Manual penetration testing is a hands-on approach where experienced testers simulate real-world attacks to uncover critical vulnerabilities across networks, applications, and infrastructure. Unlike automated scans, manual testing delivers deep insights, proof-of-concept exploits, and actionable remediation guidance, making it a vital security layer in 2025’s evolving threat landscape.
First and Foremost, This guide features leading manual penetration testing companies including Rapid7, Secureworks, Core Security and Redbot Security. These firms specialize in expert-led, controlled testing methodologies that go far beyond vulnerability scanning tools or junior-level service teams.
Penetration Testing Companies [manual testing]
Cyber attacks have escalated dramatically in recent years. For starters, cybercriminals now rely on low‑cost, easily accessible tools to breach organizations of every size. While small businesses are often seen as “low‑hanging fruit,” increasingly, mid‑sized enterprises are becoming prime targets, and many are simply not equipped to fend off today’s sophisticated threats.
To counter this trend, one of the most effective ways to strengthen your security posture is through thorough penetration testing and Red Team assessments. By simulating real‑world attacks, these exercises reveal exactly how adversaries could exploit your systems, providing a clear, actionable picture of any defensive gaps.
Moreover, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) explains that penetration testing is invaluable, but only when performed with precision and expertise. Otherwise, poorly managed tests can disrupt operations or even damage critical systems. Consequently, NIST stresses the importance of highly skilled professionals leading the effort.
At its core, effective penetration testing depends on expert‑led execution. Specifically, seasoned cybersecurity teams with mature Red Team capabilities go far beyond surface‑level scans, delivering deep‑dive insights, detailed proof‑of‑concept reporting, and realistic attack simulations. Ultimately, this level of testing is vital for identifying and mitigating risks before threat actors can exploit them.
In short, selecting a trusted penetration‑testing provider with proven Red Team expertise isn’t optional, it’s essential.
To begin with, are you ready to move beyond standard, automated scans and invest in true, hands‑on security testing? In this expanded top‑ten list, we therefore spotlight leading U.S.-based manual penetration testing companies, each known for providing thorough, human‑led assessments rather than surface‑level vulnerability scans. As a result, these specialized firms offer a controlled, deep‑dive approach to uncovering potential weaknesses, going far beyond what automated tools can detect.
Consequently, if your organization needs a trusted cybersecurity partner staffed by seasoned professionals who deliver manual, real‑world penetration testing, this expanded lineup will, ultimately, guide you toward some of the most reputable service providers operating in the U.S. today.
Manual Penetration Testing Excellence
Redbot’s core service focuses on deep-dive, manual penetration testing, identifying real-world vulnerabilities across web and mobile applications, internal and external networks, and OT/ICS environments. Each test includes comprehensive proof-of-concept reporting, helping clients understand, remediate, and prevent threats.
Enterprise-Grade Cybersecurity Services
Whether you’re a mid-market business or a Fortune 500 enterprise, Redbot delivers tailored security assessments aligned with your risk profile and compliance requirements. Redbot’s Red Team engagements, cloud security reviews, and firewall configurations provide a complete cybersecurity solution.
Continuous Testing with Redbot Sentry
For organizations seeking ongoing protection, Redbot Sentry offers a cost-effective continuous penetration testing platform that identifies low-hanging vulnerabilities in real time. It’s ideal for companies that want always-on visibility without the cost of repeated one-off tests.
Client-Focused, Expert-Driven
At Redbot, we prioritize transparency, direct access to engineers, and white-glove support throughout the engagement. No outsourcing. No juniors. Just trusted cybersecurity professionals who get the job done right.
Contact: https://redbotsecurity.com/contact/
At Rapid7, we believe in simplifying the complex through shared visibility, analytics, and automation that unite your teams around challenges and successes of cybersecurity. Whether you’re looking for a comprehensive security platform, an assessment to better understand your security posture, or something in between, we’ve got your back.
