Bug Bounty vs Pen Test: Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated on 7 June 2023 by admin

To stay secure and comply with regulations, businesses must regularly test for vulnerabilities. In this blog, we discuss the difference between a pen test and a bug bounty. Find out the best method suited to you.

Bug bounties have gained significant ground in recent times utilizing the power of crowdsourcing to change the traditional structure of security testing. Large organizations, such as Microsoft, Facebook, and Google, have established programs paying out millions in bounties to find and address their security vulnerabilities. [1]

However, the more comprehensive penetration testing model remains one of necessity. If you’re to rest easy at night, safe in the knowledge your infrastructure is secure, pen testing gives you an extra layer of security.

What’s the difference between a bug bounty and a pen test?

What is a penetration test?

• A penetration test involves ethical hacking specialists challenging the security of a network by mimicking the methods used by a hacker
• Skilled ethical hackers use a combination of automated and manual tools and techniques to identify exposures that could result in a security damaging breach.
• Penetration testing is a collective effort of a team of cybersecurity specialists to identify and exploit vulnerabilities and potential risks that could become a major problem if not addressed
• The result is a detailed report listing all the findings including in-depth remediation advice.

What is a bug bounty?

• A bounty is placed on a bug and vigilante hackers are invited to track it down for reward. Simple
• Bug bounty programs have proven to be a great way to incentivise bug hunters in improving security vulnerabilities within organizations.
• The bug is a metaphor for a security flaw and the supposed vigilantes are ethical hackers
• A bug bounty program utilizes crowdsourcing, inviting ethical hackers to use their penetration testing techniques and report exploits and vulnerabilities in return for payment
• It’s a solo effort by individual hackers encouraging an atmosphere of competition over cooperation
• Rewards are paid only when the hacker finds a relevant vulnerability in the system

The motivations are the same for each to root out potential security weaknesses. However, the means with which they achieve that are very different, and so are the results.

Think of the initial process as if you’re hosting a party. With a penetration test, you’re going for the exclusive structured approach, with named ethical hackers, a clear schedule, and greater control. There’s more communication between guest and host, and you’re aware of who did what when.

With a bug bounty, you’re throwing the invitation out there to anyone who is interested. People can come and go as they like. You’re losing structure and control but opening it out to more people.

Don’t worry, the chaos of Project X proportions won’t result. Bouncers and restrictions are in place you’re in control over what network resources are within/out of scope.

How does a penetration test work?

1. Performed by an accredited cyber security agency, independent security professionals or qualified penetration tester
2. Provide a detailed security assessment of your network
3. Has a precise schedule a beginning and end
4. A comprehensive report is produced with actions that should be taken to fix flaws
5. Personal contact is made between the penetration testers and the client
6. A team effort – penetration testers working together to analyze a whole network or system
7. Ability to test unpublished software/hardware

How does a bug bounty work?

1. Performed by crowdsourced hunters, who register at bug bounty platforms
2. Typically focus on single web applications
3. No time structure – ethical hackers will go on a hunt whenever they want or have time for it
4. Clients are notified about flaws via the bug bounty platform
5. No contact between hunter and client
6. Solitary ethical hackers focusing on a single web platform
7. Only test software/hardware which is available online
8. Focuses on the larger bounties, meaning smaller ones are overlooked. These could turn into big problems over time
9. Organizations pay and annual subscription – that can reach into six figures to be on a bug bounty platform, even if no fault is found

Penetration testing positives

It gives you a professional and complete overview of your infrastructure. When you run a penetration test, you have the assured inclusion of a contract with the cyber security agency.

The agency has legal obligations and responsibilities in case of an incident like any service provider in any industry, the agency’s reputation is at stake.

As a client, you’re well aware of:

• When the test is happening
• What specific IPs are involved
• Which phase of the audit is currently running

The client has complete control over what’s included in the test and what the focus is.

Bug bounty positives

With bug bounty programs, clients pay for results only. It allows for continuous security testing by a vast number of people.

For those businesses that are confident in the knowledge that their website is secure, it can be a revealing and interesting challenge to expose their website on a bug bounty platform. The advanced vulnerability testing methods used by qualified security experts will likely highlight many security flaws that you didn’t know you had. Hence why the likes of Microsoft and Google have successfully pursued the model and made it their mission to diversify their efforts with their internal security team and bug hunters.

But which is for me?

If you’re an organization that holds any amount of sensitive data, pen tests cannot be ignored, while bug bounty programs are useful only when certain criteria are met.

Penetration tests are for you when:

1. Need a professional and comprehensive picture of the current state of your infrastructure and online environment
2. Want to identify and prioritize risks allowing your organizations to evaluate network security and establish the necessary controls
3. Are proactively developing a long-term plan for preventing hackers from infiltrating your system
4. Need to comply with industry regulation, such as PCI, HIPAA, FISMA, and ISO 27001
5. Are implementing or updating new software

Bug bounties are for you when:

• Want to compliment penetration testing enlarging the scope of your security testing on a platform that you are confident is already well secured
• Can afford to place a competitive fee on a vulnerability, that will attract high-quality hackers
• Need to run testing on public websites that do not typically face major security threats i.e. those websites that do not process confidential data

The points weigh more heavily on the side of a penetration test. This is not to say bug bounties aren’t useful it’s just they should be used as a supplement to, rather than a replacement of, a penetration test.

The thing to remember is that bug bounties have a public character and are highly competitive. To attract the right hackers, you need to be able to put an attractive price on a vulnerability.

If the price isn’t right, then hackers won’t be interested, meaning a company that cant afford to pay as much as the big players will typically lose out.

Expertise is an issue as well. The majority of hunters in bug bounty programs are not experienced. Typically, they’re on the lookout for low-hanging fruit, and it is unlikely that critical vulnerabilities will be revealed. [2]

Regular penetration test with a trusted team gives you a much more comprehensive picture of your organization’s security status and will keep your infrastructure safe in the long run.

Get in touch with our experts today and see how your organization can benefit from a pro pen test.

[1] techradar.com

[2] cyberscoop.com