In the realm of cybersecurity, particularly for marketing agencies, selecting the right vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools is crucial. Market research indicates that tools like Qualys and Nessus consistently earn high marks in customer reviews for their comprehensive scanning capabilities and user-friendly interfaces. Expert evaluations often highlight that these platforms excel in identifying vulnerabilities quickly, allowing agencies to prioritize their responses effectively. Interestingly, many consumers report that while advanced features are appealing, a straightforward dashboard is essential for usability—nobody wants to feel like they’re deciphering hieroglyphics while trying to secure their data! Data suggests that Rapid7's InsightVM stands out in terms of real-time monitoring and reporting, which many users frequently mention as a game changer for keeping up with evolving threats. Conversely, tools like Burp Suite may be considered overkill for smaller agencies, where simpler solutions could provide adequate protection without the steep learning curve or price tag.In the realm of cybersecurity, particularly for marketing agencies, selecting the right vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools is crucial. Market research indicates that tools like Qualys and Nessus consistently earn high marks in customer reviews for their comprehensive scanning capabilities and user-friendly interfaces.In the realm of cybersecurity, particularly for marketing agencies, selecting the right vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools is crucial. Market research indicates that tools like Qualys and Nessus consistently earn high marks in customer reviews for their comprehensive scanning capabilities and user-friendly interfaces. Expert evaluations often highlight that these platforms excel in identifying vulnerabilities quickly, allowing agencies to prioritize their responses effectively. Interestingly, many consumers report that while advanced features are appealing, a straightforward dashboard is essential for usability—nobody wants to feel like they’re deciphering hieroglyphics while trying to secure their data! Data suggests that Rapid7's InsightVM stands out in terms of real-time monitoring and reporting, which many users frequently mention as a game changer for keeping up with evolving threats. Conversely, tools like Burp Suite may be considered overkill for smaller agencies, where simpler solutions could provide adequate protection without the steep learning curve or price tag. In fact, studies suggest that agencies should assess their specific needs; a tool that's perfect for a large enterprise might not fit a smaller team's budget or workflow. On a lighter note, if vulnerability scanning were a sport, many would argue that Acunetix would be the MVP—after all, it’s been around since 2005 and has built quite a reputation for its robust web application security testing. And with cybersecurity threats on the rise, investing in the right tools isn't just smart—it's essential. As a final thought, remember that just like choosing a good avocado, picking the right tool requires a little bit of pressure testing!
Nessus is specifically advantageous for marketing agencies due to its capacity to ensure the security of various digital marketing tools and client data. It provides an all-inclusive view of network vulnerabilities that could compromise sensitive information, directly addressing the need for robust cybersecurity measures within the industry.
Nessus is specifically advantageous for marketing agencies due to its capacity to ensure the security of various digital marketing tools and client data. It provides an all-inclusive view of network vulnerabilities that could compromise sensitive information, directly addressing the need for robust cybersecurity measures within the industry.
Our analysis shows Nessus remains the 'gold standard' for vulnerability assessment due to its unmatched depth, boasting over 210,000 plugins and an industry-leading accuracy rate of 0.32 defects per million scans. Research indicates that for consultants and SMBs, the Professional tier's unlimited IP licensing model offers exceptional value compared to asset-based competitors. While it lacks the dynamic dashboarding of enterprise platforms, its sheer detection capability makes it an essential tool for rigorous security auditing.
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 Marketing Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.6
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of vulnerability detection, plugin library size, and accuracy of scanning engines.
What We Found
Nessus offers the industry's deepest coverage with over 210,000 plugins and coverage for more than 88,000 CVEs, maintaining a six-sigma accuracy rate.
Score Rationale
The score is near-perfect due to its massive plugin library and documented 'lowest false positive rate' in the industry, setting the standard for the category.
Supporting Evidence
Nessus Expert adds capabilities for Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning and external attack surface discovery. These features include looking for Infrastructure as Code (IaC), finding external attack surfaces, and checking cloud infrastructures to make sure they're compliant.
— proscost.com
The scanner boasts the industry's lowest false positive rate at 0.32 defects per 1 million scans. Nessus has the industry's lowest false positive rate with six-sigma accuracy (.32 defects per one million scans).
— cisecurity.org
Nessus provides coverage for over 88,000 CVEs and includes more than 210,000 plugins. Gain peace of mind with Nessus' deep and broad coverage: Over 88,000 CVEs... With more than 210,000 plugins that update automatically
— al-jammaz.com
9.8
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess market adoption, reputation among security professionals, and longevity in the cybersecurity space.
What We Found
Nessus is widely considered the 'gold standard' in vulnerability assessment, trusted by 43,000 organizations with over 2 million downloads globally.
Score Rationale
Achieves a near-perfect score as the most widely deployed and recognized vulnerability scanner in the cybersecurity industry.
Supporting Evidence
It is recognized globally as the 'gold standard' for vulnerability assessment. Tenable Nessus is recognized globally as the gold standard in vulnerability assessment
— tekpon.com
Nessus is trusted by over 43,000 organizations and has 2 million downloads worldwide. With approximately 43,000 organizations worldwide relying on the platform and widespread adoption across the Fortune 500
— ifeeltech.com
8.9
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for ease of setup, interface intuitiveness, and the quality of reporting tools for diverse stakeholders.
What We Found
While praised for being 'point and shoot' easy, the interface is sometimes described as outdated, and the Professional version lacks dynamic dashboarding capabilities found in enterprise tiers.
Score Rationale
Scores highly for ease of use but is held back from the 9.0+ range by the lack of centralized management and dynamic dashboards in the Professional edition.
Supporting Evidence
Users note the UI can feel outdated and initial setup may be complex. The user interface can feel a bit outdated, and initial setup or scan tuning may be complex for beginners.
— g2.com
The reporting interface in Nessus Professional is static (PDF/HTML) rather than dynamic. Reporting interface feels dated (static PDFs).
— ifeeltech.com
Users describe Nessus as 'point and shoot' easy to use. Easy to use - pretty much a 'point and shoot'. Some settings are harder than others but nothing is overly complex.
— reddit.com
9.0
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing models, transparency of costs, and feature inclusion relative to competitors.
What We Found
Nessus Professional offers high value with an 'unlimited IP' scanning model, avoiding the asset-based pricing common in competitors, though the Expert tier is significantly pricier.
Score Rationale
The unlimited IP licensing model for the Professional tier provides exceptional value for consultants and SMBs, justifying a high score despite recent price increases.
Supporting Evidence
Multi-year licenses offer savings, such as saving over $200 on a 2-year Professional license. 2 Years: $8,560.50 (Save $219.50)
— tenable.com
Pricing for Nessus Professional is approximately $3,390-$4,390/year, while Expert is ~$5,890-$6,390/year. 1 Year: $4,390... 1 Year: $6,390
— tenable.com
Nessus Professional allows unlimited scanning of IPs, unlike many competitors that charge per asset. In Nessus PRO, you can perform unlimited scans across an unrestricted number of IPs.
— vskills.in
9.4
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We examine the availability of compliance templates, audit files, and adherence to industry standards like CIS and PCI.
What We Found
The product includes over 450 pre-configured templates for compliance and configuration auditing, covering major standards like CIS, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
Score Rationale
The extensive library of pre-built compliance templates and the ability to audit cloud infrastructure (in Expert) supports a very high score.
Supporting Evidence
It supports auditing against CIS benchmarks, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Nessus PRO provides compliance-specific templates and plugins for auditing against regulatory frameworks such as: PCI DSS; HIPAA; CIS Benchmarks
— vskills.in
Nessus includes more than 450 pre-configured templates for compliance and configuration audits. More than 450 pre-configured templates help you quickly understand where you have vulnerabilities.
— tenable.com
8.7
Category 6: Deployment Flexibility & Scalability
What We Looked For
We assess deployment options, platform support, and how well the product scales for large environments.
What We Found
Nessus is highly portable (deployable on Raspberry Pi) and supports many platforms, but the Professional version lacks centralized management for scaling across multiple scanners.
Score Rationale
While deployment is flexible, the lack of native centralized management in the Professional tier limits scalability without upgrading to enterprise products, keeping the score below 9.0.
Supporting Evidence
Nessus Professional is designed for single-user operations and lacks centralized management without upgrading. Nessus Professional, designed for consultants and single-user operations... Tenable Nessus Expert, a comprehensive package aimed at enterprise-level organizations
— proscost.com
Nessus can be deployed on a variety of platforms, including Raspberry Pi. You can deploy Nessus on a variety of platforms, including Raspberry Pi.
