Our Penetration Testing Methodology

StandardPentest follows a standardized, repeatable methodology built on industry frameworks, combining automation with manual validation to deliver audit-ready results in 24 hours. Every engagement follows the same process so results are consistent across customers and over time.

Frameworks We Follow

Our methodology draws from three industry-recognized frameworks that auditors and security teams trust. Each framework brings a distinct focus, and together they ensure comprehensive coverage of web applications, networks, and cloud environments.

OWASP Web Security Testing Guide (WSTG)

The OWASP WSTG covers web application testing categories including authentication, session management, input validation, business logic, and client-side testing. We map every web application finding to a WSTG test ID, giving you a clear reference for what was tested and how each finding aligns with industry expectations.

NIST SP 800-115

The Technical Guide to Information Security Testing and Assessment provides the four-phase model (planning, discovery, attack, reporting) we use as our backbone. NIST SP 800-115 is the methodology auditors most often expect to see referenced, and its structured approach ensures nothing is missed between scoping and final delivery.

PTES (Penetration Testing Execution Standard)

PTES covers pre-engagement, intelligence gathering, threat modeling, vulnerability analysis, exploitation, post-exploitation, and reporting. We use PTES for scoping and threat modeling on network and infrastructure engagements, where understanding the attacker perspective before testing begins is essential.

Our Four-Phase Workflow

Every engagement, regardless of scope or target type, follows the same four-phase workflow. This consistency is what makes our results comparable across engagements and over time.

Phase 1: Reconnaissance and Scoping

We begin with asset discovery, scope confirmation, rules of engagement, and threat modeling. We confirm the target list and any production constraints in writing before testing begins, so there are no surprises on either side.

Phase 2: Vulnerability Discovery

This phase includes authenticated and unauthenticated scanning, configuration review, source-available analysis where applicable, and dependency and SBOM checks. This phase is heavily automated and runs continuously while manual testing proceeds in parallel, ensuring breadth without sacrificing depth.

Phase 3: Exploitation and Manual Validation

Every machine-generated finding is manually reviewed by a tester. False positives are removed. Real findings are exploited where safe to confirm impact and capture proof. Chained attack paths are explored to demonstrate how individual findings combine into larger risks.

Phase 4: Reporting and Retesting

Findings are written up with reproduction steps, business impact, CVSS v3.1 scoring, and concrete remediation guidance. Customers receive a draft within 24 hours of test completion. A 90-day free retest is included so fixes can be verified before the audit window closes.

Automation Plus Manual Validation

Automation gives us coverage and consistency across every customer. We run the same checks in the same order every time, so nothing slips through the cracks. Manual validation gives us accuracy. Every high-severity finding is confirmed by a human tester before it appears in your report.

Tools alone produce noisy reports full of false positives and miss business logic flaws that require understanding your application. Manual-only engagements are slow, expensive, and inconsistent between testers. Combining the two is how we deliver depth at speed.

Why Standardization Matters

Traditional pentests vary wildly between firms, between testers at the same firm, and between engagements for the same customer year over year. That makes year-over-year comparisons meaningless and makes it hard for security teams to prove progress to leadership and auditors.

A standardized methodology produces results you can trend, compare, and defend. It also means your audit prep is predictable instead of a scramble. You know what the report will look like, what evidence it will contain, and when it will arrive.

What You Get

• •Executive summary written for non-technical stakeholders
• •Detailed technical findings with reproduction steps and evidence
• •CVSS v3.1 scoring and risk ratings
• •Remediation guidance written for engineers
• •Attestation letter suitable for SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001 auditors
• •90-day free retest to verify fixes
• •Mapping of each finding to OWASP WSTG, NIST, or PTES references

Frequently Asked Questions