Secureworks approaches every penetration test as unique to every organization. Our methodology is performed by the industry’s top security testers, leveraging our proprietary tactics and intelligence from the Secureworks Counter Threat Unit™. Both Penetration and Advanced Penetration Tests are designed to show how an attacker would gain unauthorized access to your environment by compromising in-scope systems and highlight pivoting opportunities from compromised hosts. Based on the findings, Secureworks pen-testing services will discuss the findings with all relevant audiences and provide a customized course of action for both leadership and technical audiences.
Contact: https://secureworks.com
FireEye is providing security testing services and products combat today’s advanced persistent threats (APTs). As an integral piece of an Adaptive Defense strategy, our state-of-the-art network security offerings protect against cyber attacks that bypass traditional signature-based tools such as antivirus software, next-generation firewalls, and sandbox tools. The company offers penetration testing through a 3rd party with additional support for remediation which has them join our Top Penetration Testing Company list.
Contact: https://www.fireeye.com/
Veracode Manual Penetration Testing (MPT) complements Veracode’s automated scanning technologies with best-in-class penetration testing services to find business logic and other complex vulnerabilities in web, mobile, desktop, back-end and IoT applications. Using a proven process to ensure high customer satisfaction, Veracode MPT provides detailed results, including attack simulations, through the Veracode Application Security Platform, where both manual and automated testing results are assessed against your corporate policy. Developers can consult Veracode application security consultants on the findings and retest uncovered vulnerabilities to verify successful remediation.
Contact: https://www.veracode.com/
NetSPI is a penetration testing company that is transforming the cyber security testing industry with tech-enabled services and prevention-based cyber security techniques. Global enterprises choose NetSPI’s penetration testing service to test their applications, networks, and cloud infrastructure at scale and manage their attack surfaces.
Contact: https://www.netspi.com/
Contact: https://netragard.com/
Rhino Security Labs is a penetration testing company with a focus on network, cloud, and web/mobile application penetration testing services.
As a deep-dive security testing provider, we uncover vulnerabilities that put your organization at risk and provide guidance to mitigate them. We bring together security research, proprietary technologies, and industry-leading security engineers to create the best penetration testing firm in the industry. So whether your focus is the external network, complex web applications, in the AWS cloud, or social engineering testing, we have the specialists to fit your unique needs.
Contact: https://rhinosecuritylabs.com/company/
Coalfire helps organizations comply with global financial, government, industry, and healthcare mandates while helping build the IT infrastructure and security systems that will protect their business from security breaches and data theft. The company is a leading provider of IT advisory services for security in retail, payments, healthcare, financial services, higher education, hospitality, government, and utilities.
Contact: https://www.coalfire.com/about
Fortra’s Core Security is a leading provider of cyber threat prevention and identity governance solutions that help companies proactively prevent, detect, test, and monitor risk in their business.
With more than 25 years of experience in cybersecurity and risk management, our team of experts and award-winning solutions empower organizations to stay one step ahead and intelligently safeguard critical data and assets—protecting what’s most important to their business.
Contact: https://www.coresecurity.com/about
Also Learn About best red team companies
Q: What industries need manual pen testing?
A: All industries benefit, especially finance, healthcare, energy, and SaaS providers.
Q: How often should pen testing be performed?
A: At least annually, or after major changes to systems or infrastructure.
Q: How is manual testing different from a vulnerability assessment?
A: Manual testing simulates real attacks and provides proof-of-concept exploits, while assessments are scan-based and high-level.
Choosing a U.S.-based pen test company ensures data sovereignty, responsiveness, and local compliance alignment. Working with senior-level testers guarantees higher quality testing, reduced risk during engagement, and clear, actionable reporting that delivers value to both technical and executive teams.
| Penetration Testing Company | Location | Security Platform |
|---|---|---|
|
Redbot Security |
Denver, CO USA |
|
|
Rapid 7 |
Boston, Ma USA |
|
|
Secureworks |
Atlanta, GA USA |
|
|
Mandiant (google cloud) |
Reston, VA USA |
|
|
Veracode |
Burlington, MA USA |
|
|
NetSpi |
Lehi, Utah USA |
|
|
Netragard |
Marlborough, MA USA |
None |
|
Rhino Security |
Seattle, WA USA |
None |
|
CoalFire |
Westminster, CO USA |
|
|
Core Security (fortra) |
Eden Prairie, MN USA |
|
Also Read : offensive security companies
Need More? Additional Penetration Testing Information below:
To begin with, penetration testing, often called “pen testing”, is a proactive method of evaluating an organization’s defenses through a controlled, ethical‑hacking engagement. In practice, the scope of the test is clearly defined, and a penetration‑testing company then attempts to breach the target environment to expose and exploit network weaknesses.
