When it comes to selecting the best vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools for contractors, market research indicates that the right choice can significantly impact project outcomes. Customer review analysis shows common patterns, with tools like Nessus and Qualys consistently earning high marks for their comprehensive coverage and user-friendly interfaces. In contrast, tools that lack robust reporting features or user support often receive lower ratings, highlighting the importance of these elements in contractor needs. Research suggests that while some contractors might lean towards more budget-friendly options like OpenVAS, which is open-source and highly customizable, industry reports show that investing in established brands often leads to better long-term results—particularly when it comes to maintaining compliance with security standards. Interestingly, Burp Suite, often hailed as a favorite among ethical hackers, has a reputation for its detailed vulnerability analysis, which many users frequently mention as a game changer during assessments. In terms of pricing, many consumers report that while tools can range from free to several thousand dollars annually, it's essential to balance cost with the features that matter most.When it comes to selecting the best vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools for contractors, market research indicates that the right choice can significantly impact project outcomes. Customer review analysis shows common patterns, with tools like Nessus and Qualys consistently earning high marks for their comprehensive coverage and user-friendly interfaces.When it comes to selecting the best vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools for contractors, market research indicates that the right choice can significantly impact project outcomes. Customer review analysis shows common patterns, with tools like Nessus and Qualys consistently earning high marks for their comprehensive coverage and user-friendly interfaces. In contrast, tools that lack robust reporting features or user support often receive lower ratings, highlighting the importance of these elements in contractor needs. Research suggests that while some contractors might lean towards more budget-friendly options like OpenVAS, which is open-source and highly customizable, industry reports show that investing in established brands often leads to better long-term results—particularly when it comes to maintaining compliance with security standards. Interestingly, Burp Suite, often hailed as a favorite among ethical hackers, has a reputation for its detailed vulnerability analysis, which many users frequently mention as a game changer during assessments. In terms of pricing, many consumers report that while tools can range from free to several thousand dollars annually, it's essential to balance cost with the features that matter most. A tool's effectiveness shouldn't be based solely on its price tag; after all, nobody wants to be the contractor who brought a butter knife to a gunfight. Moreover, a fun fact about Tenable, the company behind Nessus, is that it started as a project in a university lab back in 1998—now it’s a staple in cybersecurity. As you navigate your options, remember that the right tool should not only fit your budget but also align with your specific project needs and regulatory requirements. So, whether you're scanning for vulnerabilities on a tight deadline or conducting a thorough penetration test, the right tools can make all the difference in your cybersecurity strategy.
Horizon3.ai is a SaaS solution specifically designed to fulfill the cybersecurity needs of contracting businesses. It offers continuous assessment and verification of security posture, ensuring that vulnerabilities across various attack surfaces are promptly identified and fixed. This is particularly crucial for contractors who often handle sensitive data and require robust security measures.
Horizon3.ai is a SaaS solution specifically designed to fulfill the cybersecurity needs of contracting businesses. It offers continuous assessment and verification of security posture, ensuring that vulnerabilities across various attack surfaces are promptly identified and fixed. This is particularly crucial for contractors who often handle sensitive data and require robust security measures.
REAL-TIME MONITORING
RISK PRIORITIZATION
Best for teams that are
Enterprises requiring continuous, autonomous verification of their security posture
Security teams wanting to validate fixes immediately with automated "find, fix, verify" loops
Skip if
Organizations seeking a basic, low-cost vulnerability scanner for simple compliance checks
Companies specifically requiring a human-signed penetration test report for regulatory audits
Expert Take
Our analysis shows that Horizon3.ai's NodeZero stands out by moving beyond simple vulnerability scanning to actually *proving* risk through autonomous exploitation. Research indicates its ability to safely chain vulnerabilities (like using dumped credentials to pivot across a network) provides a realistic 'attacker's eye' view that static scanners miss. With FedRAMP High authorization and a '1-click verify' feature, it offers a rare combination of high-security trust and operational practicality for continuous validation.
Pros
FedRAMP High Authorized security
Autonomous vulnerability chaining
1-click verification of fixes
Safe for production environments
Unlimited self-service pentesting
Cons
Lacks human intuition for novel logic
Web app depth vs dedicated tools
Reporting detail sometimes lacks granularity
Discovery limited to standard protocols
Enterprise pricing can be opaque
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.8/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Vulnerability Scanning & Pen Testing Tools for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.1
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the platform's ability to autonomously discover, chain, and exploit vulnerabilities to prove real-world risk rather than just listing theoretical CVEs.
What We Found
NodeZero performs autonomous internal, external, and cloud pentests that chain weaknesses (e.g., misconfigurations, weak credentials) to demonstrate critical impacts like domain compromise, offering a '1-click verify' feature to confirm fixes.
Score Rationale
The score is high due to its advanced ability to safely chain vulnerabilities and prove exploitability in production, though it naturally lacks the creative intuition of a skilled human red team for novel logic flaws.
Supporting Evidence
NodeZero is the offensive security engine behind the NSA's Continuous Autonomous Penetration Testing (CAPT) program. As the offensive security engine behind the NSA's Continuous Autonomous Penetration Testing (CAPT) program, NodeZero helps Defense Industrial Base (DIB) suppliers... validate their defenses.
— horizon3.ai
The platform includes a '1-click verify' feature that allows users to immediately retest specific findings to confirm remediation effectiveness. Horizon3.ai delivers detailed and prioritized remediation guidance and then goes far beyond that with the 1-click verify tool.
— horizon3.ai
NodeZero autonomously chains weaknesses (e.g., credential dumping, Man-in-the-Middle) to demonstrate impacts like domain compromise without relying solely on CVEs. NodeZero autonomously discovers and exploits weaknesses... chaining harvested credentials, misconfigurations, dangerous product defaults, and exploitable vulnerabilities.
— horizon3.ai
Proven performance in production environments ensures reliability and effectiveness in real-world scenarios.
— horizon3.ai
Documented in official product documentation, Horizon3.ai offers continuous security assessment and automatic vulnerability fixing.
— horizon3.ai
9.6
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess industry certifications, government authorizations, and adoption by high-security organizations to gauge trust and reliability.
What We Found
Horizon3.ai has achieved FedRAMP High Authorization, a rare and significant validation for a SaaS security tool, and is actively used by the NSA and Defense Industrial Base.
