This article discusses Manual Penetration Testing compared to Automated Vulnerability Scans and why you should implement both.
Penetration tests use different methods to detect application vulnerabilities and evaluate the system or network. During such processes, systems’ weak designs will be exploited via the authorization of simulation attacks. The test aims to protect sensitive information against outsiders like hackers that may unauthorizedly access your system. Once the vulnerability has been detected, the exploitable data can then be retrieved from the system in the hope of obtaining the data. A penetration test is also called a pen test.
Adversaries continue to show that they have moved beyond malware. CrowdStrike has observed that attackers increasingly attempt to accomplish their objectives without writing malware to the endpoint. Rather, they have been observed using legitimate credentials and built-in tools, a “living off the land” (LOTL) approach in a deliberate effort to evade detection by legacy antivirus products. Of all detections indexed by the CrowdStrike Security Cloud in the fourth quarter of 2021, 62% were malware-free.” CrowdStrike
So, how do organizations protect their critical data and systems in today’s evolving threat landscape? Is manual penetration testing with the human element more reliable than automated vulnerability scanners? What is Manual Penetration Testing, and How Does it Work?
Definition: Manual Penetration Testing is a controlled assessment of networks and applications that can safely identify and validate real-world vulnerabilities that are potentially exploitable. Manual Penetration Testing removes false positives and provides proof of concept reporting and an exploit storyboard for more accessible remediation.
Manual penetration testing is quickly becoming the top choice over automated tests for organizations looking to simulate what a threat actor could do. With a deep dive into networks, devices, and applications, Manual Penetration Testing, if performed correctly, can identify exploitable vulnerabilities that are either easily missed out by automated tests or something a scanner cannot do.
Typically, a quality Manual Penetration Test or Pen-test is performed by Senior Level Experts who find vulnerabilities in a system, network, and application. Utilizing their experience with network systems, custom scripts, and tools, the Sr. Level Engineer manually takes the appropriate controlled steps to exploit those vulnerabilities. Additional knowledge and expertise within IT/OT environments are essential for performing a non-disruptive manual penetration test. Hiring inexperienced teams can often result in unintentional denial of service or, worse, denial of service or, worse case, cause sensitive services to crash.
Discovery. The first phase of penetration testing is OSINT and Discovery.
Penetration Testing. Qualified engineers perform the testing phase – The Penetration tester utilizes automated scanners for enumeration and port scanning and then performs manual exploitation based on their expertise, testing techniques, and tools knowledge.
Assessment. The team then Determines Risks to the organization based on the appropriate frameworks used during the penetration testing phase.
Knowledge Sharing. The Penetration Tester or Pen-Test Team Provides precise results with Proof of Concept reporting and Remediation recommendations.
Remediation. The Organization remediates findings that pose a risk.
Retesting. The Penetration Tester will Retest the remediated vulnerabilities and provide a final pen-test report with proof of remediation.
It’s important to know that current technology has made significant progress but is currently unable to compete with modern-day hackers, ” the human element.”
Modern-day scanners and Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) providers typically cannot ‘hack’ their way into privileged information. A vulnerability scan is not a worthy substitute for a highly focused testing engagement driven by human knowledge and expertise. However, its good practice to utilize both deep dive manual penetration testing in conjuction with ongoing, continous automated scans, such as Redbot Sentry.
Manual Penetration Testing or MCPT Manual Controlled Penetration Testing is thorough and, in many projects, will look for issues such as:
A Penetration Test can help your team find exploitable vulnerabilities before bad actors find them.
If you are looking to find exploitable vulnerabilities on your OT/IT networks, Manual Controlled Penetration Testing (MCPT®) is an easy-to-execute cost-effective solution.
Manual Controlled Penetration Testing provides reports written by experts highlighting critical data, how targets were compromised, recommendations on best practices, and a complete review of remediation recommendations.
The difference, not always noticeable, concerns the testing goals and the organization’s current security approach.
A vulnerability assessment is designed to identify as many vulnerabilities as possible within a network, application, or system. This assessment usually occurs as a first-level analysis within an organization to help determine its current security posture. The organization will know they have problems and need help identifying them.
Penetration tests are typically reserved for organizations that have obtained their desired security posture. That has eliminated all known and discovered vulnerabilities. Have updated systems, patches, and some cyber security programs in place. The penetration test will simulate a scenario of attempting to breach an organization’s strategy by finding exploits and vulnerabilities based on pre-organized goals.
Should I perform a vulnerability assessment and a penetration test?