— cisecurity.org
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 report that scanning can be slow and resource-intensive on large networks, potentially impacting performance.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Reporting in the Professional version is limited to static formats (PDF, HTML, CSV) and lacks the dynamic, interactive dashboards found in competitor enterprise products.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Nessus Professional lacks centralized management features, requiring users to upgrade to Tenable.io or Tenable.sc for unified dashboarding of multiple scanners.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Pentest-Tools.com is a pentesting and vulnerability assessment toolkit specifically designed for marketing agencies. It enables agencies to protect their client's data by detecting and validating vulnerabilities with actual exploits. The software prioritizes real risk and generates customizable pentest reports, assisting agencies in maintaining their reputation for security and trustworthiness.
Pentest-Tools.com is a pentesting and vulnerability assessment toolkit specifically designed for marketing agencies. It enables agencies to protect their client's data by detecting and validating vulnerabilities with actual exploits. The software prioritizes real risk and generates customizable pentest reports, assisting agencies in maintaining their reputation for security and trustworthiness.
COMPLIANCE READY
RISK PRIORITIZATION
Best for teams that are
MSPs and agencies needing branded, automated reports quickly
Teams wanting cloud-based scanning without hardware setup
Skip if
Large enterprises requiring deep, air-gapped internal network scanning
Advanced red teams needing manual exploitation frameworks
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Pentest-Tools.com bridges the gap between simple vulnerability scanners and complex manual pentesting frameworks. Research indicates their 'Sniper' auto-exploiter is a standout feature, providing proof-of-concept evidence (like RCE) that validates findings beyond simple detection. Based on documented features, the 'Pentest Robots' capability democratizes automation, allowing teams to build sophisticated testing workflows without writing code.
Pros
Sniper tool automates exploit validation
Pentest Robots visually automate workflows
Transparent pricing starting at $95/mo
API included in all paid plans
Reports map to PCI/ISO/SOC2
Cons
Subdomains count as separate assets
Lower XSS detection than Burp Suite
Internal scanning requires OpenVPN setup
Interface navigation can be confusing
No educational pricing available
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 Marketing Agencies. 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, exploit validation capabilities, and detection accuracy compared to industry standards.
What We Found
The platform offers 20+ tools including a proprietary "Sniper" auto-exploiter that validates vulnerabilities with RCE proof, though benchmarks show it may miss complex XSS vectors compared to manual-focused tools like Burp Suite.
Score Rationale
The score is anchored at 8.7 because while the "Sniper" auto-exploitation feature provides rare validation capabilities for a SaaS tool, their own benchmarks admit to lower detection rates for complex client-side attacks (XSS) compared to market leaders.
Supporting Evidence
The platform includes a VPN Agent for scanning internal networks and private clouds without requiring complex hardware appliances. Our VPN Agent connects your private network to the platform, and you can scan directly from your browser using fully hosted internal network vulnerability scanning tools.
— pentest-tools.com
In internal benchmarks, the scanner detected 4/12 XSS vulnerabilities compared to Burp Suite's 11/12 due to headless browser limitations. We detected only 4/12 XSS issues, compared to Burp which detected 11/12... The reason for our results were some spidering issues and that we only report an XSS if the payload successfully executes in a headless browser.
— pentest-tools.com
The Sniper Auto-Exploiter automatically gains remote command execution and extracts artifacts (e.g., system info, local users) to prove exploitability. Sniper automatically exploits known, widespread vulnerabilities... The tool gains remote command execution on the vulnerable targets and automatically runs post-exploitation modules to extract interesting data.
— pentest-tools.com
9.2
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for user adoption metrics, transparent performance benchmarks, and third-party validation from reputable review platforms.
What We Found
The company publishes transparent, self-critical benchmarks comparing their tool against competitors and maintains high ratings across G2 and Gartner Peer Insights with over 2,000 active teams.
Score Rationale
A score of 9.2 reflects high trust due to their unusual transparency in publishing benchmarks where they don't always win (e.g., admitting Burp Suite beat them in XSS), combined with a strong user base of 2,000+ teams.
Supporting Evidence
They published a detailed benchmark report comparing their scanner against Burp, Acunetix, and Rapid7, openly discussing false negatives. The goal of the benchmark was not to brag about how good our scanner is... but to take an honest look at what we do well, what we suck at, and what we can learn from other tools.
— pentest-tools.com
The platform is used by over 2,000 security teams across 119 countries. Pentest-Tools.com is used by over 2,000 teams in 119+ countries, including consultants, MSPs, and internal security teams in large companies.
— pentest-tools.com
8.9
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We assess ease of onboarding, interface intuitiveness, and the quality of support resources for both technical and non-technical users.
What We Found
Users consistently praise the "zero setup" cloud architecture and ease of use, though some report friction with the interface navigation and internal VPN configuration.
Score Rationale
Scoring 8.9 acknowledges the platform's accessibility for MSPs and smaller teams, deducted slightly for reported UI confusion and technical hurdles with OpenVPN compatibility.
Supporting Evidence
Some users find the interface confusing when navigating between scans and reports. Users note the confusing interface of Pentest-Tools.com, finding navigation between scans and reports unintuitive.
— g2.com
Reviewers highlight the ease of use and cloud-based nature as a key differentiator from traditional scanners. That would be my favorite aspect of the platform, its ease of use... anyone with any level of cybersecurity experience can pick up and begin integrating into their operations immediately.
— g2.com
8.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing structures, hidden costs, and contract flexibility relative to the features provided.
What We Found
Pricing is transparent and significantly lower than enterprise competitors like Tenable, but the strict definition of 'Assets' (counting subdomains separately) can rapidly deplete quotas.
Score Rationale
The score is 8.5 because while the base price ($95-$190/mo) is excellent value, the strict asset counting methodology (1 subdomain = 1 asset) creates a hidden cost scaling issue for modern web apps.
Supporting Evidence
The asset counting policy treats every subdomain as a unique asset, which can exhaust limits quickly. An Asset is defined as the subdomain, hostname, domain name, or IP address... The exception is subdomains, which are counted separately.
— support.pentest-tools.com
Pricing is publicly listed, ranging from $95/month for NetSec to $190/month for the full Pentest Suite. NetSec... $95/month... WebNetSec... $140/month... Pentest Suite... $190/month.
— pentest-tools.com
9.0
Category 5: Automation & Workflow Efficiency
What We Looked For
We examine capabilities for automating repetitive testing tasks, API integration, and scheduling.
What We Found
The 'Pentest Robots' feature allows visual chaining of tools (e.g., Recon -> Scan -> Exploit) to automate 80% of manual work, supported by a full API included in all plans.
Score Rationale
A strong 9.0 score is awarded for 'Pentest Robots', a visual automation builder that significantly reduces manual overhead, a feature often absent or complex in competing tools.
Supporting Evidence
The REST API is included in all paid plans, enabling integration with CI/CD pipelines without enterprise upcharges. The Pentest-Tools.com REST API... Included in all paid plans, no upsells - just faster remediation and scalable scan automation.
— pentest-tools.com
Pentest Robots allow users to visually chain tools and logic blocks to automate complex testing flows. Pentest Robots are software robots (bots) that orchestrate the tools... automate 80% of your manual pentesting work.
— pentest-tools.com
8.8
Category 6: Security, Compliance & Reporting
What We Looked For
We review the quality of compliance reporting (SOC 2, ISO 27001) and the platform's own security measures.
What We Found
The platform generates reports mapped to major standards (PCI DSS, ISO 27001) and supports internal scanning via VPN, though it relies on third-party hosting (Linode) for infrastructure.
Score Rationale
Scoring 8.8 reflects strong reporting capabilities that map findings directly to compliance standards, essential for MSPs, though the reliance on OpenVPN for internal access adds minor friction.
Supporting Evidence
The platform uses Linode for infrastructure and FastSpring for payments, ensuring data is not stored directly. Our infrastructure is hosted by Linode... All payment data is securely handled by our trusted payment processor, FastSpring.
— pentest-tools.com
Reports can be automatically mapped to compliance frameworks like PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and SOC 2. Export reports mapped to PCI DSS, ISO 27001, SOC 2, or HIPAA.
— 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.
Internal network scanning relies on OpenVPN, which users report can be incompatible with certain firewall vendors or require complex configuration.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Strict asset definition counts each subdomain as a separate billable asset, which can rapidly exhaust plan limits for applications with many subdomains.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Rapid7's penetration testing services are specifically tailored for marketing agencies, providing an essential layer of cybersecurity. By identifying vulnerabilities, continuous red teaming, and leveraging the Metasploit software, it helps agencies protect their digital assets and client data.