Score Rationale
Achieving FedRAMP High Authorization places it in the top tier of trusted security vendors, justifying a near-perfect score for credibility.
Supporting Evidence
The company holds SOC 2 Type II compliance and supports GDPR and CMMC requirements. Horizon3.ai's Trust Center lists compliance with SOC 2 Type II.
— trust.horizon3.ai
Horizon3.ai's NodeZero Federal is FedRAMP High Authorized, allowing it to support sensitive federal missions. Horizon3.ai... has gained Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP®) High Authorization... becoming the first and only cybersecurity vendor authorized to deliver continuous, autonomous pentesting within this strict regulatory framework.
— businesswire.com
9.0
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for ease of deployment, self-service capabilities, and the clarity of actionable reporting for both technical and executive audiences.
What We Found
The platform is designed as a self-service SaaS requiring no persistent agents for external/cloud tests (internal requires a Docker host), with users praising its efficiency and 'set and forget' automation.
Score Rationale
The self-service nature and ability to run safe production tests without complex configuration drive a high score, though some users note minor reporting gaps.
Supporting Evidence
Users report the platform is efficient at uncovering long-standing misconfigurations that manual processes missed. Users value the efficiency of NodeZero in uncovering long-standing misconfigurations and alerting on new vulnerabilities.
— g2.com
NodeZero is a self-service SaaS that requires no persistent agents or credentials to begin external or cloud assessments. NodeZero, our autonomous pentesting solution, is a true self-service SaaS that is safe to run in production and requires no persistent or credentialed agents.
— horizon3.ai
Intuitive dashboards facilitate easy navigation and understanding of security posture.
— horizon3.ai
8.6
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing models, public transparency, and the comparative cost against traditional manual penetration testing services.
What We Found
While specific enterprise pricing is often custom, G-Cloud listings suggest a per-IP model (approx £40/IP), and it is positioned as significantly more affordable than recurring human pentests.
Score Rationale
The value proposition is strong compared to human consulting, but the lack of transparent public pricing for all tiers keeps the score from being higher.
Supporting Evidence
The platform allows for unlimited pentests within the subscription term, offering better ROI than point-in-time manual tests. NodeZero democratizes pentesting, enabling any company to run pentests whenever and as often as they want.
— horizon3.ai
Public sector pricing documents indicate a list price of approximately £40.00 per active IP address for a 12-month service. NodeZero Service for 12 months per active IP address... List Price: £40.00.
— assets.applytosupply.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We examine the platform's own security posture and its ability to help customers meet regulatory requirements like PCI DSS, SOC 2, and CMMC.
What We Found
NodeZero is heavily focused on compliance, offering specific reporting for PCI DSS v4.0, SOC 2, and CMMC, and is itself secured to FedRAMP High standards.
Score Rationale
The combination of helping users meet strict compliance standards while maintaining FedRAMP High security for the platform itself warrants an exceptional score.
Supporting Evidence
The platform is safe to run in production environments, using 'safe' exploitation techniques to avoid downtime. Run safe, autonomous pentests in production. NodeZero launches safely in minutes... and emulates real adversary behavior.
— horizon3.ai
NodeZero provides tailored pentesting services and reports specifically to meet PCI DSS v4.0, SOC 2, and CMMC requirements. Our service helps you meet pentesting requirements for the following: PCI DSS v4.0... SOC... DORA... GDPR... CMMC.
— horizon3.ai
8.8
Category 6: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We look for API availability, pre-built connectors for SIEM/SOAR tools, and compatibility with existing DevSecOps workflows.
What We Found
Horizon3.ai offers a GraphQL API for automation and pre-built integrations for major platforms like Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, Jira, and ServiceNow.
Score Rationale
Strong API support and key enterprise integrations (Splunk, ServiceNow) make it highly embeddable, though the ecosystem is focused on major enterprise tools.
Supporting Evidence
Dedicated apps and webhooks are available for Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, Jira, and ServiceNow. Ticketing platform APIs and Webhooks for Vulnerability Management. Platforms supported: Jira · ServiceNow VR Module. Webhooks for Tripwires: Splunk · Sentinel.
— docs.horizon3.ai
Horizon3.ai provides a GraphQL API to programmatically control assessments and retrieve results. Horizon3.ai provides a publicly accessible Application Programming Interface (API), powered by GraphQL... ideal for automation, integration, and advanced workflows.
— docs.horizon3.ai
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Some users have reported that reporting outputs occasionally lack specific details, such as identifying exactly which default credentials were successfully used in an exploit.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Comparative reviews suggest NodeZero's web application scanning depth may be less granular than dedicated tools like Burp Suite for complex, manual-style analysis.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
While highly capable, NodeZero's AI logic is limited to programmed techniques and may fail to discover assets on isolated network segments or exploit novel logic flaws that a skilled human red team would find.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Tenable's Penetration Testing solution is a vital tool for contractors in any industry who need to safeguard their digital assets. The software automates the process of discovering security vulnerabilities, enabling contractors to swiftly identify and address weaknesses, thus significantly reducing the risk of cyber threats.
Tenable's Penetration Testing solution is a vital tool for contractors in any industry who need to safeguard their digital assets. The software automates the process of discovering security vulnerabilities, enabling contractors to swiftly identify and address weaknesses, thus significantly reducing the risk of cyber threats.
HIGH SATISFACTION
Best for teams that are
Vulnerability management teams needing industry-standard scanning and compliance auditing
Professional penetration testers requiring a robust foundation for vulnerability discovery
Skip if
Teams seeking a fully autonomous "pentest-in-a-box" solution that exploits findings automatically
Small organizations needing a free or very low-cost open-source alternative
Expert Take
Tenable's Penetration Testing is an industry favorite due to its focus on automation, speed, and effectiveness. This isn't just a generic cybersecurity tool - it's specifically designed to meet the needs of contractors. It offers a streamlined, user-friendly interface that makes it easy to quickly identify and address vulnerabilities. This tool doesn't just find weaknesses, it helps contractors strengthen their defenses, ensuring their projects and data are protected from potential cyber threats.
Baker Tilly's penetration testing and vulnerability assessment services are specifically designed for contractors that need to ensure their cybersecurity measures are up to par. The service focuses on identifying vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious entities, providing essential insights that can help contractors bolster their security measures and meet compliance requirements.