Next, the process typically identifies a specific system (or group of systems) and sets measurable objectives. Once targets and goals are established, the testing team conducts reconnaissance and discovery, and then executes attacks designed to meet those objectives.
Depending on your security needs, a penetration‑test project can follow several models:
White‑box testing, where credentials and network details are shared, a common choice for insider‑threat assessments.
Black‑box testing, where no information is provided beyond, for example, a web‑app IP address, ideal for simulating an external attacker.
Gray‑box testing, which combines both approaches, sharing some, but not all, critical information.
Ultimately, a penetration test determines whether your systems are vulnerable to attackers, be they hackers, organized criminals, or nation‑state actors. More importantly, it pinpoints the potential business impact of each vulnerability and recommends targeted remediation steps. By delivering verified findings, often chained into realistic exploit scenarios complete with proof of concept, a thorough manual pen test gives your organization the clarity it needs to reduce risk effectively.
There are several types of penetration tests, each focusing on different aspects and potential vulnerabilities. Some of the most common types include:
Black Box Penetration Testing: The tester has no knowledge of the systems being tested, simulating an attack from a malicious outsider without prior knowledge of the target system.
White Box Penetration Testing (or Clear Box): The tester has full knowledge of the systems being tested, including network diagrams, source code, and other critical details. This approach can uncover vulnerabilities that may not be detected in a black-box approach.
Grey Box Penetration Testing: This is a combination of both black and white box testing. The tester has partial knowledge of the system, which helps in identifying vulnerabilities faster than in black box testing but still simulates a semi-informed attacker.
External Penetration Testing: Focuses on vulnerabilities in external-facing assets like websites, DNS servers, email servers, etc. The objective is to identify vulnerabilities that external attackers could exploit.
Internal Penetration Testing: Concentrates on what might happen if the defenses are breached or if an insider decides to attack. It simulates an internal threat.
Red Team Testing: A more comprehensive approach where a team tries to simulate real-world attacks on an organization using any means possible to understand the organization’s security posture and readiness level. This is often more scenario-driven than traditional penetration tests.
Blue Team Testing: The blue team is responsible for defending against the red team’s attempts. While not a type of penetration test in the traditional sense, blue-team activities complement red-team operations.
Purple Team Testing: This is a collaborative approach that involves both red and blue teams working together to improve an organization’s security posture.
Physical Penetration Testing: Focuses on testing physical security measures, such as bypassing door locks, tailgating employees into secured areas, or accessing secure server rooms.
Social Engineering Testing:Aims to exploit human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. Methods can include phishing emails, baiting, tailgating, or any other technique that leverages human interaction.
Web Application Penetration Testing: Specifically targets web-based applications, looking for vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF), among others.
Wireless Penetration Testing: Concentrates on wireless networks (Wi-Fi) and aims to exploit vulnerabilities associated with wireless protocols and configurations.
Cloud Penetration Testing: Focuses on vulnerabilities in cloud environments, be it Infrastructure as a Service (PaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or Software as a Service (SaaS) setups.
IoT Penetration Testing: Focuses on vulnerabilities in Internet of Things devices, which can range from smart home appliances to industrial control systems.
Penetration testing benefits your organization far beyond a single vulnerability scan: it pinpoints hidden weaknesses, drives rapid remediation, fortifies your security posture, proves compliance readiness, and sharpens employee cyber‑hygiene, all in one proactive engagement. In today’s threat‑laden landscape, investing in a manual pen‑test isn’t merely best practice; it’s the most cost‑effective way to stay one step ahead of attackers while satisfying regulators and stakeholders alike
Finally, increase employee awareness: the testing process, and the accompanying reports highlight real‑world risks, encouraging staff to adopt stronger security practices and minimize human error.
