Your SOC 2 audit is next week, or a big client is holding a contract until they see a security report. You don't have months to wait or an extra $50,000 for a traditional pentesting firm. At Affordable Penetration Testing, we deliver a compliance-ready report in 5 days, starting at just $2,000.
This guide explains how to build a modern penetration testing program. It's not a single, massive test. It's a structured process for finding and fixing security weaknesses before they become a disaster, keeping auditors and customers happy.
Think of a penetration testing program as a recurring health check for your security. It moves you from a reactive, fire-drill mentality to a predictable, compliance-ready state. Instead of scrambling when an audit notice arrives, you're always prepared with an effective security testing process.
This scheduled, ongoing approach is exactly what auditors for frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001 want to see. A single pentest from last year doesn't cut it anymore. They need proof you have a consistent, mature security process, which a good penetration testing program provides.
Demand for penetration testing services is exploding for this reason. The global market is expected to jump from USD 2.2 billion in 2025 to USD 8.4 billion by 2035, driven by cyber threats and tight compliance rules.
A solid penetration testing program boils down to three simple parts: planning, testing, and reporting. Forget the six-week planning sagas traditional security firms love. For us, planning is about one thing: quickly defining what we’re testing. This takes hours, not weeks.
Our process focuses on your critical assets, whether that’s your main web application or your AWS environment. We get the testing timeline for your urgent penetration testing needs locked in fast. Our security engineers then use a blend of automated tools and manual hacking to find vulnerabilities that actually matter, satisfying your auditors and genuinely improving security.
Finally, we deliver a clear, actionable report. It details every finding, its risk level, and straightforward steps for your developers to fix it. This isn't a 100-page academic document. It’s a practical guide for your team, delivered in just 5 days, that gets right to the point.
Each method gives the tester different knowledge, simulating an outsider with zero information (Black Box) or an insider with full access (White Box). To learn how this works, check our guide on web app pentesting approaches.
Compliance is probably why you're looking into a penetration testing program. Frameworks like SOC 2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 don't just want a one-time test. Auditors need to see proof of an ongoing security effort and a repeatable process. A single test is just a snapshot in time. A program shows real commitment.
For a SOC 2 audit, a pentest is direct proof for meeting key Trust Services Criteria. For HIPAA, it's critical for protecting patient health information (PHI) and avoiding massive fines. We specialize in compliance-driven penetration testing because we know exactly what auditors look for.
We structure reports to give auditors the precise information they need, saving you time and stress. We focus on what's important, distinguishing between a minor tweak and a major finding that could derail your compliance status. Regulatory frameworks like GDPR and PCI DSS force organizations to conduct rigorous penetration testing. You can discover more insights about these compliance drivers and how they shape the market.
Launching a formal penetration testing program shouldn't be a multi-month headache. You can go from kickoff to a full, compliance-ready report in a single business week. Forget the old-school model that takes weeks just to get a scoping call. Our entire process is built for speed and efficiency.
Here’s our simple, five-day sprint:
This simple, repeatable process delivers a high-quality pentest for a fraction of the cost legacy firms charge. To keep your new penetration testing program effective, schedule these tests at a regular cadence, like annually for SOC 2. Our guide on external penetration testing offers more detail on scoping assessments.
Picking the right vendor for your penetration testing program is a critical security decision. The old-school consulting model is broken. Big firms quote $25,000-$50,000 and make you wait weeks or months to start. That slow, overpriced approach is a disaster when you have a compliance deadline.
You need a partner who gets it. The goal is a high-quality, actionable pentest, done quickly and without breaking the bank. A good partner helps you satisfy auditors and customers without blowing up your budget. When vetting partners, cut through the sales pitch and ask these direct questions:
The need for good pentesting partners is growing fast. The U.S. market is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 12.5% through 2030. You can learn more about these market findings and why finding a reliable partner is critical.
Don't let a slow, overpriced security firm derail your compliance audit. A proper penetration testing program should be a source of confidence, not a bottleneck. We built our penetration testing services to deliver the speed and value modern companies need, with prices starting at just $2,000 for Manual Pentesting.
Our process is simple and built for action. We combine expert manual testing with efficient tools to get the job done right and fast. While some tools can accelerate discovery, the human element finds critical vulnerabilities. Our overview of automated penetration testing explains why a hybrid approach is essential for compliance. Our goal is to provide fast and comprehensive security testing.
Ready to secure your compliance? Contact us now for a no-nonsense quote and get your pentest on the calendar within 24 hours.
Here are the straight answers to the questions we hear most about building an affordable penetration testing program for compliance.
For SOC 2, an annual penetration test is the typical baseline requirement. But if you’re shipping major updates or changing your infrastructure, once a year might not be enough. An ongoing program ensures you’re always ready for an audit with no last-minute scrambling.
Traditional firms often start at $25,000 for a single test. That makes a consistent program feel out of reach. We decided that model was broken. Our approach is different. We deliver the same high-quality, audit-ready penetration tests starting at just $2,000, making an effective program a reality.
A vulnerability scan is an automated check that flags known problems. A penetration test is a human expert actively trying to break in. They don't just find the unlocked window; they try to climb through it. That’s why compliance frameworks like SOC 2 demand a full penetration test.
Ready to get a compliance-ready pentest on the books in the next 24 hours? Affordable Pentesting delivers actionable reports in 5 days. Get your no-nonsense quote now.
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