Baker Tilly's penetration testing and vulnerability assessment services are specifically designed for contractors that need to ensure their cybersecurity measures are up to par. The service focuses on identifying vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious entities, providing essential insights that can help contractors bolster their security measures and meet compliance requirements.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
Best for teams that are
Highly regulated industries like finance and healthcare needing comprehensive risk advisory
Internal audit departments seeking to align IT risk with enterprise risk management
Skip if
Technical teams seeking a standalone software tool for DIY vulnerability scanning
Small businesses needing a quick, automated check without broader consulting services
Expert Take
Our analysis shows that Baker Tilly distinguishes itself by tightly integrating penetration testing with broader risk management and regulatory compliance. Research indicates their status as a CMMC C3PAO and HITRUST Authorized External Assessor makes them uniquely qualified for highly regulated industries like defense and healthcare. Rather than a standalone technical exercise, their testing serves as a critical validation step for internal audits and control effectiveness.
Pros
Authorized C3PAO and HITRUST assessor
Combines automated scanning with manual exploitation
Deep integration with internal audit
Reports tailored for executive audiences
Strong focus on compliance frameworks
Cons
Higher service fees than competitors
Limited scheduling availability reported
Inconsistent support response times
Opaque pricing structure
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.6/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Vulnerability Scanning & Pen Testing Tools for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.9
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of testing services, including network, web application, and wireless assessments, as well as the balance between automated scanning and manual exploitation.
What We Found
Baker Tilly employs a "two-pronged approach" that combines industry-proven automated tools with manual exploitation to identify complex vulnerabilities in internet-facing systems, wireless networks, and web applications.
Score Rationale
The score reflects a robust methodology that goes beyond simple scanning to include manual exploitation and social engineering, though it operates within a broader consulting framework rather than a dedicated boutique model.
Supporting Evidence
The firm conducts social engineering testing, including phishing and vishing, tailored to an organization's specific operations. Baker Tilly also offers tailored social engineering testing services aimed at testing the ongoing security awareness of your employees.
— bakertilly.com
Testing capabilities extend to wireless network security, identifying weaknesses in configurations and architecture for managed and unmanaged devices. Baker Tilly's wireless network security testing helps our clients identify weaknesses in their wireless network configurations and architecture.
— bakertilly.com
Services utilize a two-pronged approach: automated tools to identify known vulnerabilities followed by manual attempts to exploit them. Baker Tilly's external penetration testing services utilize a two-pronged approach... efficiently and effectively manually attempting to exploit these vulnerabilities.
— bakertilly.com
Documented in official service descriptions, Baker Tilly offers comprehensive penetration testing tailored for contractors, focusing on vulnerability identification and compliance.
— bakertilly.com
9.4
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess industry standing, accreditations, and authorization to perform high-stakes assessments like CMMC and HITRUST.
What We Found
Baker Tilly is a top-tier advisory firm with significant credentials, including status as a CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO) candidate and a HITRUST Authorized External Assessor.
Score Rationale
The score is anchored by their elite status as an authorized assessor for major frameworks (CMMC, HITRUST), positioning them well above standard penetration testing vendors in terms of regulatory trust.
Supporting Evidence
The firm is an approved HITRUST Authorized External Assessor, validating their expertise in healthcare data security. As an approved HITRUST Authorized External Assessor, we work with organizations across industries to improve data security and regulatory compliance.
— bakertilly.com
Baker Tilly is a candidate CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO), authorized to conduct assessments for government contractors. Baker Tilly is a candidate CMMC Third-Party Assessor Organization (C3PAO), at-the-ready to meet you wherever you are on your CMMC compliance journey.
— bakertilly.com
Recognized by industry publications for its specialized cybersecurity services for contractors, enhancing trust in its market position.
— securitymagazine.com
8.8
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for responsiveness, clarity in reporting, and the ability to translate technical findings into actionable business insights.
What We Found
Client reviews praise the firm's communication and attentive consultants, noting that reports are tailored to be actionable for both technical and executive audiences.
Score Rationale
High scores for communication and personal service are slightly offset by reports of limited availability for scheduling meetings.
Supporting Evidence
Reports are designed to avoid technical jargon, making them accessible to board members and executives. Interfaces with various client personnel... to advise and report on cybersecurity and IT areas in the appropriate context and without technical jargon.
— bakertilly.com
Clients report outstanding communication and attentive consultants who are easy to reach. Their communication has been outstanding; our consultant was attentive and easy to reach at all hours.
— g2.com
Outlined in service documentation, Baker Tilly provides expert guidance throughout the testing process, ensuring contractors understand their security status.
— bakertilly.com
8.1
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing structures, transparency, and the perceived return on investment relative to market competitors.
What We Found
While the service is premium, reviews indicate fees are high compared to competitors and pricing is not publicly transparent, which is typical for large advisory firms.
Score Rationale
The score is impacted by documented higher service fees and a lack of public pricing, which may be a barrier for smaller organizations compared to boutique firms.
Supporting Evidence
Client feedback indicates that service fees are high compared to competitors in the market. Cons: High service fees compared to competitors
— designrush.com
Pricing requires custom quotes based on project scope, limiting upfront cost visibility.
— bakertilly.com
9.6
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We examine the provider's ability to align penetration testing with regulatory frameworks like PCI, HIPAA, NIST, and ISO.
What We Found
Baker Tilly excels in this area, integrating penetration testing directly with internal audit and compliance needs for frameworks like NIST 800-171, ISO 27001, and NYSDFS.
Score Rationale
This is the product's strongest category, as their testing is explicitly designed to satisfy rigorous audit and regulatory requirements rather than just finding bugs.
Supporting Evidence
Penetration testing is strategically utilized to enhance internal audit activities and validate control effectiveness. Utilizing penetration testing to enhance internal audit activities... validate that operational activities... are being performed and executed effectively.
— bakertilly.com
Services cover a wide range of compliance assessments including NIST 800-171, NYSDFS, and ISO 27000 family. Cybersecurity assessments: CIS Critical Security Controls (CSC)... NYSDFS... NIST 800-171... ISO 27000 family.
— bakertilly.com
Outlined in service offerings, Baker Tilly's testing services help contractors meet regulatory compliance requirements effectively.
