Pentest Vendor
How to Choose a Penetration Testing Vendor: A 2026 Buyer's Checklist
Before you sign with any penetration testing vendor, ask six questions: How much of the test is done by a human? What is the minimum tester experience? Is a re-test included? Do you get your testers' names and a direct line? Will the report satisfy your auditor? Can you see a sample report and methodology first? Honest vendors answer all six without flinching.
For the Company:
For the Hackers:
Look for hands-on offensive security certifications like OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) and OSEP (Offensive Security Experienced Penetration Tester). These require real-world exploitation under time pressure, not just multiple-choice exams.
Certifications that are primarily theory-based don’t necessarily translate to finding real vulnerabilities in live environments. Ask who will actually be testing your systems and what practical credentials they hold.
What questions should you ask a penetration testing vendor
How much of the test is done by a human?
Ask what share of the work a person actually performs. A scanner can flag known issues, but it cannot chain weaknesses together or think like an attacker, and that is where real risk hides. At Red Sentry the testing is human-led: certified hackers do the work and use tools only to speed up the early reconnaissance.
What is the minimum tester experience?
A report is only as good as the person who wrote it, so ask whether junior analysts run the engagement or whether every tester is senior and certified. Red Sentry’s team holds certifications like OSCP and CREST and years of hands-on experience.
Is a re-test included after you patch?
Finding issues is half the job. You want a vendor that re-tests your fixes and confirms they worked, not one that charges extra for it. Red Sentry includes a remediation re-test and a second report so you can prove the issues are closed.
Do you get your testers' names and a direct line?
You should know who is touching your environment and be able to reach them. If your only contact is a salesperson, that is a red flag. Red Sentry gives you your testers and a dedicated project manager with direct contact, not a ticket queue.
Will the report satisfy your auditor?
A pen test usually exists to satisfy SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or a customer's security questionnaire, so the report has to map to those frameworks and include a letter of attestation. Red Sentry reports are audit-ready and come with the attestation letter auditors expect.
Can you see a sample report and methodology first?
A vendor that will not show you a sample report or explain its methodology before you sign is hiding the work product. Red Sentry shares sample reports and a full methodology up front.