PTaaS Explained: Credit vs. Subscription Models for Scalable Pentesting

Security testing can’t afford to be slow, siloed, or static. That’s why Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) has emerged as a smarter, more agile alternative to traditional penetration tests.

‍

PTaaS is a modern, continuous approach to security testing that delivers penetration testing capabilities on-demand or at regular intervals. Instead of relying on annual, time-boxed assessments, PTaaS enables organizations to:

‍

• Identify and remediate vulnerabilities faster.
• Keep pace with evolving threats and frequent software changes.
• Test more frequently across web, mobile, cloud, API, and network layers.
  
  

Legacy pentesting models often operate like snapshots. They give you visibility for a moment in time but fail to capture ongoing risks. For DevOps and cloud-native teams, this creates several challenges.

In short, traditional penetration testing wasn't built for the speed and complexity of modern SaaS, microservices, or hybrid cloud environments.

‍

ioSENTRIX redefines pentesting with two scalable PTaaS delivery models:

‍

• Credit-Based PTaaS – A flexible model that allows you to allocate pre-purchased credits across various assets and test types.
• App-Based Subscription PTaaS – A recurring testing model ideal for teams needing consistent testing cadence, full-stack visibility, and compliance readiness.

What Is Credit-Based PTaaS?

Credit-Based Penetration Testing as a Service (PTaaS) from ioSENTRIX is a flexible, on-demand security testing model built for modern SaaS and DevOps teams. Instead of being locked into rigid scopes or schedules, you purchase a pool of testing credits that can be allocated across multiple assets, test types, and timeframes.

‍

How Does Credit-Based PTaaS Work?

‍

• You purchase a block of credits upfront.
• Credits can be used throughout the year on any combination of:
  
  
  
  • Web or mobile application testing
  • Cloud configuration assessments
  • API security evaluations
  • Network or infrastructure testing
  • Thick/thin client testing
    
    
• Credits roll over each quarter, giving your security team full flexibility without the pressure to “use them or lose them.”
  
  

This model is ideal for agile organizations that release new features frequently, onboard new assets often, or experience fluctuating pentesting needs.

‍

Key Benefits of Credit-Based PTaaS

‍

• Spin up a test when you need it—whether it’s for a new product launch, pre-release validation, or investor due diligence.
• Prioritize high-risk or newly released assets without waiting for an annual assessment cycle.
• Pay once, test multiple times. Easily distribute your testing resources across business quarters, product teams, or compliance milestones.
• Aligns with fast-moving CI/CD pipelines by allowing teams to request testing aligned with sprints or release cycles.

‍

Also read: PTaaS vs Traditional Penetration Testing

What Is Subscription-Based (App-Based) PTaaS?

Subscription-Based PTaaS (also known as App-Based PTaaS) is ioSENTRIX’s continuous penetration testing model designed for organizations that need ongoing, scheduled assessments across applications and infrastructure.

‍

Rather than testing once a year, this model provides quarterly or monthly penetration testing, combined with automated scans and manual deep-dive reviews. It's the ideal solution for SaaS companies that require predictable testing cycles, consistent compliance reporting, and always-on security assurance.

‍

How Subscription-Based PTaaS Works?

‍

• You subscribe to a flat-rate plan based on the number of apps, environments, or assets.
• Each plan includes:
  
  
  
  • Scheduled manual pentests (e.g., every 3 months)
  • Managed DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing)
  • Vulnerability scans for internal/external networks
  • Continuous retesting for verified fixes
    
    
• Access all findings and reports through the ioSENTRIX PTaaS dashboard, including ticket integration and SLA tracking.
  
  

This model ensures compliance coverage, operational rhythm, and no surprises in cost. The model is ideal for security programs that need to scale with product growth.

‍

Key Benefits of App-Based PTaaS

‍

• Stay compliant and secure with regularly scheduled testing intervals, reducing exposure windows between assessments.
• Includes cloud infrastructure, APIs, identity management, business logic, and front-end vulnerabilities.
• Subscription pricing enables straightforward annual planning without unexpected costs or one-off engagements.
• Continuous access to findings, recommendations, and retesting ensures vulnerabilities are fixed and verified faster.

‍

You may want to read: 7 Benefits of Penetration Testing as a Service in 2025

‍

Which One Should You Choose?

‍

Choose Credit-Based PTaaS if you:

• Want maximum flexibility across apps, APIs, and cloud assets.
• Don’t need regular testing intervals but want to act quickly when changes occur.
• Prefer rolling credits that adapt to your development cycle.
  