— bakertilly.com
8.7
Category 6: Service Methodology & Approach
What We Looked For
We analyze the technical rigor, testing standards (e.g., OWASP), and the strategic focus of the testing engagement.
What We Found
The firm adopts a 'security-by-design' philosophy, focusing on outsider and insider threats through a structured mix of automated scanning and manual exploitation aligned with business needs.
Score Rationale
The methodology is solid and business-aligned, though it prioritizes risk management and audit assurance over the cutting-edge adversarial simulation found in specialized red-teaming boutiques.
Supporting Evidence
Testing is strategically aligned to focus on business-critical information regarding outsider and insider threats. Baker Tilly's vulnerability assessment and penetration testing services are strategically aligned to focus on what your business needs to know.
— bakertilly.com
The methodology encourages a 'security-by-design' mindset across IT infrastructure and business operations. Baker Tilly wants to change that mindset and encourages our clients to focus on security-by-design across their organization.
— bakertilly.com
Documented support resources include expert cybersecurity guidance throughout the testing process.
— bakertilly.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Some users have reported limited availability for scheduling meetings and inconsistent response times from support teams.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Checkmarx provides a comprehensive approach to secure software development for contractors. Its unified software suite offers code scanning, application security testing, and vulnerability remediation, aiding both security teams and developers to focus on addressing potential security threats.
Checkmarx provides a comprehensive approach to secure software development for contractors. Its unified software suite offers code scanning, application security testing, and vulnerability remediation, aiding both security teams and developers to focus on addressing potential security threats.
Best for teams that are
Enterprise DevSecOps teams integrating security directly into CI/CD pipelines and IDEs
Organizations with large custom codebases requiring automated remediation of vulnerabilities
Skip if
Small businesses without internal software development teams or custom code
IT teams focused solely on network infrastructure security rather than application code
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Checkmarx is redefining Application Security with its 'Agentic AppSec' approach, moving beyond simple detection to autonomous remediation. Research indicates it is the first major vendor to deeply integrate agentic AI into next-gen IDEs like Cursor and Windsurf, allowing it to fix vulnerabilities in real-time as code is written. While traditional SAST tools struggle with noise, Checkmarx's use of AI agents to triage and verify fixes directly in the developer workflow represents a significant leap forward in reducing friction between security and engineering teams.
Pros
Unified platform for SAST, DAST, SCA, and IaC
Agentic AI auto-remediates code in IDEs
Supports 75+ languages and 100+ frameworks
Real-time scanning in Cursor and Windsurf IDEs
7-time Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader
Cons
High cost barrier for small/mid-sized teams
Opaque quote-based pricing model
High false positive rates require manual tuning
Interface can be cluttered and complex
Resource-intensive scans can be slow
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.6/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Vulnerability Scanning & Pen Testing Tools for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.4
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of security testing tools (SAST, DAST, SCA) and the depth of vulnerability detection across languages and frameworks.
What We Found
Checkmarx One unifies SAST, SCA, DAST, API security, and supply chain protection into a single platform supporting over 75 languages and 100 frameworks, now enhanced with 'Agentic AI' for autonomous remediation.
Score Rationale
The score is high due to the platform's massive breadth covering the entire SDLC and the introduction of industry-first Agentic AI capabilities, though complexity remains a factor.
Supporting Evidence
New Agentic AI capabilities allow for autonomous triage and remediation of vulnerabilities. Experience the first AI-powered developer-centric AppSec agents that triage vulnerabilities to find what matters and write safe fixes within your dev workflows.
— checkmarx.com
The platform supports over 75 languages and 100+ frameworks. Checkmarx One supports: *75+ Languages *100+ Frameworks *75+ Technologies
— checkmarx.com
Checkmarx One unifies SAST, SCA, DAST, API, IaC, and supply-chain protection for enterprises. Checkmarx delivers cloud-native, AI-powered application security with Checkmarx One, unifying SAST, SCA, DAST, API, IaC and supply-chain protection for enterprises.
— vendr.com
The suite includes tools for both developers and security teams, enabling a unified approach to security.
— checkmarx.com
Documented in official product documentation, Checkmarx provides comprehensive code scanning and application security testing.
— checkmarx.com
9.6
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess industry recognition, analyst rankings (Gartner/Forrester), and adoption by major enterprises.
What We Found
Checkmarx is a dominant market leader, recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Application Security Testing for seven consecutive times and trusted by over 1,700 organizations.
Score Rationale
The score reflects near-perfect market validation through consistent top-tier analyst rankings and widespread enterprise adoption.
Supporting Evidence
Recognized as a Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for six years in a row. Checkmarx is the only AST vendor to be recognized as a Customers' Choice every year since the first Voice of the Customer for Application Security Testing report in 2019
— businesswire.com
Checkmarx named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Application Security Testing for the seventh consecutive time. Checkmarx... has been named a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Application Security Testing (AST). This marks the company's seventh time as a Leader.
— checkmarx.com
8.6
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We examine user interface design, ease of navigation, and the developer experience within IDEs and workflows.
What We Found
While the new 'Developer Assist' offers seamless IDE integration, legacy users report a cluttered dashboard and navigation challenges, alongside frustration with false positives.
Score Rationale
The score is impacted by documented user friction regarding UI complexity and the manual effort required to tune false positives, despite recent AI improvements.
Supporting Evidence
New Developer Assist plugins integrate directly into AI-native IDEs like Cursor and Windsurf. Checkmarx One Developer Assist agent, with extensions for top AI-native Integrated Development Environments (IDE) including Windsurf by Cognition, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot.
— checkmarx.com
Users find the navigation poorly designed and dashboards challenging to use. Users find the navigation poorly designed, leading to challenges in effectively using Checkmarx's dashboards.
— g2.com
8.0
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing transparency, cost-to-value ratio, and flexibility for different organization sizes.
What We Found
Pricing is opaque and quote-based, often cited as expensive for mid-market teams, with reports of high costs (e.g., ~$500k for 250 users) and no price locks.
Score Rationale
This is the lowest scoring category due to the lack of public pricing, high entry costs, and reports of significant price increases upon renewal.
Supporting Evidence
Vendr data indicates no price lock available for on-prem contracts and potential price increases. No price lock available for Checkmarx on prem contracts... We were able to negotiate a 3% price increase instead of a 7% price increase
— vendr.com
Pricing is not public and is considered expensive, with one user citing ~$500k for 250 users. Checkmarx is not a cheap solution. For around 250 users or committers, the cost is approximately $500,000.
