Manual vs Automated Pen Testing: What’s the Right Fit for You?
Pen testing can feel like a bit of a black box. You know it’s important—find the weak spots before someone else does—but how you go about it is another matter entirely.
The big question many of us face is: manual or automated?
Both methods aim to do the same thing—find and fix vulnerabilities in your systems. But the way they go about it (and what it costs, how long it takes, what you get out of it) is quite different.
Here’s a breakdown of the key differences, from someone who's done both.
Cost
Manual
Hiring skilled testers doesn’t come cheap. You’re paying for time, expertise, and deep analysis—usually with one-off engagements or longer-term projects. It’s a solid option for critical systems or compliance-heavy industries, but not always realistic for every budget.
Automated
Built for scale, automated testing is faster to run and significantly more cost-effective—especially when you want to test more frequently. Regular testing used to be out of reach for many businesses. Automation changes that.
If you want consistent coverage without draining budget, automation is a smart investment.
Accuracy
Manual
Human testers bring creativity to the process. They can spot things like logic flaws or chained vulnerabilities that might be missed by machines in very bespoke attack paths.
Automated
Modern automated platforms are highly accurate and constantly updated to detect known threats and misconfigurations at speed. They provide a fast, reliable way to spot common—and critical—weaknesses before attackers do.
Today’s attackers are using automated tools. It makes sense to fight fire with fire.
Speed
Manual
It takes time to plan, test, and report. Manual projects are typically scoped over weeks and may only run once or twice a year.
Automated
You can run tests as often as you need—daily, weekly, monthly—and get results within hours. Ideal for agile environments, fast-moving teams, or anytime you’ve made a change to your network..
Need results fast? Automation is the way to go.
Skill and Expertise
Manual
A good tester thinks like an attacker and can tailor their approach to your business. This can be invaluable for niche systems or highly targeted simulations.
Automated
You don’t need deep expertise to run automated tests—but you still benefit from the expertise behind the platform. The best tools are designed by experienced offensive security professionals, codifying years of human insight into repeatable, scalable processes.
You’re essentially getting top-tier thinking, on-demand.
Flexibility
Manual
Manual testers can go off-script—great for simulating unique threat scenarios or highly specific business risks.
Automated
While most tools follow structured testing paths, leading platforms now offer significant customisation, including internal vs external tests, different threat models, and asset tagging—making them far more flexible than they used to be.
For 80% of environments, the flexibility offered by automation is more than enough.
Reporting
Manual
You’ll typically receive a detailed, analyst-led report with context and prioritised recommendations. These are useful when presenting findings to boards or auditors.
Automated
Reports are fast, clear, and repeatable—perfect for tracking improvement over time and staying audit-ready. And some platforms now also offer tailored guidance and integrations into remediation workflows.
When you want to operationalise testing, automated reporting makes life easier.
So… What’s Right for You?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer—but the right tool often comes down to frequency, risk appetite, and internal resource.
Automated pen testing is ideal if:
-
You want to test more regularly, not once a year
-
You’re working with a tighter budget or smaller team
-
You need quick results to support agile delivery
-
You want to reduce the attack surface before a threat actor finds it
Manual pen testing still has a place when:
-
You’re simulating highly targeted or novel attack paths
-
You have complex or sensitive systems needing specialist insight
-
You’re undergoing major audits or regulatory assessments
Why Not Both?
Many organisations now use automation as their core defence strategy—continuously identifying issues, verifying fixes, and keeping attack surfaces small. Then, they layer in manual pen testing or red teaming for targeted analysis or regulatory requirements.
The reality is, attackers don’t wait. They’re scanning, testing, and exploiting vulnerabilities every day using automated tools. If your defence strategy only runs once a year, you’re already behind.
Regular, automated testing helps close the door before attackers even get a chance to knock.
For more security insights make sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get guides like this straight into your inbox!