Penetration Testing Services: Bridging Compliance Gaps
First and foremost, today’s heavily regulated landscape demands that organizations continuously gauge their compliance posture. Consequently, penetration‑testing services have become an invaluable supplement to traditional audits, shining a light on gaps that routine checklists may miss. For example, seasoned testers frequently breach a perimeter simply because one server missed a critical patch or a “temporary” device became a long‑term fixture, both clear indicators of non‑compliance. Moreover, most regulations explicitly require ongoing system auditing and security verification, making a well‑executed pen test doubly beneficial.
When evaluating U.S. penetration‑testing organizations, remember that scopes can vary widely. Therefore, define your objectives and expectations early. Otherwise, larger firms whose senior engineers focus on complex, time‑intensive engagements, may decline smaller projects. In Contrast, specialized providers often excel at targeted network and application penetration testing, delivering the deep‑dive insights needed to close compliance gaps and harden defenses.
Once you have identified the best penetration testing firm for your project, the report delivered is just as important as the test’s quality. Penetration Testing Reporting should include remediation recommendations, and vulnerabilities should be classified as Critical, High, Moderate, Low, and Informational.
We hope this penetration testing guide has been useful in your search to find the right company for your project. Finding the best penetration testing firm, specifically for your project is not challenging if you do your homework. There are many Penetration Testing Service Providers based in the USA that provide controlled Penetration Testing Services. You should consider experience, credentials, scoping documentation, and customer service quality to identify the best penetration testing firm for your project. Below, you will find additional information that contains questions to ask a penetration testing company, along with additional helpful information.
Senior Level Hands-on-Keyboard
Manual Testing
Get a Project Quote
While penetration testing is valuable in identifying technical vulnerabilities, red teaming provides a more holistic assessment by simulating realistic threat scenarios. By embracing red teaming, organizations can bolster their defenses, uncover weaknesses, and stay one step ahead of sophisticated adversaries.
Becoming proficient in Operational Technology (OT), Industrial Control Systems (ICS), and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) network testing can appear daunting as there are fewer learning resources.
Today, cybercriminals have plenty of entry points to exploit. Therefore, it has become crucial for organizations to improve their attack surface visibility to have more effective protection. This is where attack surface management (ASM) comes into play. This article will explore all about attack surface management (ASM), including its importance, working principle, and benefits.
Cybercriminals are ditching malware and exploiting trusted tools already inside your systems. Learn how Living off the Land (LotL) attacks work, and how to stop them.
From API-server exploits to supply-chain threats, this checklist shows how the best penetration testing companies harden Kubernetes. Boost resilience now.
The FBI released its FY 2024 IC3 Annual Report on April 24, 2025, detailing 859,532 complaints and a record $16.6 billion in losses. In this post, we highlight how phishing, BEC, and cryptocurrency fraud continue to surge, why ransomware remains a top threat to critical infrastructure, and which demographics are most at risk. Plus, discover Redbot Security’s proven strategies,from manual penetration testing to red teaming, that can help you turn IC3 data into actionable defenses.
Malicious actors prey on weak configurations like locusts. Microsoft, despite knowing that their operating systems, have inherent weaknesses have done little to enhance their initial security outside of remediation for publicly known vulnerabilities.
The following article is a discussion about helping you to best utilize your military skills to successfully transition into the commercial space.
The following article is a discussion that explores JavaScript Web Tokens
The following article is a discussion that explores Wave Behaviors to Locate Wireless Access Points and Devices
Should an Employee Report Security Incidents Involving Family Members? Is your business or job at risk if a bad actor gets access to your family. Will they gain access to you?
The likelihood of a cyber attack on a mobile platform is significantly high, but how difficult is it for a malicious actor to generate malware? You might be surprised.
Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR) vulnerabilities pose a significant risk to the security of web applications, allowing attackers unauthorized access to sensitive data and functionalities. By understanding the implications of IDOR and adopting secure coding practices, web developers can protect their applications and users from potential exploitation.
