How Penetration Testing as a Service compares with a traditional one-time pentest on coverage, cost, speed and compliance, and when to choose each.
What PTaaS is
Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) delivers penetration testing as an ongoing programme rather than a single project. Testing is spread across the year, findings are delivered as they are found, and retests happen continuously. It is still manual penetration testing; the difference is the delivery model.
How they compare
Coverage: a one-time test gives a snapshot; PTaaS keeps coverage current as your product changes. Speed: PTaaS findings arrive during testing instead of weeks later in a PDF. Cost: a one-time test is a single project cost; PTaaS is usually an annual subscription that can be more predictable. Compliance: both produce reports suitable for auditors, and PTaaS can make evidence of continuous testing easier.
When to choose each
Choose a one-time pentest if you need a single report for a customer or audit, or your product changes slowly. Choose PTaaS if you release often, have several applications, or face frequent customer security reviews.
A hybrid approach
Many teams start with a one-time pentest to establish a baseline, then move to PTaaS once they know their risks. Scantra Security offers both, with a free retest in every one-time engagement and continuous retesting in PTaaS.