NowSecure Pentesting as a Service(PTaaS)
The only purpose-built platform for risk management of mobile apps, over-the-top apps, web/API, embedded apps, and 3rd party components. NowSecure PTaaS takes your traditional pentesting to the next level by pairing continuous or automated testing with world-class expert-led testing.
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What is PTaaS?
NowSecure Pentesting as a Service (PTaaS) delivers continuous mobile and related application security through a powerful blend of automated capabilities and world-class human-led testing. Unlike traditional, one-off engagements, NowSecure PTaaS provides a modern, always-on testing platform tailored to the evolving needs and risk profiles of your mobile apps.
This capability, powered by NowSecure Platform, enables ongoing, strategically planned testing cycles that align with the business impact of each application—ensuring high-value, high-risk apps receive more intensive scrutiny, while lower-impact apps are tested efficiently and appropriately. These strategies are designed to optimize resources and maximize coverage without compromising quality.
Benefits of NowSecure PTaaS
Rapid Results Integration
Do away with proprietary files and spreadsheets. No more copy and paste from your reports. NowSecure Platform offers pre-built integrations, open APIs, and native a CLI to power a secure development workflow within existing dev lifecycle processes. Rapidly and securely provide your binaries for testing and consume results in the same workflow with minimal friction.
- GitHub, Microsoft Azure DevOps, Cloudbees Jenkins, CircleCI, GitLab, Bitrise and other CI/CD platforms
- GitHub Issues, Jira, Azure Boards, GitLab Boards and other issue tracking and ticketing systems
- Black Duck CodeDX, Coalfire Threadfix and Brinqa and other vulnerability management systems
- Slack and email alerts
Regulatory Compliance Made Simple
NowSecure PTaaS streamlines regulatory compliance by delivering continuous, audit-ready app testing aligned with frameworks like OWASP MAS, PCI, HIPAA, NIAP, and more. Continuous testing automates evidence collection, provides clear reporting, always-on compliance validation and supports human-led verification, making it easy to meet compliance requirements without disrupting your development flow.
Goes Beyond iOS and Android
Apps that run on streaming platforms like Roku, Apple TV, and many smart TVs are called Over-the-Top (OTT) apps. These may contain vulnerabilities or privacy concerns originally overlooked due to the
platforms they run on top of. However, these apps are especially interesting to adversaries looking to capitalize on the treasure trove of
streaming content and user data these apps handle. With NowSecure PTaaS, organizations can add OTT app testing to their mobile app testing program further mitigating risk all while consolidating these results for ease of access.
Comprehensive Testing
Every assessment is performed by seasoned analysts who rigorously evaluate the full attack surface the app, including client-side code, device interactions, backend APIs, data storage, authentication, and authorization mechanisms. Our testing process adapts to the complexity and risk profile of each app, uncovering vulnerabilities that automated tools often miss, such as business logic flaws, insecure data handling, or nuanced privacy exposures.
- Forensic analysis of data artifacts on the device
- Analysis of network communications, both encrypted and unencrypted
- Analysis of binary resiliency to reverse engineering
- Investigation for hardcoded secrets
- Analysis of API calls
- Privacy exposure
Comprehensive Reporting and Consultation
NowSecure PTaaS delivers industry-leading, comprehensive reporting designed to empower developers, security teams, and business stakeholders with clear, actionable insights.
Each report includes:
- Detailed vulnerability descriptions with technical context and business impact.
- Reproduction steps to help developers replicate issues quickly and reliably.
- Professional remediation guidance tailored to both developers and security practitioners.
- References to best practices and industry resources, streamlining knowledge sharing and skill-building.
- Mappings to relevant standards and frameworks such as OWASP MASVS, NIAP, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and NIST, supporting regulatory compliance and internal audit requirements.
- Threat model context and proof-of-concept (PoC) artifacts, enabling organizations to fully understand exploitation potential and risk exposure.
Consultation That Drives Success
Beyond the report, NowSecure includes free expert consultation as part of every license. Our security analysts conduct thorough report readouts to ensure stakeholders understand findings, remediation paths, and risk implications.
We go further by providing:
- Follow-up guidance and support throughout remediation.
- Retesting at no additional cost, validating that fixes were implemented correctly and securely.
This combination of deep reporting and human collaboration ensures that your teams are set up for success—both in the short term and across your ongoing security program.
PTaaS Compared to Traditional Pentesting
Continuous Testing vs. Point-in-Time Snapshots
- PTaaS provides ongoing assessments, enabling detection of new vulnerabilities as code changes, aligning the rigor of testing with the risk and complexity of the application.
- Traditional pentests are time-bound, often tied to a release or compliance event, leaving long gaps between tests and greater windows of exposure.
Improved Efficiency and Scalability
- PTaaS allows organizations to test more frequently and at scale across large app portfolios.
- Traditional methods are manual, costly, and often require separate procurement processes per test, making them hard to scale.
