Application Testing
A firewall can’t stop someone if the app lets them in anyway.
Find the Bugs a Scanner Walks Right Past
Through application penetration testing (or pentesting), you see exactly where your web, mobile, and API applications actually break, not just where a scanner throws a warning.
Most internet users interact with some sort of application on a daily basis, whether it’s on their computer or on a mobile device. These apps handle customer data, your internal company data, and other potentially regulated data, so it’s important to be sure that only the users who should see that information can see it.
Application penetration testing evaluates the security of web, mobile, and API-based applications and their supporting infrastructure. Testing is performed against the application layer itself, focusing on how the application behaves when it’s used in ways the developers didn’t intend, not just whether a known CVE happens to be present.
Whether this is for the web or mobile application itself, or the API that powers it, an application can point out potential weaknesses before they become breaches.
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Our Penetration Testing Process
Thorough testing with business-focused analysis.
We identify attack paths, evaluate realistic impact to your operations, and provide prioritized guidance that aligns with your resources and goals.
![Pentesting Process [Recovered]](https://secureideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Pentesting-Process-Recovered.webp)
Information Security Officer
Finance
Web, Mobile, or API
An application penetration test can examine multiple kinds of common applications, whether it is a web application, a mobile application, or the API that powers either of them. The key to securing any of these apps is understanding what happens when a user clicks or taps a button, and our testing ensures that each press is secure. Application penetration tests tend to cover the following areas:
Independent of the Front End
1 Credit = Up to 1 Full Day of Expert Work
Purchase credits ahead of time, and arrange testing as you need it. Partnership-based security testing on your schedule. One credit gets you up to one full day of expert work from consultants who understand your business. Engage our team as needed with complete flexibility.
Ongoing advisory services included for no extra charge. No rigid scopes, real-time collaboration, and engagement tailored to your priorities.
Exclusively from Secure Ideas.
A Pentester is more than a Scanner
While there are automated tools that can perform similar testing, a penetration tester can go deeper and make decisions based on attacker behavior that could get left behind. Automated scanners are good at flagging outdated libraries and missing headers. They’re bad at noticing that a regular user can change the URL and view someone else’s invoice, or that the password reset flow can be replayed to take over any account on the platform. These findings may also lead to chained attacks: a web application with a broken authorization check may share a back end with a mobile app and a public API, which means an attacker could exploit the same issue three different ways.
Application penetration testing lets you examine the application layer as a whole, not just the parts that your users click on. This lets you surface weaknesses, especially ones that your API, mobile, and web apps all share, before an attacker finds the path of least resistance.
For organizations under PCI DSS, HIPAA, or SOC 2, this same testing also satisfies recurring assessment requirements.
Testing the Application Layer
During web application testing, the team manually tests web applications for vulnerabilities that automated scanners often miss, including business logic flaws, authentication and session management weaknesses, authorization bypass conditions, and data handling issues. These tests are guided by the OWASP Testing Guide and OWASP Top 10, and cover the following topics:
Deliverable: Each engagement includes a detailed report with step-by-step reproduction instructions for development teams and actionable recommendations to remediate findings.
Cybersecurity doesn’t price on a fixed menu, but you shouldn’t have to talk to sales just to know if you’re in the right neighborhood. Use the table below to estimate where your application lands before you request a real scope:
| Type | Scope | Flat Fee | PETaaS Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Single purpose, one role, up to 5 dynamic pages | 5 days / $13,600 | 5 credits / $12,600 |
| Average | 1-2 roles, 5-50 pages, payment/app boundaries | 8 days / $21,760 | 8 credits / $20,160 |
| Large | Complex, multi-role, 50+ dynamic pages | 13 days / $35,360 | 13 credits / $32,760 |
Testing the Full Mobile Ecosystem
A mobile app penetration test examines the full mobile ecosystem: the application on-device (whether on Android or iOS devices), its supporting backend services, and the communication channels between them. Covers local data storage, API communication, authentication, session management, and device-level features. Guided by the OWASP MASTG and Mobile Top 10, these tests cover the following areas:
Deliverable: Each engagement includes a detailed report documenting vulnerabilities across the application, backend services, and communication channels, with actionable recommendations.
Cybersecurity doesn’t price like a fixed menu, but you shouldn’t have to talk to sales just to know if you’re in the right neighborhood. Use the table below to estimate where your application lands before you request a real scope.
| Type | Scope | Flat Fee | PETaaS Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Single role, limited API, basic data flows, single platform | 5 days / $13,600 | 5 credits / $12,600 |
| Average | 2-3 roles, standard auth, core API, single platform | 8 days / $21,760 | 8 credits / $20,160 |
| Large | Multi-role, extensive API, payments, both platforms | 13 days / $35,360 | 13 credits / $32,760 |
These are starting-point estimates to help you gauge investment, not a quote. Your actual scope and cost depend on your specific application, complexity, and objectives.
API Testing Independent of Any Front End
API testing covers RESTful APIs, SOAP web services, and GraphQL endpoints directly, independent of any related front-end applications. The assessment team evaluates authentication and token handling, including OAuth 2.0, JSON Web Tokens (JWT), and API keys, as well as authorization enforcement, input validation, rate limiting, and data exposure in API responses. These tests cover the following subjects:
Deliverable: Each engagement includes a detailed report with reproduction steps formatted for development teams and actionable recommendations to harden the API.