Mass Assignment Vulnerability occurs when a web application allows users to submit a more extensive set of data than is intended or safe. The potential consequences of this vulnerability can be severe
Attackers can manipulate the serialized data to execute malicious code, compromise the application, or gain unauthorized access.
Kerberos Authentication Service Response (AS-REP) Roasting, a technique similar to Kerberoasting, has gained prominence as a method for attackers to compromise Active Directory (AD) authentication systems.
Machine Learning (ML) is a subset of AI, and, more than likely, closely aligns with what we consider to be AI in the media.
Recent reports of significant cybersecurity layoffs in the United States have raised concerns about the nation’s preparedness to defend against cyber threats
While plenty of articles cover the Modbus protocol with varying degrees of detail and usage, this article aims to examine the Modbus protocol with an offensive security lens.
What is an API? APIs, including local and remote, come in various forms and are fundamental to modern software development. They serve as the bridge between different software components, enabling them to work together seamlessly.
Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) presents various security risks for organizations. This article will help you understand a Relay Attack.
Client-side desyncs are a class of browser-powered HTTP smuggling attacks. What you need to know and how to prevent a malicious actor from taking advantage of this vulnerability.
As a Senior Penetration Tester, I’ve witnessed firsthand how OSINT can be the linchpin in the security posture of an organization.
Through repeated random sampling, allows us to simulate a wide array of social engineering attacks with a depth and breadth previously unimaginable.
Is your security team sharing sensitive data unknowingly?
Our nation is under attack and overwhelmed. Modern Security teams face numerous challenges in managing network and application security effectively.
Our nation is under attack and overwhelmed. Modern Security teams face numerous challenges in managing network and application security effectively.
Increasingly, investors see proactive cybersecurity spending as a hallmark of strong corporate governance. It can be factored into how they value a company’s resilience and risk profile
With data breaches surging by 68% last year alone, cybersecurity has evolved from a low-key technical matter into a defining issue demanding top-level attention.
Cymbiotic Hive: The Simple, Rapid-Deployment Solution to Access Management
Redbot Security’s senior-level cloud security team brings years of expertise in AWS, GCP, and Azure security. Our approach is rooted in manual-controlled testing and deep-dive security analysis, ensuring that we uncover hidden vulnerabilities that automated tools often miss.
Internal network penetration testing is essential for identifying security gaps within an organization’s infrastructure. Attackers exploit misconfigured permissions, weak credentials, and unpatched vulnerabilities to escalate privileges and move laterally within networks. A thorough penetration test helps uncover these risks before they are exploited, ensuring stronger security controls, improved access management, and compliance with industry standards. Redbot Security’s expert-led penetration testing provides in-depth assessments to fortify your internal network against evolving threats.
Understanding NIST 800 and Its Impact on Penetration Testing Requirements.
From pipelines and water systems to power grids and transit networks, U.S. critical infrastructure is under siege. With CISA budget slashed, is a national cyber disaster inevitable?
NIST states: “Penetration testing services can be invaluable, but it is labor-intensive and requires great expertise to minimize the risk to targeted systems. Systems may be damaged or otherwise rendered inoperable during the course of penetration testing, even though the organization benefits in knowing how a system could be rendered inoperable by an intruder. Although experienced penetration testers can mitigate this risk, it can never be fully eliminated. Penetration testing should be performed only after careful consideration, notification, and planning.”
NIST 800 Warns “that caution should be exercised when performing physical security testing—security guards should be made aware of how to verify the validity of tester activity, such as via a point of contact or documentation. Another nontechnical means of attack is the use of social engineering, such as posing as a help desk agent and calling to request a user’s passwords, or calling the help desk posing as a user and asking for a password to be reset. “
“Penetration testing can be useful for determining:
Penetration testing can be invaluable, but it is labor-intensive and requires great expertise to minimize the risk to targeted systems. Systems may be damaged or otherwise rendered inoperable during the course of penetration testing, even though the organization benefits in knowing how a system could be rendered inoperable by an intruder. Although experienced penetration testers can mitigate this risk, it can never be fully eliminated. Penetration testing should be performed only after careful consideration, notification, and planning”
Supplemental guidance for the RA controls can be found in the following documents:
Redbot Social