Hackrate internal team only
OWASP-aligned web testing
Optional HackGATE oversight
PDF or platform reporting

Main benefits

Expert-led testing with strict control over access.

Traditional penetration testing is designed for organizations that need a confidential delivery model and clear evidence of the work performed.

Private by design

Only assigned members of Hackrate’s internal security team perform the assessment. Scope, credentials, evidence, and findings are never shared with Hackrate’s ethical hacker community.

Senior, hands-on expertise

Senior cybersecurity professionals combine structured assessment experience with the creative thinking needed to investigate business logic, edge cases, and chained attack paths.

Reporting that fits your workflow

Choose a final PDF report or review validated findings as they are identified in the Hackrate Ethical Hacking Platform, followed by a consolidated final report.

Controlled access

A traditional pentest without the crowd.

Sensitive systems, regulated environments, internal applications, and confidential product releases may require a particularly restricted delivery model. Testing is performed exclusively by the assigned Hackrate internal team, and no target or vulnerability information is distributed to the ethical hacker community.

  • Internal Hackrate testers only
  • Customer-approved scope and access
  • Defined testing window and rules
  • Secure handling of evidence and findings
  • No distribution to the Hackrate community

Why Hackrate?

Structure where it matters. Expert judgment where it counts.

Structured methodology, adapted to your environment

For web applications and web services, testing aligns with the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide and is adapted to the architecture, risk profile, access level, and rules of engagement.

Creative testing beyond a checklist

Experienced testers investigate business logic, privilege boundaries, unusual workflows, and combinations of weaknesses that automated tools may not understand.

Optional HackGATE oversight

At your request, HackGATE can monitor and log authorized pentester activity according to the agreed configuration, providing an additional evidence trail.

Findings your teams can act on

Every finding is reviewed for reproducibility, impact, and relevance so technical, management, and audit stakeholders can understand the risk and prioritize remediation.

HackGATE is optional. It does not replace the testing methodology, the pentester’s expertise, or the final assessment report.

A clear assessment workflow

Traditional penetration testing in six steps.

01
SCOPE

Define objectives and boundaries

Agree targets, business objectives, exclusions, access model, testing window, reporting requirements, and assurance context.

02
PREPARE

Establish the rules of engagement

Confirm tester accounts, test data, escalation contacts, prohibited activities, stop procedures, reporting workflow, and optional HackGATE use.

03
TEST

Perform expert-led security testing

The internal team performs manual and tool-assisted testing according to the approved scope, extending structured coverage with risk-based and creative testing.

04
VALIDATE

Confirm findings and assess impact

Potential findings are reproduced and reviewed for technical validity, affected conditions, likely impact, and appropriate severity.

05
COMMUNICATE

Deliver findings through the selected workflow

Platform customers receive validated findings during testing. PDF-only customers receive the consolidated report at the end, with urgent issues escalated securely.

06
CLOSE

Report, review, and verify

Hackrate presents key results, risk themes, limitations, and recommended actions. Retesting is included where defined in the agreement.

Choose your reporting model

Receive the results in the format that fits your organization.

Both models include a final PDF report. The customer selects the delivery method before testing begins.

Customer choice
Traditional delivery

Final PDF report

Hackrate consolidates validated findings into a final PDF report delivered at the end of the assessment. This suits customers that prefer an existing document-management process.

Critical findings can still be communicated through an agreed secure escalation channel.

Live visibility

Hackrate Platform and final PDF

Validated findings become available during the assessment, allowing the customer to review results without waiting for the final report.

Use the platform to centralize communication and monitor resolution status, with a consolidated PDF at the end.

Assessment output

Clear evidence for technical and business stakeholders.

Exact deliverables are defined in the statement of work. Depending on scope and delivery model, the assessment package can include:

Executive summary

A management-level view of the assessment, key risk themes, significant findings, and recommended priorities.

Scope and methodology

Tested targets, period, access model, methodology, exclusions, assumptions, and known limitations.

Detailed vulnerability findings

Technical description, affected components, evidence, reproduction information, impact, severity, and remediation guidance.

Testing coverage summary

Areas and security controls assessed, plus the relevant limitations and conditions that affected testing.

Optional HackGATE activity evidence

Supporting activity logs or evidence when HackGATE is selected and configured for the engagement.

Remediation verification

A documented review of agreed fixes where retesting is included in the statement of work.

Audit and assurance

Evidence that supports security assurance and compliance work.

A structured penetration test can support risk assessment, control-effectiveness review, vulnerability management, internal audit, and external assurance activities.

Hackrate reports can provide useful evidence for broader programs, but a penetration test report does not by itself establish certification or regulatory compliance.

ISO/IEC 27001 SOC 2 NIS2 risk-management evidence Internal audit Customer assurance

These references describe supporting evidence only and do not imply certification or guaranteed compliance.

Choose the right model

Three ways to run penetration testing with Hackrate.

Select a focused internal assessment, an invitation-only crowdsourced engagement, or a coordinated annual program.

  Traditional Pentest Crowdsourced Pentest Continuous Pentest
Engagement model One scoped assessment One scoped, invitation-only assessment Recurring 12-month program
Testing team Hackrate internal team only Selected Elite Ethical Hackers Internal team, Elite Ethical Hackers, or a hybrid
Best suited for Sensitive, restricted, or traditional assessment requirements Creative testing with diverse attacker perspectives Enterprise teams with multiple targets and recurring needs
Customer control Customer approves scope and internal access Customer approves scope and selected-hacker participation Customer approves the model for every target
Results PDF only or platform plus PDF Hackrate platform and agreed reporting Centralized platform results across the annual program
Planning Project scoping before the assessment Project scoping before the assessment Annual roadmap and monthly prioritization
Explore Explore Traditional Pentest Explore Crowdsourced Pentest Explore Continuous Pentest

Frequently asked questions

Traditional Pentest FAQ

Who performs a Hackrate Traditional Pentest?

Only assigned members of Hackrate’s internal cybersecurity team. Ethical hackers from the Hackrate community do not participate.

Is information shared with the Hackrate ethical hacker community?

No. Scope, target information, credentials, evidence, and findings are not distributed to the community.

What methodology does Hackrate use?

The methodology is adapted to the scope, architecture, access model, and business risks. Web applications and web services align with the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide and are extended with manual, risk-based, and creative testing.

Can we receive only a PDF report?

Yes. The final report is delivered at the end, while urgent findings can be escalated through an agreed secure communication channel.

Can we use the Hackrate platform during the assessment?

Yes. When platform delivery is selected, validated findings can be made available during testing, followed by a final consolidated PDF.

Is HackGATE mandatory?

No. HackGATE is completely optional and is used only when requested and approved by the customer.

Does the report guarantee ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, or NIS2 compliance?

No. It can support assurance, control testing, risk-management, and audit evidence within a broader compliance program.

How long does a traditional pentest take?

Duration depends on target number and complexity, access model, test depth, and reporting requirements. Hackrate confirms the timeline after scoping.

Start with the right scope

Plan a pentest around your real risk.

Tell us what you need to assess, how access should be controlled, and how you would like to receive the findings.

Discuss Your Pentest Scope
Hackrate

Our platform helps companies to identify software vulnerabilities in a cost-efficient way. It provides a secure and centralized view of ethical hacking projects for your company.

US Patent Applied for HackGATE #63/645,845

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