"How often should we pentest?" It's one of the most common questions security teams face—and the answer depends on more than just compliance requirements. This guide helps you determine the right testing frequency for your organization.
We'll cover compliance minimums, industry best practices, triggers for additional testing, and why continuous security validation is increasingly becoming the standard.
Quick Answer: Testing Frequency Guidelines
| Scenario | Recommended Frequency |
|---|---|
| Compliance minimum (most frameworks) | Annually |
| Best practice for most organizations | Quarterly + after changes |
| High-risk applications (financial, healthcare) | Quarterly or more |
| Rapid deployment cycles (weekly releases) | Continuous / per release |
| After significant infrastructure changes | Immediately |
| After a security incident | Immediately |
Compliance Framework Requirements
Different compliance frameworks have different penetration testing requirements. Here's what the major frameworks specify:
PCI DSS 4.1
Requirement 11.4 mandates annual penetration testing and testing after significant infrastructure or application changes. Both internal and external testing required.
SOC 2
SOC 2 doesn't explicitly mandate pentesting, but it's expected for demonstrating security effectiveness. Most auditors look for annual testing at minimum.
ISO 27001
Control A.12.6 requires technical vulnerability management. Frequency based on your risk assessment, but annual testing is common practice.
HIPAA
No explicit pentest requirement, but risk analysis is mandated. Penetration testing is a best practice for demonstrating adequate security measures.
Compliance Is the Minimum
Compliance requirements represent the bare minimum, not best practice. Annual testing means vulnerabilities could exist undetected for nearly a year. Most mature security programs test far more frequently.
Factors That Should Increase Testing Frequency
Beyond compliance, several factors should drive more frequent testing:
Deployment Velocity
Weekly or daily deployments mean the attack surface changes constantly. Annual testing can't keep up.
Data Sensitivity
Financial data, PII, health records, or other sensitive information increases the cost of a breach.
Threat Profile
Industries with sophisticated attackers (finance, defense, healthcare) face higher risk.
Application Complexity
Complex applications with many integrations, APIs, and user roles have larger attack surfaces.
Triggers for Immediate Testing
Some events should trigger penetration testing regardless of your regular schedule:
Major Feature Releases
New functionality often introduces new attack vectors. Test before or immediately after launch.
Infrastructure Changes
Cloud migrations, new server deployments, network architecture changes—all require validation.
Authentication System Updates
Changes to login, SSO, MFA, or session management are high-risk areas requiring testing.
Third-Party Integrations
New APIs, payment processors, or external services expand your attack surface.
Security Incidents
After any breach or suspected compromise, testing validates your response effectiveness.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Inherited systems often carry unknown vulnerabilities. Test before integration.
The Problem with Annual Testing
Annual penetration testing was standard when applications were deployed once or twice a year. Today's reality is different:
The math is simple: if you deploy frequently but test annually, you're spending most of the year with untested code in production. That's a significant window of exposure.
The Case for Continuous Testing
Modern security programs are moving from periodic testing to continuous validation. Here's why:
Reduced Exposure Window
Vulnerabilities are found and fixed within days, not months. For critical issues requiring more time,
CI/CD Integration
Security testing as part of the pipeline catches issues before they reach production.
Faster Feedback
Developers get security feedback while the code is still fresh in their minds.
Always Audit-Ready
Continuous testing means continuous compliance evidence. No scrambling before audits.
How ManticoreAI Enables Continuous Testing
Traditional pentesting economics make continuous testing impractical. PTaaS changes that equation:
Traditional Model
-
- 6-8 week scheduling delays
- Extra cost for retests
- Annual frequency practical limit
ManticoreAI PTaaS
- Subscription pricing
- 48-hour delivery
- Unlimited retests included
- Test after every release
Building Your Testing Schedule
The right testing frequency depends on your specific situation, but here's a framework:
The goal isn't to hit a specific number of tests—it's to maintain confidence in your security posture. If you're deploying frequently, testing annually leaves too much to chance.
Start Testing Continuously
ManticoreAI delivers 48-hour pentests with unlimited retests for 12 months. Test after every release, not once a year.