Rapid7's penetration testing services are specifically tailored for marketing agencies, providing an essential layer of cybersecurity. By identifying vulnerabilities, continuous red teaming, and leveraging the Metasploit software, it helps agencies protect their digital assets and client data.
TOP AGENCY CHOICE
EXPERT SUPPORT
Best for teams that are
Advanced penetration testers needing to validate exploits
Red teams simulating sophisticated social engineering attacks
Skip if
Beginners looking for simple, automated vulnerability scanning
Teams solely focused on passive compliance reporting
Expert Take
Our analysis shows that Rapid7 offers a distinct advantage through its ownership of the Metasploit Framework, giving its testers unparalleled access to the latest exploit intelligence. Research indicates that unlike many 'scan-and-scram' vendors, Rapid7 commits to an 85% manual testing methodology, ensuring that findings are validated by human experts rather than just automated scripts. Based on documented features, the ability to ingest pen test findings directly into the InsightVM platform closes the loop between detection and remediation more effectively than standalone consultancy reports.
Pros
Owns Metasploit, the industry-standard exploit framework
85% manual testing methodology ensures depth
Testers dedicate 20% of time to research
Findings integrate directly into InsightVM platform
Covers IoT, Red Teaming, and Social Engineering
Cons
Premium pricing is higher than many competitors
Platform UI described as clunky by users
Support response times can be slow
Scheduling lead times for manual testing
May be overkill for basic compliance checks
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 Marketing Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.0
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We look for a comprehensive testing scope that goes beyond automated scanning to include manual exploitation, diverse attack vectors (IoT, social engineering), and deep technical expertise.
What We Found
Rapid7 delivers a high-depth service utilizing an 85% manual testing methodology across network, application, IoT, and social engineering vectors, leveraging their proprietary Metasploit framework for advanced exploitation.
Score Rationale
The score is high because the service explicitly prioritizes manual human testing over automation and covers complex vectors like IoT and Red Teaming, though it relies on the client's engagement for scheduling.
Supporting Evidence
Service scope includes specialized assessments beyond standard network testing. Rapid7's Penetration Testing Services team delivers network, application, wireless, social engineering, IoT, Red Team, and boutique engagements.
— rapid7.com
The methodology emphasizes human expertise, with only a small portion attributed to automated tools. Testing methodology (85% manual, 15% automated) goes beyond validating technology driven scan results.
— scribd.com
9.4
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for industry leadership, public financial stability, widespread adoption, and ownership of standard-setting tools or frameworks.
What We Found
Rapid7 is a publicly traded industry heavyweight (NASDAQ: RPD) that owns and maintains Metasploit, the de facto standard for penetration testing, serving over 11,000 customers globally.
Score Rationale
The score reflects their dominant market position as the owner of the world's most used penetration testing framework (Metasploit) and their status as a publicly traded company with a massive install base.
Supporting Evidence
The company has a massive, verified customer base indicating high market trust. Rapid7's comprehensive security solutions help over 11,000 customers unite cloud risk management with threat detection.
— gartner.com
Rapid7 owns the industry-standard framework used by penetration testers worldwide. Testers provide direct contributions to Rapid7's Metasploit Project, the world's most used penetration testing tool.
— rapid7.com
8.4
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for intuitive interfaces for report consumption, responsive support channels, and seamless interaction with the service team.
What We Found
While the consulting expertise is highly rated, the software interface (Insight platform) receives mixed reviews for being 'clunky' or 'dated,' and some users report slow support response times.
Score Rationale
The score is impacted by consistent user feedback regarding the 'clunky' UI of the delivery platform and occasional frustrations with support responsiveness, despite the high quality of the testing itself.
Supporting Evidence
The user interface is frequently described as less intuitive than competitors. It works, but it's a bit clunky... their WebUI is definitely not very intuitive and a little clunky compared to Nessus.
— reddit.com
Users have reported long wait times for support tickets to be resolved. I've had a ticket open with their engineering team for almost 8 months now... the only gripe I have with Rapid7 is their UI and their support.
— reddit.com
8.2
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We look for clear pricing structures, competitive rates relative to feature set, and demonstrable ROI for enterprise clients.
What We Found
Rapid7 is positioned as a premium solution with costs that can be viewed as high compared to competitors like Tenable, though pricing for software components is relatively transparent.
Score Rationale
The score reflects the premium cost barrier; while the value is high for complex enterprises, smaller organizations often find it 'really expensive' and question the ROI compared to cheaper alternatives.
Supporting Evidence
Enterprise pricing scales significantly based on asset count and service level. Enterprise deployments can range from $30,000 to over $150,000 annually, depending on the size, features, and level of managed services required.
— underdefense.com
Users often cite the high cost as a primary barrier or negative factor. My company is working with rapid7 but it is really really expensive... We wanted to add InsightAppSec for web apps but damn, the price was ridiculous.
— reddit.com
9.5
Category 5: Threat Intelligence & Methodology
What We Looked For
We look for evidence of active research, contribution to the security community, and a methodology that evolves with the threat landscape.
What We Found
Rapid7 testers are required to spend 20% of their time on research and tool development, directly contributing to the Metasploit framework that defines the industry standard for exploitation.
Score Rationale
This category receives a near-perfect score because Rapid7 literally owns the tool (Metasploit) that other vendors use, and mandates significant dedicated research time for its testers.
Supporting Evidence
The team has unique access to attacker intelligence through their proprietary ownership of Metasploit. Our penetration testers have unparallelled access to attacker intelligence, including the latest TTPs to leverage.
— rapid7.com
Consultants are allocated specific time for research to stay ahead of threats. Consultants spend up to 20% of bench time focused on attacker research and skill development.
— rapid7.com
8.9
Category 6: Service Scope & Integration
What We Looked For
We look for how well the service integrates with broader vulnerability management programs and the variety of testing environments supported.
What We Found
Findings from penetration tests integrate directly into the InsightVM platform, allowing for seamless transition from 'finding' to 'remediating' within a single ecosystem.
Score Rationale
The score is strong due to the ecosystem integration which solves the common 'PDF report' problem, though full value requires adoption of the broader Insight platform.
Supporting Evidence
The service provides actionable matrices for workflow tracking. We provide an actionable findings matrix that can be used as an over- arching workflow plan and tracked within your security organization.
— rapid7.com
Penetration testing results are not just static reports but integrate with the cloud platform. Vulnerability information integrates with their Insight Cloud platform, enabling visibility across assets and DevOps workflows.
— brightdefense.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 service is consistently noted as being expensive, with some users questioning the additional value over lower-cost competitors for standard compliance needs.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Users frequently describe the software interface as 'clunky' or 'dated' compared to modern competitors, and report frustration with support ticket resolution times.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
PlexTrac is a SaaS solution designed to automate penetration test reporting with AI, aiding marketing agencies in managing vulnerabilities in their security data. Its risk-based approach helps agencies to identify, prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities, effectively protecting their client data and maintaining compliance.
PlexTrac is a SaaS solution designed to automate penetration test reporting with AI, aiding marketing agencies in managing vulnerabilities in their security data. Its risk-based approach helps agencies to identify, prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities, effectively protecting their client data and maintaining compliance.
Best for teams that are
Consultancies wasting time manually writing pentest reports
Security teams aggregating data from multiple scanners
Skip if
Organizations looking for a tool to perform the actual scanning
Small teams with low reporting volume where documents suffice
Expert Take
Our analysis shows PlexTrac stands out for its massive 'WriteupsDB' of over 25,000 pre-built findings, which significantly accelerates reporting for enterprise teams. Research indicates it is the platform of choice for major players like Mandiant, validated by robust bi-directional integrations with Jira and ServiceNow that bridge the gap between security and engineering. While the entry price is high, the depth of its ecosystem and ISO/SOC 2 certifications make it a premium choice for serious consultancies.
Pros
25,000+ pre-built findings database
Bi-directional Jira & ServiceNow sync
Trusted by Mandiant (Google Cloud)
ISO 27001 & SOC 2 certified
AI-powered report generation
Cons
High starting price ($8,000/year)
No public pricing on website
No native multi-language reporting
Steep learning curve for setup
Paid AI features criticized by some
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 Marketing Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.3
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of reporting features, automation capabilities, and the depth of vulnerability management tools available for professional pentesters.
What We Found
PlexTrac offers an AI-powered reporting engine backed by a massive 'WriteupsDB' containing over 25,000 pre-built findings (CVEs, CWEs, KEVs), enabling rapid report generation and standardization.