The classic rule of thumb for an organization is that you should do a vulnerability assessment anytime significant changes occur to your network.
Here are a few examples of these changes.
As we can see, scheduling vulnerability assessments can be complicated to budget and plan without a long-term IT implementation plan. Some companies offer organizations the option of pre-purchasing vulnerability assessments on an annual contract. If a company typically performs (4) checks a year, although, at various times, this becomes a valuable, cost-effective option.
Testing becomes more periodic when we start talking about manual penetration testing. Every organization is dynamic. Everything is in a continual state of change, from the data to the infrastructure. There are multiple factors to analyze to determine when and how a penetration test should occur. These factors can range from your current IT footprint, company size, compliance, and regulation levels to regions where you do business or organizational growth. Either way, best practice dictates that all companies with some level of cyber posture perform at least one penetration test yearly.
Manual Penetration Testing Advantages and Disadvantages
In summary, a vulnerability scanner such as Nessus* or Nmap* is necessary to discover vulnerabilities by internal scans performed by your company or by 3rd parties. Manual Penetration Testing goes quite a bit farther, verifying false positives and manually attempting to show proof of concept for exploits. Something a scanner is not able to do at the present moment.
*Nessus is one of the most popular vulnerability scanners, with over two million downloads across the globe. Additionally, Nessus provides comprehensive coverage, scanning for over 59,000 CVEs.
*Nmap Port Scanner. This tool does not go as broad in its detection but focuses more on mapping open ports (services) across a network. An available port that should not be accessible can still be a vulnerability.
There are many other Penetration Testing Tools; view more info here.
Book a discovery call or request a rapid quote for services, tailored to your priorities and budget.
From manual testing of IT Networks and Web / Mobile Applications to advanced Red Team operations, Cloud Security, and OT-network assessments, Redbot Security delivers laser-focused, senior-level expertise, without breaking the bank.
SOC 2 compliance is now essential for building trust with clients. This step-by-step guide explains the process and how consulting services accelerate success.
Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) goes beyond tools. Discover how Redbot Security combines automated scanning with expert penetration testing for proven results.
Zero Trust requires strict verification of people as well as technology. Allowing foreign or crowdsourced hackers into your environment opens the door to sanctions violations, insider threats, and export-control breaches. Learn why U.S. companies should restrict penetration testing to vetted U.S.-based experts.
U.S. critical infrastructure is facing unprecedented cyber risk. This article explores ICS/SCADA security, the Purdue Model, and safe OT penetration testing practices. Discover why layered testing is essential and how Redbot Security helps organizations strengthen defenses against ransomware, remote access threats, and operational disruption.
Prompt injection attacks are a rising AI security risk in 2025. Learn how attackers manipulate LLMs to exfiltrate data, bypass safeguards, and cause real damage, and how Redbot Security uses penetration testing, OWASP frameworks, and risk assessments to defend against this evolving threat..
Redbot Security explains how RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) Testing protects AI systems from prompt injection, data poisoning, and hallucinations
APIs power today’s digital economy but are prime targets for attackers. Redbot Security delivers advanced API penetration testing and compliance-ready reports for PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.
Political shutdowns are dismantling U.S. cyber defenses at the very moment attackers are escalating. Redbot Security warns why proactive penetration testing is critical in 2025.
Red team testing, also called a red team test, simulates real-world cyberattacks to measure detection and response. Discover the process, benefits, common scenarios, and how to choose the right red team testing provider for your organization’s cybersecurity resilience.
APIs power today’s digital economy but are prime targets for attackers. Redbot Security delivers advanced API penetration testing and compliance-ready reports for PCI DSS, HIPAA, and ISO 27001.
Ransomware-as-a-Service is exploding in 2025, giving even low-level hackers nation-state-level power. Discover how Redbot Security’s penetration testing and red team engagements help organizations stay ahead of this growing cyber threat.
Simulate real-world cyberattacks with Redbot Security’s Red Teaming services. Our customizable 4–12 week engagements test your organization’s ability to detect, respond to, and contain advanced threats, before attackers strike.
Don’t let hidden vulnerabilities derail your launch. Redbot Security breaks down every SDLC phase and shows how a final penetration-testing gate catches business-logic flaws, slashes breach costs, and meets PCI DSS v4.0 and SOC 2 requirements before go-live.
The 2025 Verizon DBIR confirms what security teams feel every day: almost 7 in 10 breaches start with a CVE that already had a fix. We map the numbers, run the ROI math, and show why a senior-level pen-test is the fastest way to slash that risk.
Redbot Social