Faster Remediation Cycles
- PTaaS integrates into development pipelines (CI/CD), delivering findings directly into tools like Jira or GitHub.
- This enables rapid remediation, while traditional tests often result in delayed reports that slow down fix timelines.
Hybrid Expertise: Automation + Human Testing
- PTaaS combines automated security testing with expert-led manual assessments, ensuring broad and deep coverage.
- Traditional tests are usually manual-only, limiting frequency and scope due to resource constraints or cost.
Always-On Reporting and Visibility
- PTaaS platforms offer real-time dashboards and centralized reports with risk trending, history, and actionable insights.
- Traditional pentesting delivers static PDFs with little to no context, traceability, or integration with development workflows.
Third-party Attestation
To support regulatory compliance, customer assurance, and internal governance, NowSecure offers formal report attestation as part of our Pentesting as a Service (PTaaS) solution for customers resolving their higher risk issues.
At the conclusion of each assessment, organizations can request a NowSecure-issued attestation letter that confirms:
- A manual penetration test was performed by qualified security experts.
- The testing adhered to industry standards and best practices such as OWASP MASVS.
- The specific app, version, platform(s), and timeframe covered by the assessment.
- A summary of the testing scope, methodology, and results.
- Verification that identified findings were addressed and successfully remediated (if retesting was completed).
These signed attestations serve as trusted documentation for internal auditors, partners, regulators, and customers, and are particularly useful during compliance reviews, vendor risk assessments, and procurement processes.
By providing credible third-party validation, NowSecure helps you confidently demonstrate your commitment to mobile app security and risk management.
CASE STUDY
Tickets include remediation suggestions from NowSecure which are very, very helpful.
Chief Information Security Officer, Yellow Card Case Study | Fintech
CASE STUDY
We reached out to NowSecure and were pleased that they rapidly responded in 24 hours to test our mobile app so we could speed it to market from start to finish in just a few weeks.”
Mobile App Penetration Testing FAQs
What exactly is PTaaS, and how does it differ from traditional penetration testing?
Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) is a continuous, scalable security testing model that combines expert-led penetration testing with ongoing collaboration, automation, and rapid retesting.
At NowSecure, PTaaS differs from traditional point-in-time penetration testing by supporting modern mobile DevSecOps workflows instead of delivering a single static assessment once or twice a year. Traditional pen tests often take weeks to schedule and complete, producing reports that may already be outdated when apps change.
NowSecure PTaaS enables organizations to continuously assess iOS and Android apps, APIs, and backend services as releases evolve. Teams gain faster remediation cycles, recurring validation, ongoing access to security experts, and integrated testing workflows that align with agile development. This approach improves visibility into mobile risk while helping organizations keep pace with rapid mobile application release schedules.
How often should penetration testing be done under a PTaaS model?
Under a PTaaS model, penetration testing should occur continuously throughout the software development lifecycle, especially for mobile applications that release frequent updates.
At NowSecure, we recommend testing during major feature releases, API changes, SDK integrations, operating system updates, and before production deployments. Organizations following agile or DevSecOps practices benefit from recurring testing every sprint or release cycle because mobile threats and application behaviors evolve rapidly.
Continuous PTaaS workflows also allow rapid retesting after vulnerabilities are remediated, reducing exposure windows and accelerating validation. High-risk applications handling sensitive financial, healthcare, or enterprise data may require even more frequent assessments and ongoing monitoring.
Unlike traditional annual penetration tests, PTaaS provides continuous security assurance that aligns with modern development practices and helps organizations maintain compliance, resilience, and secure release velocity across iOS and Android environments.
What kinds of tests does PTaaS cover (web apps, APIs, networks, etc.) and is it comprehensive enough for my use case?
NowSecure PTaaS focuses on comprehensive mobile application security testing, including iOS and Android applications, APIs, backend integrations, authentication workflows, cloud services, and third-party SDKs.
Testing evaluates runtime behaviors, insecure storage, encryption, network communications, API security, privacy risks, and OWASP MASVS compliance. Depending on organizational requirements, PTaaS can also support broader assessments involving web portals or backend infrastructure connected to mobile apps.
The service combines automated testing with expert manual penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities that purely automated tools may miss, including business logic flaws and chained attack paths. Because mobile ecosystems are interconnected, comprehensive coverage includes the mobile app, APIs, supporting services, and software supply chain components.
This layered approach provides strong coverage for enterprise mobile use cases where continuous validation and fast remediation are required.
Is NowSecure PTaaS a good fit for teams that ship mobile app updates every sprint?
Yes. NowSecure PTaaS is designed specifically for organizations that release mobile app updates frequently through agile and DevSecOps workflows. Teams shipping updates every sprint need security testing that can keep pace with rapid development cycles without delaying releases.