Score Rationale
The score is high due to the unique value of the 25,000+ findings database and robust runbook capabilities, though minor feature gaps like native multi-language support prevent a perfect score.
Supporting Evidence
The platform supports purple teaming via 'Runbooks' for real-time collaboration between red and blue teams. Another favourite feature is the runbooks giving purple teaming a better way to collab between the red and blue team in real time.
— plextrac.com
PlexTrac features AI-powered automation for generating finding descriptions and remediation recommendations. Maximize team capacity by leveraging AI to auto-generate finding descriptions, remediation recommendations, and security narratives
— plextrac.com
The platform includes a repository of over 25,000 pre-built findings writeups including CWEs, CVEs, and KEVs. leverage 25,000+ pre-built findings writeups, customize templates without code
— plextrac.com
9.4
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess industry adoption, high-profile customer endorsements, and third-party validation of the vendor's standing in the cybersecurity market.
What We Found
PlexTrac is used by industry giants like Mandiant (Google Cloud) and holds major compliance certifications including SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001:2022.
Score Rationale
Endorsement by Mandiant, a top-tier incident response firm, combined with rigorous ISO and SOC certifications, establishes exceptional market credibility.
Supporting Evidence
PlexTrac has achieved both ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and SOC 2 Type 2 compliance. The company has successfully achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and expanded its SOC 2 Type II certification
— plextrac.com
Mandiant (part of Google Cloud) uses PlexTrac for their Proactive Assessment Team's reporting. PlexTrac helps our services team provide a better customer experience.” Evan Peña | Managing Director of Professional Services at Google Cloud (Mandiant).
— plextrac.com
8.8
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We analyze user feedback regarding interface design, ease of setup, and the quality of customer support and documentation.
What We Found
Users consistently praise the clean UI and responsive support, though some report a steep learning curve during initial setup and friction with specific features like comment visibility.
Score Rationale
While the interface is generally rated as intuitive and support is excellent, documented complaints about setup complexity and specific workflow friction keep this below 9.0.
Supporting Evidence
Some users find the setup process complex and note a difficult learning curve. Users find the complex setup of PlexTrac challenging initially, hindering quick adoption
— g2.com
Customer support is frequently highlighted as responsive and helpful. Support is also amazing and if you have a critical issue they are on it within the hour.
— g2.com
Users report the interface is clean and intuitive, significantly reducing reporting headaches. PlexTrac's UI is clean and straightforward. I was able to pick it up pretty quickly
— g2.com
8.2
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We examine pricing structures, public availability of costs, and the product's value proposition relative to competitors.
What We Found
PlexTrac targets the enterprise market with a high starting price of ~$8,000/year and does not publish pricing publicly, making it less accessible than competitors like AttackForge.
Score Rationale
The lack of public pricing and a high entry cost create a barrier for smaller firms, resulting in a lower score compared to more transparent, budget-friendly alternatives.
Supporting Evidence
Competitors offer significantly lower entry points, such as $50/month. AttackForge pricing starts at $50/month... PlexTrac pricing starts at $8000/year
— websec.net
Pricing is not publicly listed on the vendor's website and requires a quote. Pricing details are not publicly disclosed, so potential users are encouraged to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote
— selecthub.com
PlexTrac's Essential package starts at approximately $8,000 per year. PlexTrac's Essential package starts at a hefty $8000/year
— websec.net
9.1
Category 5: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We evaluate the platform's ability to ingest data from scanners and sync with ticketing systems used by engineering teams.
What We Found
The platform supports bi-directional syncing with Jira and ServiceNow and ingests data from major scanners like Nessus, Burp Suite, and Veracode.
Score Rationale
Strong bi-directional capabilities with major ticketing systems and broad scanner support justify a high score, as this is critical for remediation workflows.
Supporting Evidence
It supports data imports from leading scanners including Nessus, Burp Suite, and Veracode. PlexTrac supports data imports from all leading vulnerability scanners, including Nessus, Burp Suite, Nexpose, and Veracode.
— plextrac.com
The platform is a ServiceNow Build Partner with certified integrations. As a ServiceNow Build Partner, these integrations allow findings from PlexTrac to flow seamlessly into ServiceNow as tickets
— businesswire.com
PlexTrac offers robust bi-directional integration with Jira for remediation tracking. PlexTrac has a robust two-way sync with Jira so you can easily create tickets from findings for remediation and automatically update PlexTrac when Jira statuses change.
— plextrac.com
9.5
Category 6: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We verify the vendor's own security posture, certifications, and compliance standards to ensure client data is protected.
What We Found
PlexTrac demonstrates a top-tier commitment to security with verified SOC 2 Type 2 and ISO 27001:2022 certifications.
Score Rationale
Achieving both ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type 2 certifications places PlexTrac in the top tier of security vendors regarding their own internal compliance and data protection.
Supporting Evidence
The company maintains SOC 2 Type 2 compliance for its platform. PlexTrac... is proud to announce that it has attained SOC 2 Type 2 certification.
— plextrac.com
PlexTrac achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification in late 2024. The company has successfully achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification
— plextrac.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 report that the paid AI paraphrasing feature is ineffective and that comment visibility in the UI can be poor.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Pentera is a cutting-edge software solution designed to automate penetration testing and validate the security of cloud, hybrid, and on-premises systems. For marketing agencies, this means ensuring the protection of sensitive client data and their reputation from cyber threats. Pentera's focus on CTEM (Continuous, Tactical, and Effective Measurement) aids in reducing true cyber exposure.
Pentera is a cutting-edge software solution designed to automate penetration testing and validate the security of cloud, hybrid, and on-premises systems. For marketing agencies, this means ensuring the protection of sensitive client data and their reputation from cyber threats. Pentera's focus on CTEM (Continuous, Tactical, and Effective Measurement) aids in reducing true cyber exposure.
Best for teams that are
Large enterprises with mature SOCs requiring continuous validation
Teams needing to test resilience against ransomware kill-chains
Skip if
Small businesses with limited budgets due to high entry cost
Organizations lacking a dedicated team to handle complex remediation
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Pentera successfully bridges the gap between static vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing by automating the 'kill chain' safely in production. Research indicates its 'safe by design' architecture allows organizations to validate actual exploitability—proving which vulnerabilities can truly be leveraged by attackers—rather than just listing theoretical risks. While it commands a premium price, the ability to continuously test internal, external, and cloud surfaces without agents makes it a powerful tool for validating security posture.
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.4/ 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 Marketing Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.2
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of attack vectors simulated, the automation of the kill chain, and the ability to validate exploitability without disrupting production environments.
What We Found
Pentera automates the entire penetration testing lifecycle, including reconnaissance, sniffing, and safe exploitation, validating vulnerabilities across internal networks, external surfaces, and cloud assets.
Score Rationale
The product scores highly for its ability to safely automate complex attack chains and ransomware emulations, though some black-box testing phases are limited to ensure safety.
Supporting Evidence
The platform includes a RansomwareReady module that emulates ransomware behavior to test defenses without actual encryption. RansomwareReady uses safe, proprietary replicas of ransomware behaviors rather than live malware.
— pentera.io
Pentera safely performs actions like reconnaissance, sniffing, spoofing, and harmless malware injection to validate real exploitability. Pentera safely performs the actions a malicious adversary would... all the way to data exfiltration.
— getapp.com
9.5
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess the vendor's financial stability, customer base, and industry recognition to ensure long-term viability and trust.
What We Found
Pentera is a 'unicorn' valued over $1 billion, backed by top-tier investors like Evolution Equity Partners, and serves over 1,100 enterprise customers including Blackstone and El Al Airlines.
Score Rationale
With a recent $60M Series D raise and a valuation exceeding $1 billion, the company demonstrates exceptional market stability and trust within the cybersecurity sector.
Supporting Evidence
The company serves over 1,100 customers globally, including major enterprises like Blackstone and Wyndham Hotels. The company now serves over 1,100 customers, including the Blackstone investment fund... and the Wyndham hotel chain.
— calcalistech.com
Pentera raised $60 million in Series D funding in March 2025, maintaining a valuation over $1 billion. Cybersecurity company Pentera has raised $60 million in Series D funding... estimated to be worth over $1 billion.
— calcalistech.com
8.7
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for ease of deployment, intuitive interfaces for complex operations, and the stability of the platform during updates and maintenance.
What We Found
Users praise the 'one-click' automation and agentless architecture, but some report significant maintenance challenges, including failed updates that require full system re-installs.