Cybersecurity doesn’t price like a fixed menu, but you shouldn’t have to talk to sales just to know if you’re in the right neighborhood. Use the table below to estimate where your application lands before you request a real scope.
| Type | Scope | Flat Fee | PETaaS Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small | Simple RESTful, small endpoint count, no role differentiation | 4 days / $10,880 | 4 credits / $10,080 |
| Average | Moderate complexity, 2-3 roles or replay protection | 8 days / $21,760 | 8 credits / $20,160 |
| Large | Complex, multiple endpoints, multiple roles, replay protection | 10 days / $27,200 | 10 credits / $25,200 |
An evaluation of your security program against the PCI Data Security Standard, covering PCI security assessments, self-assessment support, and advising on scope, applicability, and controls. You get direct access to a Qualified Security Assessor who speaks plainly and knows the standard inside and out.
Led by the “PCI Guy” himself – Jeff Man.
Beyond the Test
Your codebase changes with every sprint.
You need testing that keeps up.
A point-in-time application pentest only tells you about the version of the app that existed on the day we tested it. New features ship, dependencies get bumped, and a new authorization bug can land in production the same week your annual report gets filed. PETaaS® (Professionally Evil Testing as a Service) turns your application testing from an annual checkbox into an ongoing program, with prepaid credits you can deploy across web, mobile, or API testing as releases ship, plus advisory support built in at no additional cost.
Attackers don’t wait for your next release cycle. Neither should your testing.
Application
Pentesting
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Have a question that isn’t answered here?
See our full FAQ page.
What's the difference between a web, mobile, and API pentest?
The difference is the target of the tests:
- A web pentest targets your application layer through the browser, the same way users would interact with the application on your desktop website.
- A mobile pentest examines the app on-device (iOS or Android usually), as well as its backend, and the communication between them.
- An API pentest tests your endpoints directly, independent of any front end.
Most organizations with a connected product need at least two of the three.
Do you need source code access?
No. Our standard gray box approach only requires application access and a couple of test accounts per role. Source code review is available for collaborative or white-box engagements if your team wants a deeper, more educational format.
Should we test in staging instead of production?
For pre-release or SDLC testing, we recommend testing in staging to minimize disruptions. We will coordinate scope and timing around your release cycle and can open findings directly in your bug tracker, such as Jira.
We can perform testing on production applications. We work with you to establish Rules of Engagement (RoE), but testing on a live application may allow our testers to reach live customer data.
How long does an application pentest take?
Timelines scale with scope. A small API test runs about four days, while a large web or mobile engagement can run 13 days or more. Your quote will include a specific timeline based on your application’s size and role complexity.
Does this satisfy PCI DSS, HIPAA, or SOC 2 requirements?
Yes. Application pentests are commonly used to meet recurring assessment requirements under PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, and similar frameworks.
What if I need testing every sprint, not once a year?
That’s exactly what PETaaS® Credits are built for. Prepay for a block of capacity and deploy it against releases as they ship, instead of trying to fit continuous development into a single annual engagement.
Can we see a sample report from a Penetration Test?
Absolutely. Any reputable penetration testing company should provide sample reports upon request. Reports are your primary deliverable and should include an executive summary, testing narrative, detailed findings with risk ratings, replication steps for verification, and actionable remediation recommendations. Not all reports are created equal, so reviewing samples helps ensure the format and content meet your needs. Most companies will accommodate reasonable modifications to reporting formats.
What is Professionally Evil Testing as a Service (PETaaS®)?
PETaaS® is on-demand pentesting services, which provides you with continuous access to our penetration testing expertise rather than a one-time assessment. This approach offers on-demand or scheduled testing, which integrates with your software development lifecycle, and delivers regular vulnerability analysis with ongoing support. While it may initially appear more expensive than traditional testing, PETaaS® is significantly more cost-effective than hiring full-time security staff and provides proactive, real-time vulnerability identification.
Note: The industry lacks a standard definition for penetration testing as a service, so verify that your provider’s approach aligns with your expectations.
Other Pentesting Focuses
Network Penetration Test
Network Pentesting looks at whether an attacker could reach sensitive systems or data through your network, from inside or out. We can test external IP ranges, internal ranges, or a combination, using the same techniques adversaries would try. Our team can design engagements as assumed compromise, controls testing, red team exercises, or network segmentation reviews, depending on what you need to validate.
Trusted for company-driven and regulatory testing alike.
OT Penetration Test
OT & ICS/SCADA Pentesting searches for potential vulnerabilities to your industrial and automation control environments, without putting production availability at risk. We combine passive and active information gathering across the full stack, from physical access to application layer, tailoring each engagement to your sector.
Testing designed around uptime, not just findings.
IoT & Embedded Device Penetration Test
IOT & Embedded Device Pentesting calls for a different skill set: hardware, firmware, and assembly knowledge layered on top of standard application and API testing. Our consultants have hands-on experience with tons of devices, including door access systems, DVRs and IP cameras, medical devices, sensor nodes, and network appliances. We scope the engagement around the systems, services, and activities specific to your device.
Built for product launches and post-launch confidence alike.
Wireless Penetration Test
Wireless Pentesting takes a close look at your Wi-Fi implementation from three angles: configuration, authenticated access, and an external, unauthenticated perspective. We review your configuration exports for misconfigurations, validate authentication and segmentation controls, and test whether an outsider could capture and crack your pre-shared key. Testing can happen on-site or remotely using our SIAM devices, and these engagements pair nicely with an internal network pentest.
Remote testing options that cut cost and turnaround time.
Physical Penetration Test
Physical Pentesting tests whether your facility can withstand tailgating, social engineering, lock bypass, RFID cloning, and other real-world tactics. Our consultants start with reconnaissance, active and passive, before assessing entry points and physical controls in person. Choose a joint walkthrough, business hours testing, or after-hours building security testing, depending on what security measures you want evaluated.
Real-world tactics, tested with your safety in mind.
Recognized authority and trusted guidance built on years of uncovering risks for organizations like yours.
