Automation and AI have been the holy grail for cybersecurity for decades, and it is easy to see why. Automating tasks traditionally performed by human penetration testers offers a faster, more scalable, and cost-effective way to evaluate security risks. But, often the reality hasn’t lived up to the hype.
Automation can improve the efficiency and responsiveness of security teams, but when implemented incorrectly, it can be disastrous. In the case of automated penetration testing, this could mean large numbers of false positives and risks going undetected. In this blog, we share use cases that are ideal for automation, helping to maintain a continuous, external perspective on an organization’s security posture.
The Challenges with Penetration Testing
Traditional penetration testing, while critical, presents several challenges. The goal of penetration testing is to assess an organization’s security defenses by uncovering vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. This process can be time-consuming, as human testers must dedicate significant effort to planning, executing, and analyzing their findings. This, in turn, drives up costs, particularly for larger or more complex environments requiring expert resources.
Its scope is often limited to predefined areas, often the “crown jewels”, leaving other potential vulnerabilities unexamined. Additionally, traditional methods are typically periodic, creating gaps where new vulnerabilities might emerge unnoticed. According to Frost & Sullivan, over 25% of organizations conduct penetration tests every 6 months and another quarter do so annually or even less frequently. These gaps provide ample opportunity for attackers to exploit unnoticed weaknesses.
Furthermore, Frost & Sullivan’s Global Voice of the Enterprise Customer Survey found that 35% of security teams reported a lack of visibility as a major concern. 31% stated that limited human resources was an issue and 24% stated that time-consuming processes were challenging.
Automation can solve these challenges by expanding the scope and increasing testing frequency. It aims to provide an in-depth analysis of entire infrastructures with a fraction of the effort. Applying automation to repetitive tasks like vulnerability scanning allows security time to focus on more critical tasks.
Automated systems deliver consistent results by following predefined protocols, minimizing human error. Moreover, automation enables continuous testing, operating 24/7 to identify zero-days as they arise or when new code is pushed to production. This significantly enhances the security team’s ability to stay ahead of threats.
What Can Be Automated and What Can’t
While many aspects of penetration testing can benefit from automation, others still require human expertise. Tasks such as building an asset inventory, monitoring for state changes, identifying common vulnerabilities, and detecting zero-day exploits can be automated efficiently. Automated tools excel at flagging OWASP software weaknesses, DNS misconfigurations, and cloud configuration issues, providing organizations with a robust and scalable security posture.
However, certain tasks necessitate human involvement. Business logic vulnerabilities, which depend on unique workflows, require human analysis to uncover. The verification of critical infrastructure also demands human oversight to ensure resilience. Additionally, defining and refining the scope of penetration tests is best handled by experts who can align testing objectives with organizational priorities. Tasks like reviewing complex ACL permission modules and performing denial-of-service testing require careful planning and execution by skilled professionals.
By automating where possible and reserving complex, context-dependent tasks for human professionals, organizations can optimize both the efficiency and the depth of their security assessments. We recommend automating testing of the external attack surface, which is prohibitively large and changes too rapidly to test manually, organizations can maintain constant visibility of vulnerabilities. Human penetration testing can then be focused on investigating vulnerabilities that surfaced through automation and conducting in-depth assessments of critical infrastructure.
Benefits of Automated Penetration Testing
Automated penetration testing offers distinct advantages for various stakeholders within an organization. For CISOs, it enhances visibility into the attack surface, providing a comprehensive view of potential vulnerabilities. This allows them to make informed decisions and prioritize remediation efforts, all while reducing costs compared to manual testing. For example; on average, Hadrian’s customers save 10 hours per week, and SHV Energy was able to save over 40 hours a week.
For penetration testers, automation saves time by eliminating repetitive tasks, enabling them to focus on addressing complex vulnerabilities. Automated systems improve accuracy by minimizing human error, and ensuring consistent and reliable results. These tools also foster collaboration, allowing teams to direct their efforts toward strategic initiatives and improving overall productivity.
SOC teams benefit from continuous monitoring, with automated systems identifying threats in real time and reducing response times. The scalability of these tools makes them adaptable to growing infrastructures without requiring additional resources. Furthermore, automation significantly reduces risks by detecting and mitigating vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, strengthening the organization’s overall defense posture.
Where to Start
A balanced approach to penetration testing is essential, as some tasks are best suited for automation while others require human expertise. While automation can handle the bulk of repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as vulnerability scanning and configuration checks, certain areas—like analyzing business logic vulnerabilities or verifying critical infrastructure—are better left to skilled professionals. Selecting which use cases to automate ensures that security teams can optimize their efforts, focusing human expertise where it adds the most value.
Hadrian’s automated red-teaming platform is designed to support this balanced approach. By automating tasks that don’t require human insight, Hadrian enables manual penetration testers to concentrate on more complex, high-impact challenges. Its advanced capabilities provide security teams with a continuous, 24/7 view of their attack surface, identifying vulnerabilities, assessing risks, and delivering actionable insights. With Hadrian, organizations can achieve scalable, efficient, and proactive security while empowering their teams to address the most critical threats. To begin your journey get in touch with one of our security experts.
