Cybersecurity · Testing
A scan finds known weaknesses automatically. A penetration test has a person try to break in. Here is when you need each and what drives the price.
Scan finds, pen test proves
Who asks for which
What drives the cost
30 minutes of data collection, your report the next day, yours to keep with no obligation. Or pick a time now. Or call 954-539-5678.
A vulnerability scan is an automated check that compares your systems against a database of known weaknesses, such as missing patches, outdated software and risky settings. It is fast, repeatable and run often, usually monthly or quarterly. A penetration test is a time-boxed exercise in which a skilled tester tries to actually break in, chaining weaknesses together the way an attacker would, and reports what they reached.
Put simply, a scan tells you what might be wrong. A penetration test shows what an attacker could do with it. Most businesses need regular scans all year and a penetration test once a year or after big changes. If an insurer, client or regulator is asking, read the exact wording: it usually tells you which one they mean.
Automated tool. Broad coverage of every reachable device. Finds known issues with a severity score. Run monthly or quarterly. Some false positives. Lower cost and often part of a managed security service.
Human-led, with tools. Goes deep on a defined scope. Proves which weaknesses can be exploited and how far an attacker gets. Run yearly or after major changes. Higher cost, priced per engagement.
NIST’s technical guide to security testing, SP 800-115, describes the same split: scanning identifies hosts, services and known vulnerabilities, while penetration testing confirms whether those vulnerabilities can be exploited and what the impact would be. The two are complements, not substitutes. A pen test without regular scanning leaves you blind for the other 51 weeks of the year. Scanning without ever testing leaves you guessing which findings really matter.
Scans come in a few flavors, and requests from clients often name one specifically.
For a small business, the useful baseline is a monthly authenticated internal scan plus an external scan, with findings fed into your patching routine. CISA also offers a free external vulnerability scanning service to qualifying organizations, which is worth checking if budget is tight.
Most requests fall into a few patterns. Match the wording before you buy anything.
If the request just says “security testing”, ask which of the two they mean, how recent it must be and what proof they want. That one email can save thousands.
Not sure which testing you actually need? Our free Technology Health Assessment takes about 30 minutes of data collection. The next day you get a plain-language report rating your IT operations, cybersecurity, backups and business continuity as controlled, needs attention, significant exposure or unknown, with a short list of next steps in order. It is yours to keep, with no obligation. Book your assessment.
We do not publish prices for testing, and market quotes vary widely. These are the factors that move the number.
Testing only helps if someone acts on it. Our cybersecurity services cover the work that makes test results look better: updates, endpoint protection, multi-factor authentication, email security and monitored backups with tested restores. If your insurer is the one asking, our guide to cyber insurance requirements covers what applications typically ask.
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Choose a slot that suits you. We’ll confirm by email, collect the data with you on the call, and send your report the next day. It’s free, and the report is yours to keep with no obligation.
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No. A vulnerability scan is automated and lists known weaknesses. A penetration test is led by a person who tries to exploit weaknesses and shows how far an attacker could get. Most businesses need both, on different schedules.
Monthly is a practical baseline for internal and external scans, with critical findings patched quickly. Some rules set a minimum, such as quarterly external scans for PCI DSS or every six months under the FTC Safeguards Rule.
Typically once a year and after significant changes to your network or applications. Check the exact wording of any insurer, client or regulatory requirement, since some name a specific frequency.
Requirements vary by carrier and policy size. Many applications ask about vulnerability scanning and patching; fewer require penetration testing. This is general information, so confirm with your broker or insurer.
