Security audit or penetration test: which one do you need?
By Shayan Parsai · Published · 2 min read
A penetration test tries to break in from the outside, the way an attacker would. A security audit with code review also reads how the system is built, so it finds problems a test may never reach. If a customer or regulator asks for a pen test report, order a pen test. If you want to know what’s wrong and get it fixed, start with an audit.
Lessons from this story4 points ▾
- Start from your reasonA requirement from a customer or regulator points to a pen test. Wanting to know what’s wrong points to a security audit.
- Code shows what tests missA test sees what can be reached right now. Code review also finds the flaw that isn’t reachable yet, before it becomes one.
- Order mattersClose the obvious holes first, and a later pen test can spend its time on harder problems and give you more for the money.
- Scanning is neitherAn automated scan looks for known problems. It’s a useful first step, and it doesn’t replace either of these two services.
The difference
| Penetration test | Security audit | |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Tries to break in | Reads the code and setup, then tests |
| Access | Usually little or none | Code and configuration |
| Finds | What can be exploited today | Also flaws that aren’t reachable yet |
| Result | Report on what got through | Report, ranked fixes and a retest |
When a penetration test fits
Choose one when a customer, insurer or regulator asks for a pen test report, or when you want to see how far an attacker gets. Check that the provider’s report and credentials match what the person asking requires.
When a security audit fits
Choose one when you’re building something, when you’ve grown fast, or when you’ve used AI tools to write much of the code. It costs less to fix a problem you found in the code than one an attacker found for you.
The two work well together. A company that closes the obvious holes first gets more out of a later pen test.
What this means for your site
I do security audits and code reviews, and I can fix what I find. Not sure which you need? Tell me what you have and why you’re asking.
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