bugcrowd as a pen testing tool effectively?

Yes, Bugcrowd offers flexible options that can be tailored to the scale and needs of small businesses, providing efficient vulnerability discovery and mitigation.

What’s the difference between crowdsourced pen testing and traditional pen testing?

Traditional pen testing uses a small team on a fixed schedule, often with limited skills and delayed results. Crowdsourced pen testing taps into a global pool of vetted hackers, providing broader coverage, faster findings, and a pay-for-results model that rewards impact—not just time spent.

How does pen testing support compliance?

Penetration testing helps meet compliance requirements like PCI-DSS, SOC 2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 by identifying security gaps and providing audit-ready reports. It validates your controls and shows regulators that you’re actively managing risk and protecting sensitive data.

How does Bugcrowd select and vet its testers?

Bugcrowd rigorously vets all testers through identity verification, skills assessments, and performance reviews to ensure trusted, high-quality results.