Score Rationale
While the core user interface is intuitive and agentless deployment is a major plus, severe maintenance issues reported by some users prevent a higher score.
Supporting Evidence
Users have reported that failed updates can 'brick' the system, necessitating time-consuming re-installs. The product was not easy to maintain as a failed update would brick the entire system and need a full re-install which could take hours.
— gartner.com
The platform is agentless, requiring no pre-installations on target endpoints. Its agentless architecture minimizes risk and complexity, enabling real-world validation, without causing harm.
— pentera.io
8.4
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We analyze pricing structures, entry costs, and contract flexibility to determine if the product offers good value for its segment.
What We Found
Pentera is a premium solution with a high entry cost (approx. $35k-$100k+), and users note rigid licensing models that prevent revoking licenses for retired assets.
Score Rationale
The high price point and inflexible licensing terms make it less accessible for smaller organizations, though the value of automated pentesting is high for enterprises.
Supporting Evidence
Users report inability to withdraw or revoke licenses once an IP is imported, leading to potential waste. Licensing and IP management need enhancement, particularly the inability to withdraw or revoke licenses once an IP is imported.
— peerspot.com
The average deal size has grown to $100,000 as of 2025, indicating a premium enterprise pricing model. The average deal size has quadrupled since the last funding round, now reaching $100,000.
— calcalistech.com
9.4
Category 5: Validation Safety & Realism
What We Looked For
We examine the product's ability to emulate real-world attacks safely in production environments without causing downtime or data loss.
What We Found
Pentera excels at 'safe by design' exploitation, using ethical malware injection and automated cleanup to prove risk without disrupting business operations.
Score Rationale
The ability to safely emulate ransomware and exploit vulnerabilities in production environments is a market-leading capability that justifies a near-perfect score.
Supporting Evidence
The solution validates exploitability by safely replicating attacker techniques rather than just scanning for vulnerabilities. Pentera Platform provides actionable insights by safely replicating attacker techniques... reducing the potential impact of cyber threats.
— gartner.com
Pentera performs non-destructive attacks and automatically cleans up artifacts after testing. The platform uses controlled payloads, automatically cleans up artifacts after testing, and follows strict cloud and on-prem pentesting policies.
— pentera.io
8.1
Category 6: Remediation & Reporting
What We Looked For
We evaluate the granularity, customizability, and actionability of reports and dashboards for different stakeholder levels.
What We Found
While technical reports are detailed, users consistently cite inadequate dashboards for enterprise-scale monitoring and a lack of customization options.
Score Rationale
This category scores lower due to documented user dissatisfaction with dashboard specificity and the ability to handle reporting for large-scale environments effectively.
Supporting Evidence
Reporting capabilities are described as inadequate for enterprise-scale needs by some users. Users find the limited reporting capabilities in Pentera inadequate for enterprise-scale needs, affecting overall usability.
— g2.com
Users find the dashboards lack specificity regarding discovered vulnerabilities. Pentera's dashboards could be more specific in terms of discovered vulnerabilities.
— peerspot.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.
Rigid licensing model prevents users from revoking licenses for IPs once they are imported, potentially inflating costs.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Snyk offers a proactive, AI-powered security solution specifically designed for developers. It's perfect for marketing agencies that develop and manage client websites and digital platforms, as it provides comprehensive application security testing. This reduces vulnerabilities and ensures client data protection.
Snyk offers a proactive, AI-powered security solution specifically designed for developers. It's perfect for marketing agencies that develop and manage client websites and digital platforms, as it provides comprehensive application security testing. This reduces vulnerabilities and ensures client data protection.
CONTINUOUS MONITORING
CLOUD SECURITY
Best for teams that are
Developers integrating security directly into CI/CD pipelines
Teams prioritizing open-source and container security
Skip if
Traditional auditors needing network infrastructure scanning
Security teams needing legacy DAST for non-containerized apps
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Snyk stands out for its 'Reachability Analysis,' which intelligently prioritizes vulnerabilities based on whether the code is actually executed, significantly reducing noise. Research indicates its DeepCode AI engine provides actionable fix advice directly in the IDE, shifting security truly left. While pricing can be steep for teams, the depth of integration into the developer workflow is unmatched.
Pros
Developer-first IDE and CLI integration
AI-powered automated remediation suggestions
Deep reachability analysis prioritizes risks
Extensive CI/CD pipeline ecosystem support
Free tier for individual developers
Cons
Enterprise plans can be cost-prohibitive
Reports of false positive alert fatigue
Complex configuration for large organizations
Discrepancies between CLI and UI features
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 Marketing Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.3
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We evaluate the breadth of security testing tools (SAST, SCA, Container, IaC) and the depth of analysis features like reachability and remediation.
What We Found
Snyk provides a comprehensive platform covering SAST (Snyk Code), SCA (Open Source), Container, and IaC security. Key capabilities include 'Reachability Analysis' to prioritize vulnerabilities based on execution paths and an AI-powered engine (DeepCode) that offers automated remediation suggestions directly in the workflow.
Score Rationale
The score is high due to the unified platform approach and advanced features like Reachability Analysis, though some users note limitations in language support for specific edge cases.
Supporting Evidence
Snyk Code utilizes a semantic AI analysis engine to provide real-time scanning and actionable fix advice. Snyk Code is powered by a semantic, AI-based analysis engine... providing actionable insights directly in the developer workflow.
— docs.snyk.io
Reachability analysis identifies if a vulnerable function is actually called by the application, reducing noise. Snyk reachability analysis allows you to analyze risk by identifying whether your application is calling a code element... related to the vulnerability.
— docs.snyk.io
Snyk offers a full suite including Snyk Code (SAST), Open Source (SCA), Container, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning. Snyk is a platform that allows you to scan, prioritize, and fix security vulnerabilities in your code, open-source dependencies, container images, and infrastructure as code configurations.
— snyk.io
9.6
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess industry recognition, analyst reports (Gartner/Forrester), and adoption by major enterprise customers.
What We Found
Snyk is a dominant market leader, recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Application Security Testing. It boasts a massive user base including major enterprises like Google and Salesforce, and consistently ranks as a Customers' Choice in peer insights.
Score Rationale
Snyk achieves a near-perfect score as a recognized Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant and a top-tier vendor in the developer security space.
Supporting Evidence
The platform is used by major global enterprises including Google, Salesforce, and MongoDB. The vendor states Snyk is used by 1,200 customers worldwide today, including Asurion, Google, Intuit, MongoDB, New Relic, Revolut and Salesforce.
— trustradius.com
Snyk was named a Leader in the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Application Security Testing. Snyk has been recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Application Security Testing (AST)!
— snyk.io
8.8
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for ease of use, developer-centric design, UI intuitiveness, and the quality of the CLI experience.
What We Found
Snyk is widely praised for its developer-first approach, integrating seamlessly into IDEs and Git workflows. However, some users report 'alert fatigue' from false positives and find the UI configuration for large organizations to be complex or disjointed between CLI and Web views.
Score Rationale
While the developer experience is best-in-class, the score is slightly impacted by documented reports of alert fatigue and UI complexity for advanced configurations.
Supporting Evidence
Some users report challenges with alert overload and false positives. Users often face alert overload due to numerous false positives and challenges in managing alerts effectively.
— g2.com
Users appreciate the intuitive GUI and organization features for development teams. Snyk's product features a highly intuitive GUI, making it straightforward to identify and address vulnerabilities.
— g2.com
8.4
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate pricing transparency, free tier availability, and perceived value relative to cost for teams of various sizes.
What We Found
Snyk offers a generous free tier for individual developers, but Enterprise pricing is hidden behind 'Contact Sales'. Multiple sources cite the platform as 'expensive' for small-to-mid-sized teams once they exceed the free tier, with costs scaling significantly.
Score Rationale
The score is lower because while a free tier exists, the steep jump to paid plans and lack of transparent enterprise pricing are frequent points of friction in user reviews.
Supporting Evidence
Team plans start at roughly $25/month per product per developer, which can add up quickly. Snyk: 25$/product/developer/month, min of 5 developers per product (min 1,500$ per year)
— reddit.com
Users frequently mention high costs as a primary dislike, especially for smaller teams. What do you dislike about Snyk? It's cost. It is very expensive.
— g2.com
Snyk offers a free plan for individual developers with limited tests. Free. For individual developers and small teams looking to stay secure as they build. Join for Free. $0 per contributing developer.
— snyk.io
9.5
Category 5: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We examine the breadth of supported IDEs, CI/CD pipelines, SCMs, and third-party workflow tools.