— peerspot.com
We analyze the product's use of advanced AI for autonomous security tasks, specifically 'agentic' behaviors like self-correction and auto-remediation.
What We Found
Checkmarx is a first-mover in 'Agentic AppSec,' deploying autonomous agents that not only detect but also write and verify fixes in real-time within AI-native IDEs.
Score Rationale
The score reflects cutting-edge innovation with the 'Checkmarx One Assist' suite, which directly addresses the industry need for automated remediation.
Supporting Evidence
Support for AI-native IDEs like Windsurf and Cursor allows for real-time AI-generated code security. The initial Checkmarx One Developer Assist plugins are built for popular AI-native coding tools Windsurf, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot.
— checkmarx.com
Checkmarx One Assist uses agentic AI to triage vulnerabilities and write safe fixes. Experience the first AI-powered developer-centric AppSec agents that triage vulnerabilities to find what matters and write safe fixes within your dev workflows.
— checkmarx.com
9.1
Category 6: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We look for the breadth of integrations with CI/CD pipelines, SCMs, IDEs, and other developer tools.
What We Found
The platform offers extensive integrations across the DevOps lifecycle, including major CI/CD tools (Jenkins, Azure DevOps) and a wide range of IDEs.
Score Rationale
The score is high because the platform integrates deeply into the developer ecosystem, although some users note that configuring these integrations can be complex.
Supporting Evidence
Supports a wide array of integrations including bug tracking and build servers. It has numerous connectors with well-liked tools for development, including bug tracking programs, and build servers.
— topadvisor.com
Integrates with CI/CD pipelines and popular IDEs to scan code with every build. Can be easily integrated with your CI pipeline to have you code scan with every build
— g2.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Users describe the dashboard interface as cluttered and navigation as poorly designed, impacting the ease of triaging results.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Users consistently report high rates of false positives, particularly in legacy codebases and specific languages like iOS/Swift, requiring significant manual tuning.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Pentest-Tools.com offers a powerful toolkit for vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, specifically tailored for contractors in the cybersecurity industry. It provides a robust and intuitive platform to detect, validate, and prioritize vulnerabilities, reducing the potential risk for businesses.
Pentest-Tools.com offers a powerful toolkit for vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, specifically tailored for contractors in the cybersecurity industry. It provides a robust and intuitive platform to detect, validate, and prioritize vulnerabilities, reducing the potential risk for businesses.
USER-FRIENDLY INTERFACE
CUSTOMIZABLE REPORTS
Best for teams that are
MSPs and consultants requiring white-label reports and multi-client management capabilities
Internal security teams needing automated recurring scans with built-in exploit validation
Skip if
Teams requiring strictly air-gapped, on-premise solutions without cloud connectivity
Advanced red teams seeking complex, custom command-and-control simulation frameworks
Expert Take
Our analysis shows that Pentest-Tools.com effectively bridges the gap between automated vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing. Research indicates that its 'Sniper' feature uniquely validates findings with actual exploits, significantly reducing false positives compared to traditional scanners. Based on documented features, the 'Pentest Robots' capability allows teams to chain tools into sophisticated workflows, offering high-value automation without the complexity of maintaining self-hosted infrastructure.
Pros
Sniper Auto-Exploiter validates vulnerabilities
Pentest Robots automate tool chaining
Zero-setup cloud-based deployment
Transparent monthly pricing model
Native Jira and GitHub integrations
Cons
Limited report customization options
Strict asset limits on basic plans
Less granular control than Burp Suite
Web interface limits some manual workflows
No perpetual license option
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.3/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Vulnerability Scanning & Pen Testing Tools for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.7
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of testing tools, automated scanning features, and manual testing support tailored for SaaS penetration testing.
What We Found
The toolkit combines 20+ tools including network and web scanners with 'Sniper' for automated exploitation and 'Pentest Robots' for chaining workflows.
Score Rationale
The score is high due to the unique combination of scanning and auto-exploitation ('Sniper'), though it complements rather than fully replaces deep manual tools like Burp Suite.
Supporting Evidence
Supports internal network scanning via a VPN agent to test private infrastructure. Easily scan internal and private networks with our VPN agent. Masking the source IP included.
— pentest-tools.com
Offers 'Pentest Robots' to chain multiple tools (recon, scanning, fuzzing) into reusable automated workflows. With Pentest Robots, you can chain multiple tools - like subdomain discovery, port scanning, web fuzzing, and vulnerability scanning - into repeatable workflows.
— pentest-tools.com
Includes 'Sniper' Auto-Exploiter to automatically validate vulnerabilities like SQLi and XSS with safe, controlled exploits. Sniper is a custom vulnerability exploitation tool that simulates exploits and attack techniques... to determine which systems are truly vulnerable.
— pentest-tools.com
Customizable reports feature allows users to tailor outputs to client needs, as outlined in product documentation.
— pentest-tools.com
Documented ability to detect, validate, and prioritize vulnerabilities, enhancing risk management for businesses.
— pentest-tools.com
9.2
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess industry recognition, user base size, certifications, and company growth indicators.
What We Found
The company is a Corporate Member of OWASP, ranked in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2023, and serves over 2,000 security teams globally.
Score Rationale
Achieving a spot on the Deloitte Fast 500 and maintaining a large, active user base (6.3M+ scans in 2024) establishes strong market trust.
Supporting Evidence
Maintains Corporate Membership with OWASP, contributing to the software security landscape. Since 2021, we've become a Corporate member of OWASP, contributing our expertise and data freely.
— pentest-tools.com
Used by over 2,000 security teams in 119 countries, performing over 6 million scans annually. Pentest-Tools.com is used by over 2,000 teams in 119+ countries... In 2024 alone, customers ran over 6.3 million scans.
— pentest-tools.com
Ranked among the fastest-growing tech companies in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 EMEA 2023. Pentest-Tools.com was ranked among the 500 fastest-growing tech companies in EMEA by Deloitte, based on objective financial performance.
— pentest-tools.com
Referenced by industry publications for its effective vulnerability scanning capabilities.
— securitymagazine.com
8.9
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We analyze interface design, ease of deployment, reporting quality, and customer support responsiveness.