  

Choose Subscription-Based PTaaS if you:

• Need to prove consistent, auditable security efforts to regulators and partners.
• Operate in a high-compliance industry and value predictable budgeting.
• Require recurring, full-stack pentesting aligned with business-critical SLAs.

How ioSENTRIX Delivers PTaaS That Scales?

ioSENTRIX ensures that every engagement goes beyond superficial scans. Our PTaaS offering is engineered for scalability, technical depth, and continuous business alignment. It’s designed to meet the demands of growing SaaS platforms, DevSecOps pipelines, and compliance frameworks.

‍

Manual Testing Backed by Threat Intelligence

‍

Automated scanners can only catch basic issues. Our testing is manual-first and threat-model aligned, meaning we simulate how real attackers would target your unique infrastructure.

‍

Each engagement includes:

‍

• Customized threat modeling for your industry and architecture.
• Manual exploitation of APIs, authentication mechanisms, privilege escalation paths, and business logic flaws.
• Real-world attack simulations across cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP), web applications, and APIs.

‍

DevSecOps-Ready Testing Workflows

‍

Security must move at the speed of development. ioSENTRIX’s PTaaS integrates directly into your CI/CD toolchain and release processes, offering:

‍

• Flexible scheduling and on-demand testing for staging and pre-prod environments.
• Integration with tools like Jira, GitHub, or Slack for streamlined remediation.
• Agile-friendly feedback loops for faster resolution and revalidation.

‍

Unified PTaaS Dashboard

‍

Our centralized dashboard provides visibility across all engagements, including:

‍

• Retesting logs, compliance alignment tags, and remediation SLAs.
• Live vulnerability tracking with CVSS scoring and business impact ratings.
• Easy export of executive summaries and technical findings for board reviews or audit reports.

‍

Certification and Compliance Support

‍

Once vulnerabilities are remediated and retested, ioSENTRIX provides:

‍

• A signed Penetration Testing Certificate.
• An Attestation Letter customized for RFPs, client audits, or investor due diligence.
• Mapping of findings to standards like SOC 2, ISO 27001, OWASP, HIPAA, and CCPA.

‍

Read Also: How to Choose the Right Penetration Testing Services Provider for Your Business?

When to Switch from Traditional Pentesting to PTaaS?

While traditional penetration testing still has its place, it often fails to keep pace with the needs of cloud-native, fast-moving SaaS organizations. That’s where PTaaS (Penetration Testing as a Service) becomes not just an alternative, but a strategic upgrade.

‍

Limitations of Traditional Pentesting

‍

• Annual or one-time tests leave long gaps of exposure between assessments.
• Can’t easily accommodate new features, APIs, or architectural changes mid-cycle.
• Manual coordination and report delivery delays vulnerability remediation.
• Designed to satisfy auditors, not detect real-world threats.

‍

Switch to PTaaS If:

‍

• You release features or updates more than once a quarter.
• You manage multiple SaaS applications, APIs, or cloud services.
• Your customers or investors request current pentest reports during security reviews.
• You operate in a regulated industry and require ongoing compliance visibility.
• Your internal security or DevOps teams need real-time, test-and-remediate workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

‍

What is credit-based PTaaS and how does it work?

‍

Credit-based PTaaS from ioSENTRIX is a flexible, on-demand model where organizations purchase a pool of testing credits. These credits can be used across different asset types whenever needed. Credits also roll over quarterly, ensuring full value without expiration pressure.

‍

What is app-based or subscription PTaaS?

‍

App-based or subscription PTaaS is a recurring penetration testing model where testing is scheduled at regular intervals on a fixed set of applications or environments. With ioSENTRIX, this includes full-stack manual pentests, continuous vulnerability scanning, managed DAST, and retesting, all bundled into a predictable subscription.

‍

Which PTaaS model is best for DevOps teams?

‍

For DevOps teams, the credit-based PTaaS model is often the best fit. It aligns with agile release cycles, providing flexibility to test whenever code, features, or configurations change. Testing can be triggered on-demand without waiting for a fixed schedule.

‍

Can PTaaS replace traditional annual penetration testing?

‍

Yes, PTaaS can fully replace traditional annual penetration testing and improve upon it. PTaaS offers greater frequency, deeper coverage, faster remediation cycles, and integration with modern SDLC practices. It eliminates long gaps between tests and delivers continuous insight into emerging risks.

‍