What We Found
Snyk excels here with an extensive library of integrations covering virtually every major CI/CD tool (Jenkins, CircleCI, GitHub Actions), IDE (VS Code, IntelliJ), and repository manager. This 'embed anywhere' strategy is a core strength.
Score Rationale
The ecosystem is massive and well-documented, meriting a top-tier score for its ability to fit into almost any modern development stack.
Supporting Evidence
IDE integrations include IntelliJ, VS Code, Eclipse, and more. IntelliJ. IDE plugins. Learn More. ... Visual Studio Code ... Eclipse ...
— snyk.io
Snyk integrates with a vast array of CI/CD tools including Jenkins, CircleCI, and GitHub Actions. Snyk integrates with the following CI/CD tools: Jenkins, CircleCI, GitHub Actions, AWS CodePipeline, Azure Pipelines, Bitbucket Pipelines, Maven, TeamCity, and Terraform.
— snyk.io
9.2
Category 6: Innovation & AI Capabilities
What We Looked For
We look for cutting-edge features like AI-driven analysis, automated remediation, and speed of vulnerability updates.
What We Found
Snyk leverages its DeepCode AI engine for semantic code analysis and automated fix suggestions. Its database is updated rapidly (often within 24 hours for zero-days), and features like Reachability Analysis demonstrate significant innovation in reducing alert noise.
Score Rationale
Strong innovation score driven by the DeepCode AI engine and Reachability features, which differentiate it from traditional static analysis tools.
Supporting Evidence
The platform uses AI and ML to provide automated remediation and fix advice. AI-powered remediation: Snyk delivers remediation suggestions and human-in-the-loop fix automation... available across SAST, IaC, SCA, and container findings
— snyk.io
Snyk updates its CVE database rapidly, often within 24 hours of a zero-day exploit. If a zero-day exploit appears, Snyk updates its CVE database within a maximum of 24 hours, helping to keep the code secure.
— 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.
Some users experience disjointed functionality between the CLI and UI, such as ignored issues in the CLI not reflecting in the UI.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Edgescan's Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution tailored for marketing agencies. It provides on-demand security checks, combining human expertise with advanced automation and analytics, ensuring robust protection against cyber threats. It is particularly suitable for this industry because of its ability to identify and rectify vulnerabilities that could expose sensitive marketing data and client information.
Edgescan's Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) is a comprehensive cybersecurity solution tailored for marketing agencies. It provides on-demand security checks, combining human expertise with advanced automation and analytics, ensuring robust protection against cyber threats. It is particularly suitable for this industry because of its ability to identify and rectify vulnerabilities that could expose sensitive marketing data and client information.
Best for teams that are
Enterprises wanting human-validated results to remove false positives
Teams needing a hybrid solution of continuous scanning and manual testing
Skip if
DIY users seeking a low-cost, purely automated scanning tool
Teams wanting full control to run ad-hoc scans internally
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Edgescan PTaaS stands out by effectively bridging the gap between automated scanning and manual penetration testing. Research indicates their 'unlimited retesting' model provides exceptional value for agile teams needing frequent validation. Based on documented certifications like CREST and PCI ASV, it offers enterprise-grade trust that purely automated tools cannot match.
Pros
Unlimited retesting on demand
Hybrid automation & human validation
CREST & PCI ASV Certified
Near zero false positives
Integrates with Jira & ServiceNow
Cons
No public pricing available
Manual business context sometimes needed
Dashboard usability minor complaints
Smaller market presence than Qualys
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.1/ 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 Marketing Agencies. 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 coverage (web, API, network), the integration of automation with human expertise, and the flexibility of retesting capabilities.
What We Found
Edgescan PTaaS employs a hybrid model combining continuous automated scanning with on-demand manual penetration testing by certified experts, offering unlimited retesting to verify remediation.
Score Rationale
The score is high because the inclusion of unlimited retesting and a hybrid human-automation approach significantly exceeds standard automated-only solutions, though it relies on a subscription model.
Supporting Evidence
Coverage extends to web applications, APIs, and network/cloud devices. PTaaS can be used to assess web applications, APIs and network/cloud devices utilizing risk rating methodologies to prioritize remediation.
— edgescan.com
The service includes unlimited retesting of discovered issues to ensure comprehensive remediation. Unlimited retesting of discovered issues. Vulnerability assessment can be conducted on-demand and are unlimited
— info.edgescan.com
Edgescan PTaaS is a hybrid solution that combines the breadth of automation with the depth of human assessment. PTaaS is a hybrid solution that combines the breadth of automation with the depth of human assessment, while integrated with advanced vulnerability management and analytics.
— info.edgescan.com
9.3
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for industry-recognized certifications, independent validations, and long-standing market presence that demonstrate reliability and security maturity.
What We Found
Edgescan holds top-tier certifications including CREST membership, ISO 27001, and PCI ASV status, positioning it as a highly accredited provider in the security space.
Score Rationale
The presence of CREST accreditation and PCI ASV status places it in the top tier of trust for penetration testing vendors, justifying a score above 9.0.
Supporting Evidence
Edgescan maintains ISO 27001 certification for information security management. ISO 27001 is an internationally recognized information security management system (ISMS) standard.
— kb.edgescan.com
The company is an authorized PCI Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV). As a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV), Edgescan is authorized by the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) to conduct external vulnerability scans
— kb.edgescan.com
Edgescan is a CREST accredited member company for penetration testing services. We are proud to announce that edgescan Penetration Testing service met the high standards set by CREST and achieved accreditation.
— edgescan.com
9.0
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We assess the ease of use of the platform, the quality of the dashboard, and the responsiveness of customer support based on user feedback.
What We Found
Users consistently rate the platform highly for ease of use and praise the 'single pane of glass' view, with G2 reviews highlighting outstanding support responsiveness.
Score Rationale
With G2 scores for ease of use reaching 9.8 and strong praise for support, the product excels in user experience, though some manual context validation is still required by users.
Supporting Evidence
The platform provides a unified view for vulnerability management and pen testing results. Most recently Edgescans innovative approach to consolidating both penetration testing and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) results in 1 management portal has brought significant Visibility & Governance benefits.
— g2.com
Users on G2 rate Edgescan's ease of use at 9.8, significantly higher than some competitors. Users report that Edgescan excels in ease of use with a score of 9.8, making it highly accessible for small businesses
— g2.com
8.2
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We evaluate the pricing model's flexibility, the transparency of costs, and the overall value proposition relative to features like retesting.
What We Found
Edgescan offers a 'flat-rate' model per application that includes unlimited retesting, which offers high value, but public pricing is unavailable and requires a sales quote.
Score Rationale
While the 'unlimited retesting' offers exceptional value, the lack of transparent public pricing and reliance on a quote-based model prevents a higher score in this category.
Supporting Evidence
Public pricing is not listed; users must contact the vendor for a quote. Final cost negotiations to purchase Edgescan must be conducted with the seller.
— g2.com
Pricing is based on a flat rate per application which includes continuous scanning and retesting. Flat-Rate Pricing: Every application costs the same, regardless of size or complexity. This eliminates the pricing delays and makes budgeting predictable.
— edgescan.com
9.4
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We examine the product's ability to support regulatory compliance (PCI, GDPR) and its own internal security standards.
What We Found
The platform is specifically designed to meet PCI DSS requirements as an ASV, and its ISO 27001 certification ensures rigorous internal data protection standards.
Score Rationale
The combination of being a PCI Approved Scanning Vendor and holding ISO 27001 certification makes it a market leader for compliance-focused security testing.
Supporting Evidence
The service supports continuous compliance models with unlimited scanning. Clients who operate a continuous compliance model use the full Edgescan service, as it has the added flexibility of running unlimited scans for the same fixed annual cost.
— edgescan.com
Edgescan is fully approved for PCI ASV scanning to help organizations meet PCI DSS requirements. The solution has been fully approved for PCI ASV scanning across all geographies and is also ISO27001 certified for further assurance.
— info.edgescan.com
8.8
Category 6: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We look for pre-built integrations with major development, ticketing, and SIEM platforms to ensure seamless workflow adoption.
What We Found
Edgescan integrates with key ecosystem tools including Jira, ServiceNow, Splunk, and Azure DevOps, and provides an API for custom connections.
Score Rationale
The availability of robust integrations with major ITSM and CI/CD tools ensures it fits well into enterprise workflows, justifying a strong score.
Supporting Evidence
The platform offers an API to allow programmatic access to data. At Edgescan we understand that you will want to take data out of the platform in a programmatic fashion. We want to enable this.
