Level 1: Automated Vulnerability Scan
Not a True Pentest
- Uses tools like Nessus, OpenVAS, or Qualys
- Identifies known vulnerabilities based on signatures
- No exploitation; no human analysis.
Good for Baseline compliance
These are more like something you would include in a technical checklist
Level 2: Standard Penetration Test
Manual + Automated
- Includes manual testing + automated tools (e.g. Burp Suite, Nmap, Metaspoilt).
- Simulates an attacker with limited time and knowledge.
- Exploits basic vulnerabilities (e.g. SQLi, XSS, weak credentials).
- Includes a report with severity ratings and remediation advice.
Good for small businesses, SaaS vendors, SOC2, HIPAA, and is often required for security questionnaires
Level 3: Advanced Penetration Test
- Simulates more skilled attackers or insider threats.
- Includes chained attacks, privilege escalation, pivoting through networks.
- Bypasses security controls like WAFs or rate limits.
- Often covers web apps, APIs, networks, and authentication together.
Good for mid-sized companies, regulated industries, cloud-native systems. Includes customized test scenarios (e.g. “assume breached credentials”)
Level 4: Red Team Assessment
- Long-term, stealthy simulation of a real-world adversary.
- Includes social engineering, phishing, custom malware, and lateral movement.
- Focused on testing detection and response, not just finding flaws.
- Usually includes blue team (defender) evaluation.
Good for: Enterprises, security-mature orgs, requires coordination, NDAs, and predefined rules of engagement
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