AI penetration testing is fast and cheap enough to run every release. Manual testing finds the chained attacks and business logic flaws software still misses. Most organizations get the best result from both: a manual test once a year and automated testing in between.
What AI penetration testing is
An autonomous pentest agent does the work a tester would do by hand on an external target. It maps subdomains and exposed services, tries to exploit what it finds, checks each finding to rule out false positives and writes the report. A good platform reports only what it proved, with the request and response that show it.
Where AI testing wins
- Speed: results in hours instead of a two to four week engagement.
- Cost: a single scan on our platform is $895, and plans bring it closer to $200 per scan.
- Repeatability: run it after every release and rerun it to confirm a fix.
- Coverage of known bug classes across a large external footprint, including hosts you forgot you had.
Where a human tester wins
- Business logic: abusing a refund flow or skipping an approval step.
- Chained attacks that combine several low findings into a breach.
- Internal networks and Active Directory, where most ransomware damage happens.
- Wireless, social engineering and anything that needs judgment about your business.
- Compliance: some frameworks expect a qualified tester. Check with your auditor before replacing a manual test.
How to combine them
| Need | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Annual compliance test | Manual penetration test |
| Testing after every release | AI penetration testing |
| Confirming a fix | AI retest |
| Internal network and Active Directory | Manual penetration test |
| Complex web application logic | Manual penetration test |
| Large or changing external footprint | AI penetration testing |
Start with the free scan to see what automated testing finds on your external footprint, then use a manual test for what it cannot reach.
How Coastline Can Help
Run your first AI pentest free with code FIRSTSCAN, or see our manual penetration testing services.
Request a free scoping call and we will recommend the right scope for your environment.