— kb.edgescan.com
Edgescan integrates with major ticketing and CI/CD systems like Jira, ServiceNow, and Azure DevOps. How does Edgescan integrate with Jira Cloud? ... How Does Edgescan Integrate With ServiceNow? ... How Does Edgescan Integrate With Azure Pipelines?
— kb.edgescan.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 report that vulnerability results still require manual internal validation to fully assess specific business impact.
Impact: This issue had a noticeable impact on the score.
Veracode's Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) is an indispensable tool for marketing agencies that handle sensitive data. It identifies and mitigates security weaknesses, ensuring data protection and regulatory compliance, thereby safeguarding agency's reputation.
Veracode's Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) is an indispensable tool for marketing agencies that handle sensitive data. It identifies and mitigates security weaknesses, ensuring data protection and regulatory compliance, thereby safeguarding agency's reputation.
REAL-TIME ALERTS
AI-ENHANCED SECURITY
Best for teams that are
Large enterprises requiring strict AppSec policy governance
Small startups or individual developers wanting lightweight tools
Teams seeking a simple, self-service network scanner
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Veracode stands out for its hybrid approach, merging scalable automated scanning with CREST-accredited manual penetration testing. Research indicates it is particularly strong for regulated industries due to robust compliance mapping (PCI DSS, HIPAA) and data residency options. Based on documented features, its ability to test diverse targets like IoT and thick clients alongside standard web apps makes it a comprehensive choice for enterprise risk management.
Pros
Combines automated scanning with manual testing
Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader 11x
CREST-accredited penetration testing team
Covers IoT, Mobile, and Thick Clients
Strong Jira and CI/CD integrations
Cons
Manual testing lead times ~6-8 weeks
Premium pricing model (high cost)
Automated scans can have false positives
Static scans can be slow
No public pricing transparency
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
9.1/ 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 Marketing Agencies. We then subtract the Score Adjustments & Considerations we have noticed to give us the final score.
9.3
Category 1: Product Capability & Depth
What We Looked For
We look for the breadth of testing methodologies (manual vs. automated), coverage of diverse asset types (Web, Mobile, IoT), and adherence to industry standards.
What We Found
Veracode delivers a hybrid solution combining automated scanning with manual penetration testing (MPT) across Web, Mobile, Desktop, and IoT applications, utilizing OWASP and PTES methodologies.
Score Rationale
The score reflects the comprehensive nature of the hybrid testing model and support for complex asset types like IoT and thick clients, which exceeds standard SaaS VAPT offerings.
Supporting Evidence
The solution combines automated binary static and dynamic analysis with manual human expertise. Manual penetration testing layers human expertise on top of professional penetration testing software and tools, such as automated binary static and automated dynamic analysis
— veracode.com
Testing methodologies include OWASP Top 10, SANS Top 25, PTES, and NIST SP 800-115. Veracode performs all Manual Penetration Testing according to industry-standard testing methodologies... PTES... OWASP Testing Guide... NIST SP 800-115
— docs.veracode.com
Veracode MPT covers Web, Mobile, Desktop/Thick Client, IoT, and Backend/API applications. Veracode's web app penetration testing services find vulnerabilities in web, desktop, mobile, backend and IoT applications.
— veracode.com
9.6
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We look for third-party validations, industry awards, accreditations (like CREST), and market leadership recognition.
What We Found
Veracode is a dominant market leader, recognized as a Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader for 11 consecutive times and holding CREST accreditation for penetration testing.
Score Rationale
This score is anchored by the exceptional consistency of industry leadership recognition (11x Gartner Leader) and high-assurance accreditations like CREST.
Supporting Evidence
Veracode was named a Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for Application Security Testing. Veracode has been named a Customers' Choice in the October 2020 Gartner Peer Insights 'Voice of the Customer'
— businesswire.com
Veracode has been named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Application Security Testing for the 11th consecutive time. For the 11th consecutive time, Veracode has been named a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Application Security Testing
— veracode.com
8.6
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for ease of deployment (SaaS vs. On-prem), dashboard quality, reporting clarity, and customer support responsiveness.
What We Found
The SaaS-based platform offers a unified view for all testing results and requires no on-premise hardware, though users report friction with scan speeds and false positives.
Score Rationale
While the SaaS model and unified dashboard drive a high score, it is capped below 9.0 due to documented user complaints regarding scan duration and the need to triage false positives.
Supporting Evidence
Users have reported that scanning speed needs improvement and false positives occur frequently. Veracode scanning speed needs improvement... False positives are reported frequently, leading to unnecessary manual verification
— peerspot.com
The platform provides a single unified view for both manual and automated assessment results. Deliver a single unified view of the manual penetration Assessment results and any automated scanning results
— veracode.com
Veracode is a pure SaaS solution requiring no on-premise infrastructure. As a pure SaaS solution, your teams are able to leverage Veracode solutions within your projects quickly and easily – ie. scanning from day 1, without any requirement for on-prem infrastructure.
— assets.applytosupply.digitalmarketplace.service.gov.uk
8.2
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We look for public pricing availability, flexible licensing models, and competitive value relative to feature set.
What We Found
Veracode uses a 'predictable' per-application subscription model but lacks public pricing transparency, with third-party estimates suggesting a premium cost structure.
Score Rationale
The score is lower because pricing is not transparently available on the website and is widely considered 'premium' or 'high' by market reviewers, despite the value of the subscription model.
Supporting Evidence
Reviewers note that pricing can be high for smaller organizations. Veracode's pricing can be high for smaller organizations or projects with a limited budget.
— peerspot.com
Third-party sources estimate MPT pricing around $12k per unit and DAST around $20k/year. Penetration Testing 1 Units $12K... Dynamic Analysis... $20,000 per year
— vendr.com
Pricing is subscription-based per application, but specific costs are not public. Predictable pricing. Flexible pricing models scale with your application's growth
— veracode.com
9.4
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We look for support for regulatory frameworks (PCI, HIPAA, GDPR), data residency options, and certification of testers.
What We Found
The solution is explicitly designed to meet strict regulatory standards like PCI DSS and HIPAA, supported by CREST-certified testers and data residency options.
Score Rationale
The score is very high due to the combination of rigorous compliance mapping (PCI DSS 11.3), CREST certification, and specific support for US Federal and European data regions.
Supporting Evidence
Testers are CREST-certified, ensuring high security standards. BreachLock pentesters are CREST-certified experts... (Context: Veracode is also CREST member)
— breachlock.com
Veracode supports specific data residency needs with US Federal and European regions. application profiles located in the European Region or US Federal Region
— marketplace.atlassian.com
Veracode MPT helps meet compliance for PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and NIST. Meet penetration testing compliance requirements for PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, and other regulations.
— veracode.com
9.1
Category 6: Integrations & Ecosystem Strength
What We Looked For
We look for depth of integration with SDLC tools (Jira, CI/CD), API availability, and developer workflow support.
What We Found
Veracode offers extensive, pre-built integrations with major issue trackers like Jira and CI/CD pipelines, enabling automated ticket creation and 'shift-left' security.
Score Rationale
The score reflects the robust, documented integrations that automate workflows (e.g., auto-closing Jira tickets), which is a critical differentiator for enterprise DevSecOps.
Supporting Evidence
Results can be integrated via APIs into external systems like Archer. Penetration testing results can also be made available through APIs for integration into Jira... Archer and other external systems.
— veracode.com
Veracode integrates into CI/CD environments to submit applications for scanning. Submitting applications for scanning directly from... continuous integration/delivery (CI/CD) environments.
— docs.veracode.com
Integrations with Jira and Bugzilla automatically create and update defect tickets. The Veracode integrations for popular issue-tracking systems, such as Jira and Bugzilla, create defect tickets from Veracode findings.
— docs.veracode.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 product is widely cited as having a high cost of ownership and lacks transparent public pricing, making it potentially inaccessible for smaller organizations.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Target Defense offers comprehensive penetration testing services, which are essential for marketing agencies to protect their and their clients' sensitive data. The service includes testing for network, web app, mobile, and cloud vulnerabilities, with both one-time and recurring testing options, along with automated scans. These features allow marketers to detect and address potential security issues before they can be exploited.
Target Defense offers comprehensive penetration testing services, which are essential for marketing agencies to protect their and their clients' sensitive data. The service includes testing for network, web app, mobile, and cloud vulnerabilities, with both one-time and recurring testing options, along with automated scans. These features allow marketers to detect and address potential security issues before they can be exploited.
