Pen Testing vs. Bug Bounty: Which, When, Why

Penetration testing and bug bounty programs are complementary approaches to cybersecurity risk management, with the former focusing on proactive vulnerability assessment and the latter on identifying high-impact vulnerabilities through a crowdsourced approach. Pen testing is typically time-bound, methodology-driven, and done privately, while bug bounty engagements cover finding hidden flaws that pen tests might miss, leveraging ongoing discovery of emerging or hidden vulnerabilities with a freestyle approach. The two approaches differ in intensity, with pen testing being more checklist-driven and bug bounty being more pay-for-impact. A layered strategy combining these approaches can lead to increased efficiency and cost savings, making penetration testing as a service a viable option for organizations seeking to enhance their cybersecurity posture.