NowSecure PTaaS supports continuous testing, rapid retesting, and close collaboration between security experts and development teams so vulnerabilities can be identified and remediated quickly. The service integrates well with CI/CD pipelines and enables organizations to validate mobile app changes, APIs, SDKs, and runtime behaviors throughout each release cycle.
Unlike traditional annual penetration tests, PTaaS provides ongoing security assurance aligned with modern software delivery practices. This helps mobile teams reduce risk, maintain compliance, improve remediation speed, and release secure iOS and Android applications continuously without introducing unnecessary operational bottlenecks.
How does NowSecure PTaaS compare with a one-time outsourced mobile app pen test?
A one-time outsourced mobile app penetration test provides a snapshot of security risk at a single moment, while NowSecure PTaaS delivers continuous, ongoing security validation aligned with modern mobile release cycles. Traditional pen tests are valuable for point-in-time assessments but often become outdated quickly as mobile apps, APIs, SDKs, and operating systems change.
NowSecure PTaaS offers recurring assessments, rapid retesting, ongoing collaboration with security experts, and continuous visibility into mobile risk. This enables development teams to remediate vulnerabilities faster and validate fixes without waiting months for another assessment cycle. PTaaS also better supports agile development and DevSecOps practices by integrating testing into ongoing release workflows.
For organizations with frequent updates or evolving mobile ecosystems, PTaaS provides stronger long-term risk management and operational efficiency than isolated outsourced penetration testing engagements.
What are the key benefits of PTaaS for mobile app teams with frequent releases?
The key benefits of PTaaS for mobile app teams include continuous security validation, faster remediation cycles, rapid retesting, and better alignment with agile development and DevSecOps practices.
At NowSecure, PTaaS enables organizations to test iOS and Android applications, APIs, and SDKs throughout the release lifecycle instead of relying on infrequent annual assessments. Teams receive actionable findings earlier, reducing the cost and complexity of fixing vulnerabilities late in development. Continuous collaboration with security experts improves remediation efficiency and reduces delays between releases.
PTaaS also supports compliance initiatives, OWASP MASVS validation, and software supply chain risk management while maintaining release velocity. By embedding ongoing penetration testing into modern workflows, organizations can release updates more confidently, reduce exposure to emerging threats, and maintain stronger visibility into mobile application security over time.
What does a PTaaS workflow look like from scoping to retesting and remediation?
A typical NowSecure PTaaS workflow begins with collaborative scoping to identify the mobile apps, APIs, backend services, authentication systems, and third-party SDKs that require testing.
Security experts then perform a combination of automated and manual penetration testing across iOS and Android environments to identify vulnerabilities, runtime risks, and compliance gaps. Findings are delivered with detailed remediation guidance prioritized by severity and exploitability.
Development teams remediate issues while maintaining close communication with testers throughout the process. PTaaS enables rapid retesting of remediated vulnerabilities without waiting for another full engagement cycle, helping teams validate fixes quickly and reduce exposure windows. As applications evolve through new releases, APIs, or SDK updates, continuous testing and recurring assessments provide ongoing visibility into mobile risk and support secure software delivery practices across agile development environments.
What are the benefits and limitations of PTaaS compared with an in-house mobile AppSec team or a traditional pen test?
PTaaS provides organizations with scalable access to specialized mobile security expertise, continuous testing workflows, and ongoing validation without the cost and staffing challenges of building a large in-house mobile AppSec team. Compared with traditional one-time penetration tests, PTaaS offers recurring assessments, faster retesting, improved collaboration, and better alignment with agile release cycles.
NowSecure PTaaS helps organizations continuously identify risks across iOS and Android apps, APIs, SDKs, and backend services while supporting DevSecOps integration and OWASP MASVS compliance. However, PTaaS does not entirely replace internal security ownership or secure development practices. In-house teams still play an important role in governance, remediation coordination, and long-term architecture decisions.
Traditional pen tests may still be useful for highly targeted regulatory assessments or specialized deep-dive evaluations, but PTaaS provides stronger continuous security coverage for evolving mobile environments.
How can I reduce mobile app pen-testing costs and time while still covering high-risk apps thoroughly?
Organizations can reduce penetration testing costs and timelines by adopting a risk-based PTaaS approach that combines automated testing with targeted expert-led assessments.
At NowSecure, we recommend continuously testing high-risk iOS and Android applications, APIs, and third-party SDKs throughout development rather than relying solely on large annual engagements. Integrating testing into CI/CD pipelines helps identify vulnerabilities earlier, reducing expensive late-stage remediation.
Automated validation and rapid retesting also shorten turnaround times while preserving security coverage. Teams can prioritize deeper manual penetration testing for applications handling sensitive data, financial transactions, healthcare information, or enterprise access while using automation to maintain baseline coverage across broader portfolios.
Continuous PTaaS workflows improve operational efficiency, reduce duplicated effort, and provide ongoing visibility into evolving mobile risks without sacrificing the thoroughness required for critical mobile applications.