Organizations wanting expert remediation guidance via a dashboard
Skip if
Internal security teams looking for software to run their own scans
Users seeking a low-cost, automated-only vulnerability scanner
Expert Take
Our analysis shows Target Defense effectively bridges the gap between automated scanning and full-scale manual penetration testing. We appreciate their transparency in pricing for 'Attack Surface' tests, which makes security accessible to smaller organizations, although research indicates these are time-limited engagements. The inclusion of 12 months of automated vulnerability scanning with every test is a standout feature that provides continuous value beyond the initial report.
Pros
Transparent pricing for entry-level tests
Includes 12 months automated scanning
CREST and ISO 27001 certified
Modern dashboard for results delivery
Fast scheduling and flexible delivery
Cons
No free retesting included
Entry-level tests limited to 1 day
Brand confusion with UK parent
Targeted tests require custom quotes
Attack Surface tier is opportunistic
This score is backed by structured Google research and verified sources.
Overall Score
8.7/ 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 Marketing Agencies. 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 methodologies (black/grey/white box), coverage of attack vectors (network, cloud, app), and the depth of manual exploitation versus automated scanning.
What We Found
Target Defense offers a comprehensive suite including network, web app, cloud (AWS/Azure/365), and mobile pen testing. They distinguish between 'Attack Surface' tests (1-day, opportunistic) and 'Targeted' tests (exhaustive, full-scope). Uniquely, they bundle 12 months of automated vulnerability scanning with every engagement to ensure continuous coverage between manual tests.
Score Rationale
The product scores highly for its versatile service tiers and bundled continuous scanning, though the 'Attack Surface' tier is explicitly time-limited to one day, representing a depth tradeoff for price.
Supporting Evidence
Includes 12 months of automated vulnerability scanning with every penetration test package. Continuous Automated Protection. Reveal new security flaws & protect your business 24/7 with automated scanning.
— targetdefense.com
Offers distinct 'Attack Surface' (1-day opportunistic) and 'Targeted' (exhaustive) penetration testing tiers. Infrastructure - Attack Surface. 1 day, from $995. Designed to simulate the attack patterns of an opportunistic hacker... Targeted - Penetration Test. This is an exhaustive penetration test... modelling a targeted attack.
— targetdefense.com
9.2
Category 2: Market Credibility & Trust Signals
What We Looked For
We assess industry certifications (CREST, ISO), tester qualifications (OSCP, CISSP), and corporate stability or parent company backing.
What We Found
Target Defense demonstrates exceptional credibility as the US arm of Bulletproof Cyber Ltd (acquired by The GRC Group). They hold company-level CREST accreditation and ISO 27001/9001 certifications. Their testing teams are qualified with industry-standard credentials like OSCP, CREST, and CISSP, ensuring high technical competence.
Score Rationale
The combination of CREST accreditation, ISO certifications, and backing by a major GRC group places them in the top tier of trust signals, justifying a score above 9.0.
Supporting Evidence
Testing team holds advanced certifications including OSCP and CISSP. Our staff are: CREST approved. Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)... Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
— targetdefense.com
Target Defense is CREST approved and ISO 27001 certified. Target Defense is: CREST approved. PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider. ISO 27001. ISO 9001.
— targetdefense.com
8.9
Category 3: Usability & Customer Experience
What We Looked For
We look for ease of engagement, clarity of reporting, and the quality of the delivery platform for managing findings.
What We Found
The service utilizes a 'Modern Dashboard Platform' rather than just static PDF reports, allowing clients to prioritize and track remediation dynamically. Client feedback highlights flexibility in scheduling to meet tight deadlines and clear communication from testers who are directly accessible via tools like Slack during engagements.
Score Rationale
The use of an interactive dashboard for results delivery and the documented flexibility in scheduling elevate the customer experience above traditional static reporting firms.
Supporting Evidence
Clients report high flexibility in scheduling and direct tester communication. Target Defense showed a refreshing flexibility in the way it works... the Target Defense penetration tester was set up as a guest on their Slack account.
— a.storyblok.com
Delivers results via a modern dashboard for prioritizing remediation. Prioritize pen test results and get remediation guidance from our easy to use dashboard.
— targetdefense.com
8.5
Category 4: Value, Pricing & Transparency
What We Looked For
We analyze pricing transparency, competitiveness, and the inclusion of value-added features like retesting or bundled tools.
What We Found
Target Defense offers unusually transparent pricing for its 'Attack Surface' tier, starting at $995 for infrastructure and $1,795 for apps. While this transparency is excellent, the low price reflects a limited 1-day engagement. A significant value-add is the inclusion of 12 months of vulnerability scanning, though they notably do not include free retesting.
Score Rationale
The score is strong due to rare pricing transparency and bundled scanning, but capped below 9.0 because the advertised low prices are for limited-scope tests and retesting is not free.
Supporting Evidence
Does not offer free retesting, unlike many competitors. Do you offer free retests? We do not offer free retesting; however, we provide 12 months of free vulnerability scanning
— targetdefense.com
Publishes starting prices for specific testing tiers, such as $995 for Infrastructure Attack Surface. Infrastructure - Attack Surface. 1 day, from $995... Application - Authenticated. 3 days, from $4,995.
— targetdefense.com
9.0
Category 5: Security, Compliance & Data Protection
What We Looked For
We examine the provider's ability to support specific regulatory frameworks (SOC 2, PCI DSS) and their own internal security posture.
What We Found
The firm is a PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider and ISO 27001 certified, demonstrating robust internal security. Their testing services are explicitly designed to satisfy requirements for SOC 2, HIPAA, FTC Safeguards, and GDPR, supported by a dedicated compliance consultancy arm.
Score Rationale
Achieving PCI DSS Level 1 and ISO 27001 status themselves, while offering tailored testing for major compliance frameworks, warrants a high score in this category.
Supporting Evidence
Company maintains PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider status. Target Defense is: CREST approved. PCI DSS Level 1 Service Provider.
— targetdefense.com
Service supports major compliance frameworks including SOC 2 and PCI DSS. Penetration testing is also a requirement for many certification standards, including SOC 2, FTC, HIPAA, PCI DSS, ISO 27001 & more.
— targetdefense.com
8.8
Category 6: Reporting & Remediation Support
What We Looked For
We evaluate the quality of deliverables, actionable advice, and post-test support mechanisms.
What We Found
Reports are delivered through a secure portal that categorizes threats by risk level. They provide specific remediation advice for every finding. However, the lack of a free retest to verify fixes is a notable gap in the remediation lifecycle compared to some premium competitors.
Score Rationale
The dashboard-driven reporting is excellent, but the policy of charging for retests limits the 'Remediation Support' score compared to vendors who verify fixes for free.
Supporting Evidence
Retesting to verify remediation is not included free of charge. We do not offer free retesting
— targetdefense.com
Reports include prioritized findings and remediation advice via dashboard. We're proud that all Target Defense pen test reports clearly prioritize the findings and give clear remediation and advice in our modern, dashboard-driven platform
— 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.
The advertised 'Attack Surface' penetration tests are strictly time-limited to 1 day. This scope is significantly shallower than a full 'Targeted' penetration test and may not uncover complex logic flaws, potentially misleading buyers looking for a comprehensive audit.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
Unlike many premium penetration testing firms, Target Defense does not include a free retest to verify that vulnerabilities have been fixed. Clients must rely on the bundled automated scanning or pay for re-verification.
Impact: This issue caused a significant reduction in the score.
The 'How We Choose' section for vulnerability scanning and penetration testing tools for marketing agencies is grounded in a thorough evaluation process that considers several key factors. These include product specifications, essential features, customer reviews, ratings, and overall value for money, which are critical in determining a tool's effectiveness for the unique needs of marketing agencies. Specific considerations that influenced the selection process include the tools' ability to integrate with existing marketing technology stacks, user-friendliness, scalability, and compliance with industry standards.
The research methodology focuses on analyzing data from multiple sources, including expert reviews and customer feedback, to establish reliable rankings. Products were compared using a comprehensive approach, which involved scrutinizing specifications, evaluating customer sentiment through reviews and ratings, and assessing the price-to-value ratio to ensure that each tool meets the expectations and requirements of marketing agencies effectively.
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 industry standards and user feedback.
Rankings based on in-depth analysis of features, specifications, and customer ratings specific to vulnerability scanning and pen testing tools.
Selection criteria focus on the effectiveness, user satisfaction, and integration capabilities of tools designed for marketing agencies.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners.
×
Score Breakdown
0.0/ 10
Deep Research
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze our traffic. By continuing to use our website, you consent to our use of cookies.
Learn more