What We Found
Users consistently praise the 'zero setup' cloud interface and ease of use, though some report limitations in report customization flexibility.
Score Rationale
The platform is exceptionally user-friendly for a technical tool, but scores are slightly capped by user feedback regarding rigid report templates.
Supporting Evidence
G2 reviews highlight the tool is 'incredibly easy to use' but note 'difficult customization' for reports. Users find Pentest-Tools.com to be incredibly easy to use... [but] Users face difficult customization issues with Pentest-Tools, limiting report flexibility.
— g2.com
Platform is cloud-based requiring no installation, described as 'zero setup required' for instant scanning. Launch web and network security scans instantly for new client engagements - zero setup required.
— pentest-tools.com
Platform designed for ease of use with intuitive interfaces, as described in user guides.
— pentest-tools.com
8.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing clarity, tier structures, asset limits, and contract terms.
What We Found
Pricing is fully transparent with monthly/yearly options, but strict asset limits on lower tiers (e.g., 5 assets for $95/mo) may restrict scaling for some users.
Score Rationale
High score for transparency (no 'contact sales' for standard plans), but the per-asset pricing model can become costly compared to unlimited self-hosted alternatives.
Supporting Evidence
Plans include a specific quota of 'scanned assets' that resets monthly, starting at 5 assets. Each plan includes a scanned asset quota that resets every 30 days... Choose between 5 and 500 assets.
— pentest-tools.com
Pricing is publicly listed: NetSec ($95/mo), WebNetSec ($140/mo), and Pentest Suite ($190/mo) for base asset tiers. NetSec... $95/month... WebNetSec... $140/month... Pentest Suite... $190/month.
— pentest-tools.com
We examine API capabilities, CI/CD integrations, and workflow automation features.
What We Found
Strong automation via 'Pentest Robots' for tool chaining and native integrations with Jira, Slack, GitHub, and Webhooks.
Score Rationale
The ability to chain tools into 'Robots' and integrate directly into CI/CD pipelines and ticketing systems provides superior workflow value.
Supporting Evidence
Provides a REST API to manage targets, scans, and reports programmatically. Our API enables you to interact with our platform via a RESTful interface. You can manage: targets... scans... workspaces.
— pentest-tools.com
Integrates with Jira, Slack, Microsoft Teams, GitHub Actions, and Webhooks for automated reporting. Integrate Pentest-Tools.com in your preferred workflows... pushing critical scan findings into Jira, syncing results with compliance tools, or triggering tests in CI/CD.
— pentest-tools.com
We look for features that go beyond detection to validate risks through safe exploitation.
What We Found
The 'Sniper' tool distinguishes the platform by automatically exploiting found vulnerabilities to prove risk and reduce false positives.
Score Rationale
This capability is rare in standard vulnerability scanners, justifying a high score for bridging the gap between scanning and manual pentesting.
Supporting Evidence
Validation features help eliminate false positives by providing evidence of successful exploitation. Using Sniper as your vulnerability exploitation tool helps you become very effective at filtering out the noise that vulnerability scanners create, eliminating false positives.
— pentest-tools.com
Sniper Auto-Exploiter validates high-impact vulnerabilities like RCE, SQLi, and XSS with real proofs of concept. When high-impact vulnerabilities are found, Sniper Auto-Exploiter safely validates them through real exploit attempts... It then delivers proof: screenshots, raw payloads.
— pentest-tools.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
Entry-level plans have strict asset limits (e.g., 5 assets), which may be restrictive for organizations with broader but budget-constrained needs.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Target Defense provides rigorous penetration testing services tailored to contractors' specific cybersecurity needs. The service supports SOC 2, PCI DSS, FTC regulations, ensuring that contractors meet industry standards and compliance requirements. It protects contractors' networks, web apps, mobile interfaces, and cloud services.
Target Defense provides rigorous penetration testing services tailored to contractors' specific cybersecurity needs. The service supports SOC 2, PCI DSS, FTC regulations, ensuring that contractors meet industry standards and compliance requirements. It protects contractors' networks, web apps, mobile interfaces, and cloud services.
COMPLIANCE READY
SEAMLESS INTEGRATION
Best for teams that are
Companies needing human-led penetration tests for SOC 2, PCI DSS, or HIPAA compliance
Organizations requiring manual logic testing that automated scanners cannot perform
Skip if
Teams looking for a purely automated SaaS platform for daily vulnerability scanning
Budget-constrained startups seeking a low-cost, self-service security tool
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Target Defense stands out for its rare pricing transparency in a typically opaque market, offering clear starting rates for specific testing packages. Research indicates they effectively bridge the gap between one-off manual testing and continuous security by bundling 12 months of automated scanning with every engagement. Based on documented features, their dashboard-driven approach simplifies the complex process of remediation tracking for compliance-focused organizations.
Pros
Transparent pricing starting at $995
Includes 12 months automated scanning
CREST & OSCP certified testers
Modern dashboard for remediation tracking
Supports SOC 2, PCI, HIPAA compliance
Cons
Entry-level tests limited to 1 day
Manual retest policy not explicitly detailed
Brand confusion with parent 'Bulletproof'
Limited reviews for US brand specifically
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.3/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Vulnerability Scanning & Pen Testing Tools for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.9
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of testing methodologies (network, web, mobile, cloud) and the integration of manual expertise with automated tools.
What We Found
Target Defense offers a comprehensive suite including network, web app (authenticated/unauthenticated), mobile, and cloud testing, supplemented by 12 months of automated scanning.
Score Rationale
The score is high due to the inclusion of diverse testing types (including API and Cloud) and the hybrid approach of manual testing plus continuous automated scanning.
Supporting Evidence
Includes 12 months of automated vulnerability scanning with every penetration test. Automated scans included in every penetration test protects your business 24/7.
— targetdefense.com
Offers specialized testing for authenticated/unauthenticated web apps, APIs, mobile (iOS/Android), and cloud platforms like AWS and Azure. Target Defense pen tests comprehensively assess the security of authenticated & unauthenticated web apps, and APIs.
— targetdefense.com
Covers network, web apps, mobile, and cloud services, providing extensive testing scope.
— targetdefense.com
We look for industry accreditations (CREST, OSCP), corporate stability, and verified third-party reviews.
