AI Agents vs Manual Testers
Traditional pentests are like annual health checkups—expensive, slow, and they only show a snapshot. AI agents test continuously, catching vulnerabilities before attackers do, at a fraction of the cost.
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Key Differences
What sets ModernPentest apart from Traditional Firms.
AI Agents vs Humans
Who performs the testing?
Speed
How quickly do you get results?
Frequency
How often can you test?
Annual Cost
What is the yearly investment?
Feature Comparison
See how ModernPentest stacks up against Traditional Firms.
| Feature | MP ModernPentest | T Traditional Firms |
|---|---|---|
| AI Agent Capabilities | ||
| Autonomous AI Agents | ||
| Multi-Step Reasoning | ||
| Context-Aware Testing | ||
| Business Logic Understanding | ||
| Consistent Methodology | Every time | Varies by tester |
| Speed & Frequency | ||
| Time to Results | ~1 hour | 2-4 weeks |
| Testing Frequency | Weekly+ (52+/year) | Annual (1/year) |
| On-Demand Testing | Scheduling required | |
| Post-Deploy Verification | Same day | New engagement |
| Instant Retesting | Often extra cost | |
| Coverage | ||
| Web Application Testing | ||
| API Security Testing | ||
| Network Penetration | ||
| Physical Security | Some firms | |
| Social Engineering | Some firms | |
| Compliance & Cost | ||
| SOC 2-Ready Reports | ||
| Continuous Compliance Evidence | ||
| Annual Cost | $6K-$24K | $15K-$50K+ |
| Cost per Test | $115-$460 | $15K-$50K |
The Problem with Annual Testing
Traditional: Annual Snapshots
ModernPentest: Continuous Coverage
The Real Cost Comparison
Traditional Annual Pentest
$50,000
1 test per year
2-4 week delivery
Point-in-time snapshot
ModernPentest Pro
$24,000
52+ tests per year
1-hour delivery
Continuous coverage
When to Use Each Approach
Use AI Agents For
- Continuous security monitoring
- Web and API security testing
- Post-deployment verification
- Regular SOC 2 compliance evidence
- Fast turnaround requirements
- Predictable security budget
Consider Traditional For
- Network infrastructure testing
- Physical security assessments
- Social engineering campaigns
- Highly specialized systems
- PCI DSS Level 1 requirements
- Red team exercises
Best of both worlds: Use AI agents for continuous web/API security, and complement with traditional testing for network, physical, or red team engagements.
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