Faced with the constant growth of online threats, companies are looking to strengthen the security of their information systems. Two complementary approaches are often mentioned: penetration testing (or pentests) and Bug Bounty programs. While their common objective is to identify vulnerabilities, their methods, frameworks and benefits differ considerably. Understanding these differences is essential to choosing the solution best suited to your needs.
What is penetration testing?
A penetration test consists in simulating an attack carried out by a cybersecurity professional within a defined, controlled framework. This test, generally carried out by a specialized team, is used to assess the security level of a system (website, API, mobile application, internal network, etc.) at a given moment.
Pentesting relies on a rigorous methodology, often based on OWASP or ISO standards. It includes a phase of reconnaissance, exploitation, post-exploitation and detailed reporting, enabling the company to prioritize corrective measures.
A manual penetration test is particularly suitable when an in-depth, contextualized and targeted analysis is required, e.g. after an application redesign, a major update or as part of a regulatory requirement.
What is a Bug Bounty program?
Bug Bounty is based on an open reward logic: a company invites a community of security researchers to identify flaws in its systems, in exchange for financial rewards. This performance-based model can mobilize dozens, even hundreds, of ethical hackers worldwide.
Bug Bounty is often continuous and long-term. The diversity of approaches, tools and profiles involved means that vulnerabilities can be uncovered that conventional audits sometimes miss.
It is essential, however, that these programs be strictly supervised to avoid unethical behavior and guarantee the protection of sensitive data. In general, Bug Bounty takes place in a mature phase, once the application has already been secured upstream by a professional pentest.
Comparing the two approaches
Penetration testing is one-off, structured, confidential and carried out by qualified experts within a contractual framework. It provides an in-depth assessment, with a detailed report and concrete recommendations.
Bug Bounty is more open, dynamic and results-based. It offers broader coverage over the long term, but can generate large volumes of reports of varying quality.
The two approaches are not mutually exclusive: they complement each other. Pentesting secures the environment before opening a Bug Bounty. The latter takes over to maintain a high level of vigilance in the face of emerging threats.
Which approach should you choose, and how often?
We recommend starting with a penetration test, especially if the application is under development or has just undergone major modifications. A frequency of once a year is a good starting point for most organizations. However, this frequency needs to be adapted according to the complexity, criticality and lifecycle of the application.
Bug Bounty can be seen as an additional layer, once the environment has stabilized. It is particularly well suited to mature cybersecurity companies, capable of managing an external community of researchers and absorbing the flow of reports.
Need help choosing the right approach?
Whether you're planning a one-off penetration test or launching a Bug Bounty program, it's essential to adopt a strategy tailored to your context. Secureaks helps companies to evaluate, implement and monitor their cybersecurity measures.
To find out more about our pentesting and offensive security consulting services, please contact us.