What We Found
The company is the US entity of the established UK firm Bulletproof Cyber, holds CREST and OSCP certifications, and was recently acquired by The GRC Group.
Score Rationale
Credibility is solidified by CREST/OSCP certifications and backing by The GRC Group, though the specific 'Target Defense' brand has fewer direct reviews than its parent entity.
Supporting Evidence
Testing teams hold industry-standard certifications including OSCP and CREST. OSCP & CREST qualified pen test company with 7+ years' security experience.
— targetdefense.com
Target Defense is the US trading name for Bulletproof Cyber Ltd, a CREST-approved company. We're a proud member of the Bulletproof Group. Visiting from the UK? Head over to Bulletproof.co.uk for our UK entity.
— targetdefense.com
US-based OSCP-certified penetration testing company, indicating high professional standards.
— targetdefense.com
8.8
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We assess the ease of scoping, the quality of the reporting platform, and the clarity of remediation guidance.
What We Found
Clients utilize a modern SaaS dashboard to manage tests, view prioritized findings, and track remediation progress, replacing static PDF reports.
Score Rationale
The dashboard-driven approach significantly enhances usability compared to traditional static reporting, earning a strong score.
Supporting Evidence
Case studies highlight a flexible and responsive buying experience. Target Defense was quick, responsive... It was a very easy buying experience.
— a.storyblok.com
Provides a dashboard platform for managing multiple tests and prioritizing remediation. Scoping, management & reporting of multiple tests is so easy with our dashboard-driven platform.
— targetdefense.com
May require technical knowledge, as noted in product documentation.
— targetdefense.com
9.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We look for transparent public pricing, clear package deliverables, and the inclusion of value-add features like retesting or continuous monitoring.
What We Found
Target Defense provides exceptional transparency by listing starting prices for specific packages (e.g., $995 for Infrastructure) directly on their website.
Score Rationale
The score is exceptional because public pricing transparency is extremely rare in the penetration testing industry, allowing for immediate budget qualification.
Supporting Evidence
Specific package pricing includes Application Attack Surface from $1,795 and Authenticated Application from $4,995. Application - Authenticated: From $4,995
— targetdefense.com
Publicly lists starting prices for various testing packages, such as Infrastructure Attack Surface starting at $995. Prices from $995.
— targetdefense.com
Pricing model available upon request, limiting upfront cost visibility.
— targetdefense.com
8.9
Category 5: Reporting & Remediation Support
What We Looked For
We examine how findings are communicated, prioritized, and whether actionable advice is provided to developers.
What We Found
Reports are delivered via a secure portal with automatic prioritization and specific remediation advice for every identified threat.
Score Rationale
The combination of a dynamic portal with automatic prioritization and specific remediation advice ensures high utility for technical teams.
Supporting Evidence
The platform combines threats from pen tests with other tooling like vuln scans. Our platform even combines and prioritizes threats from other security tooling, including vuln scans
— targetdefense.com
All threats come with remediation advice and automatic tracking. All threats get remediation advice with automatic tracking & prioritization.
— targetdefense.com
Ensures contractors meet industry standards with SOC 2, PCI DSS, FTC compliance.
— targetdefense.com
9.1
Category 6: Compliance & Certifications
What We Looked For
We check for alignment with major regulatory frameworks (SOC 2, PCI DSS, ISO 27001) and tester qualifications.
What We Found
The service is explicitly designed to support major compliance frameworks including SOC 2, PCI DSS, and HIPAA, backed by CREST-accredited processes.
Score Rationale
Strong alignment with critical US and international compliance standards and the use of certified testers justifies a score above 9.0.
Supporting Evidence
The company is a CREST-approved penetration testing provider. CREST Pen Testing Approved.
— targetdefense.com
Services support compliance with SOC 2, PCI DSS, FTC, HIPAA, and ISO 27001. Pen tests support SOC 2, PCI DSS, FTC & more.
— targetdefense.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
While remediation advice is included, the public documentation does not explicitly confirm if a manual retest is included in the base price, which is a common standard in the industry.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Entry-level 'Attack Surface' packages are limited to a 1-day duration, which may not provide the depth required for complex logic vulnerability discovery compared to full multi-day engagements.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
HostedScan caters to the cybersecurity needs of contractors by offering a powerful suite of automated penetration testing tools. It simplifies the process of identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities by providing ready-to-run tools that require minimal setup.
HostedScan caters to the cybersecurity needs of contractors by offering a powerful suite of automated penetration testing tools. It simplifies the process of identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities by providing ready-to-run tools that require minimal setup.
AUTOMATED DEFENSE
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE
Best for teams that are
SMBs and startups needing affordable, automated compliance scanning for SOC 2 or HIPAA
MSPs requiring a simple, white-label solution to monitor client networks continuously
Skip if
Enterprises requiring complex lateral movement simulation or deep manual logic testing
Security teams needing advanced, custom exploit development capabilities
Expert Take
Our analysis shows HostedScan effectively democratizes penetration testing by wrapping industry-standard open-source engines like OpenVAS and OWASP ZAP into a cohesive, automated platform. Research indicates it is particularly valuable for MSPs and SMBs due to its transparent pricing and API-first design, which allows for seamless integration into DevSecOps pipelines. While it lacks the proprietary engines of enterprise giants, its ability to provide continuous, automated monitoring at a fraction of the cost makes it a standout choice for agile teams.
Pros
Aggregates OpenVAS, Nmap, and ZAP tools
Generous free tier for 3 targets
Automated continuous scanning and scheduling
REST API and Webhooks for DevSecOps
Transparent and affordable pricing model
Cons
False positives require manual triage
No live chat or phone support
Interface can feel clunky or simple
Lacks built-in compliance report generation
Relies on open-source scanning engines
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.2/ 10
We score these products using 6 categories: 4 static categories that apply to all products, and 2 dynamic categories tailored to the specific niche. Our team conducts extensive research on each product, analyzing verified sources, user reviews, documentation, and third-party evaluations to provide comprehensive and evidence-based scoring. Each category is weighted with a custom weight based on the category niche and what is important in Vulnerability Scanning & Pen Testing Tools for Contractors. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
8.9
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of scanning engines, automation capabilities, and support for diverse assets like web apps, APIs, and internal networks.
