How to Choose the Right VAPT Vendor

How to Choose the Right VAPT Vendor – 7 Crucial Factors to Evaluate

Published on June 20, 2025 by HVSec Team

Selecting the wrong Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing (VAPT) partner can cost your business time, money, and leave you vulnerable. Here are 7 key factors you must verify before signing a contract.

Many businesses make the mistake of choosing vendors based only on price. A poor-quality assessment can lead to false positives, missed vulnerabilities, and compliance gaps.

1. Compliance Expertise: Your VAPT provider must understand the regulations relevant to your industry – ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, SOC2, etc.

2. Quality of Reporting: Request a sample report. It should include risk severity ratings, CVSS scores, detailed impact analysis, and step-by-step remediation guidelines.

3. Manual + Automated Testing: Ensure they use top-tier tools (Burp Suite Pro, Nessus, Nmap, Nikto, custom scripts) combined with manual logic testing.

4. Relevant Industry Experience: Choose vendors who have tested businesses in your niche (FinTech, SaaS, Healthcare, E-commerce, etc.).

5. NDA & Confidentiality: Your data is sensitive. Ensure a strong non-disclosure agreement (NDA) is part of the contract.

6. Methodology & Timelines: Verify that the vendor follows OWASP, PTES, or similar industry-recognized standards and clarify timelines upfront.

7. Post-Audit Support: Do they offer free re-testing after you fix issues? Will they assist in prioritizing patches and improving your overall security posture?

Pro Tip: Avoid vendors who only run automated scanners and send generic reports. A real penetration test includes business logic testing, vulnerability chaining, and real-world attack simulations.

Bottom Line: The right VAPT partner is an extension of your security team. Take time to vet their expertise, tools, and post-engagement support – it will pay off in the long run.