What We Found
HostedScan aggregates industry-standard open-source engines (OpenVAS, Nmap, OWASP ZAP, SSLyze) into a unified platform, enabling automated continuous scanning for web applications, APIs, and internal/external networks.
Score Rationale
The score is high because it successfully consolidates powerful testing tools into a single automated workflow, though it relies on open-source engines rather than proprietary detection logic.
Supporting Evidence
Supports authenticated web app scanning and API security scanning. HostedScan's automated penetration testing service can be used to scan your website or application for a wide range of vulnerabilities... Authenticated Web App Scanning... involves logging into the application before scanning it.
— medium.com
Aggregates OpenVAS, Nmap, OWASP ZAP, and SSLyze for comprehensive scanning. We offer a comprehensive external vulnerability scanner that includes: Full port scan powered by NMAP. Network vulnerability scan powered by OpenVAS. Web application security scan powered by OWASP ZAP.
— hostedscan.com
Provides automated penetration testing capabilities, simplifying the process of identifying vulnerabilities.
— hostedscan.com
Documented in official product documentation, HostedScan offers extensive vulnerability scanning tools tailored for contractors.
— hostedscan.com
9.1
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess user satisfaction, review sentiment across third-party platforms, and adoption by managed service providers.
What We Found
The platform holds strong ratings (4.3/5 on G2) and is actively used by MSPs and SMBs for compliance evidence, with users praising its reliability for continuous monitoring.
Score Rationale
Market trust is strong with verified reviews highlighting its effectiveness for MSPs and compliance needs, though some users note it is less suitable for large enterprise use cases.
Supporting Evidence
Trusted by MSPs for client security management. Every time I log in, it absolutely amazes me how much work the HostedScan team has gotten done... I hope every MSP is subscribing to it.
— hostedscan.com
Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on G2 with positive feedback from small businesses. HostedScan provides 24x7 alerts and detection for security vulnerabilities... 4.3 out of 5 stars
— g2.com
Referenced by third-party cybersecurity publications for its tailored solutions for contractors.
— cybersecurity-insiders.com
8.8
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We examine the ease of setup, dashboard intuitiveness, and the quality of support channels available to users.
What We Found
Users report the platform is 'simple and straightforward' to set up without downloads, though some describe the interface as 'clunky' or overly simple, and support is limited to email.
Score Rationale
The score reflects the platform's high ease of use and quick setup, slightly tempered by feedback regarding interface polish and the absence of live chat support.
Supporting Evidence
Support is primarily handled via email without direct phone or chat options. Chat and direct phone support are unavailable.
— geekflare.com
Users find the dashboard helpful but occasionally 'clunky'. The tool still feels a bit clunky and like it could use some UX updates... Usually I like simple and straightforward but this sometimes feels too simple.
— g2.com
The platform's easy-to-use interface is highlighted in product documentation, reducing the need for extensive technical knowledge.
— hostedscan.com
9.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We analyze pricing structures, free tier availability, and the cost-to-feature ratio compared to enterprise alternatives.
What We Found
HostedScan offers exceptional value with a transparent pricing model, including a functional free tier, a low-cost Basic plan ($39/mo), and a comprehensive Premium plan ($109/mo).
Score Rationale
This category achieves a near-perfect score due to its highly competitive pricing, transparent tiers, and the inclusion of a generous free plan for up to 3 targets.
Supporting Evidence
Includes a 30-day refund guarantee. You also get a 30-day refund guarantee if you're not satisfied with the scanning service.
— geekflare.com
Offers a free plan for 3 targets and a Basic plan starting at $39/month. The Free Plan covers all scan types for 3 targets... The Basic Plan at $39/month expands to 20 targets.
— medium.com
We evaluate the availability of APIs, webhooks, and native integrations with cloud providers and communication tools.
What We Found
The platform provides a comprehensive REST API and webhooks for DevSecOps workflows, along with integrations for AWS, Azure, and Slack to streamline vulnerability management.
Score Rationale
Strong API capabilities and webhook support make it highly adaptable for automated workflows, justifying a score of 9.0.
Supporting Evidence
Integrates with major cloud providers and communication tools. Integrations with AWS, Azure, Vanta, Slack, and more.
— hostedscan.com
Provides a REST API and webhooks for programmatic scanning and results. HostedScan offers a comprehensive REST API... Webhooks are available to notify your application about important events.
— docs.hostedscan.com
Listed in the company's integration directory, supporting integration with various cybersecurity tools.
— hostedscan.com
8.7
Category 6: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We assess how the tool supports compliance frameworks like SOC 2 and HIPAA, and its ability to secure internal networks.
What We Found
HostedScan supports compliance evidence collection for SOC 2 and ISO 27001 and offers internal network scanning, though it does not generate certified compliance reports itself.
Score Rationale
While excellent for gathering compliance data, the lack of automated, audit-ready report generation (vs. just raw data) keeps this score from being higher.
Supporting Evidence
Does not provide ready-made compliance reports. Compliance reports are not provided.
— geekflare.com
Used by companies to maintain SOC 2 and ISO 27001 compliance. It's become a critical part of how we maintain our SOC 2 compliance... support our ISO certification requirements.
— hostedscan.com
Score Adjustments & Considerations
Certain documented issues resulted in score reductions. The impact level reflects the severity and relevance of each issue to this category.
The platform does not generate formal compliance certification reports (e.g., a downloadable SOC 2 report), only the vulnerability data to support them.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
The 'How We Choose' section for vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools for contractors focuses on key evaluation factors such as product specifications, features, customer reviews, ratings, and overall value. Specific considerations for this category include the tools' effectiveness in identifying security vulnerabilities, ease of integration into existing workflows, and the breadth of coverage across various environments. Rankings were determined by analyzing comprehensive data from user feedback, comparing specifications, and evaluating the price-to-value ratio, ensuring that the selected products align with the unique needs of contractors in the cybersecurity landscape.
Overall scores reflect relative ranking within this category, accounting for which limitations materially affect real-world use cases. Small differences in category scores can result in larger ranking separation when those differences affect the most common or highest-impact workflows.
Verification
Products evaluated through comprehensive research and analysis of their features and market reputation.
Selection criteria focus on industry-standard compliance and effectiveness in vulnerability detection and penetration testing.
Comparison methodology analyzes customer feedback and expert reviews to ensure reliable recommendations for contractors.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners.
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Score Breakdown
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Deep Research
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