Find and Fix Security Weaknesses Before Attackers Do
Applications, networks, and cloud environments change constantly, and each change can introduce a weakness. Customers, regulators, and auditors increasingly expect organizations to test their systems regularly and to show that the findings were fixed.
ConsultHive provides Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) services to help organizations identify security weaknesses, safely demonstrate their impact, and fix them with clear, developer-ready guidance.
Our approach combines automated scanning with manual testing by skilled testers, following recognized methods such as the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide and NIST SP 800-115, with findings rated using CVSS.
Whether you need a test before a product launch, an annual test to satisfy a regulator or customer, or a retest to confirm that fixes work, we help establish a structured and practical process.
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What Is VAPT?
VAPT combines two activities. A Vulnerability Assessment is a broad, largely automated review that finds and ranks known weaknesses across systems. A Penetration Test is a narrower, manual exercise in which a tester attempts to exploit weaknesses and chain them together to show what an attacker could actually achieve.
Used together, they show both how many weaknesses exist and which of them matter most. Many regulators and customers expect both and refer to the combined work as VAPT.
Testing is carried out with written authorization, within an agreed scope and rules of engagement, and in a way that limits the risk to live systems. Findings are documented with evidence and recommendations.
A VAPT report reflects the state of the systems at the time of testing. It does not guarantee that systems are free of vulnerabilities, so testing should be repeated as systems change.
Our VAPT Services
1. Web Application Penetration Testing
Test web applications for weaknesses such as injection, broken authentication and access control, insecure configuration, cryptographic failures, and business logic flaws, following the OWASP Top 10 and the OWASP Web Security Testing Guide.
2. Mobile Application Penetration Testing
Test Android and iOS applications for insecure data storage, weak authentication, insecure communication, reverse engineering risks, and backend interface flaws.
3. API Security Testing
Test REST, SOAP, and GraphQL interfaces for broken object level authorization, excessive data exposure, weak authentication, rate limiting gaps, and injection.
4. Network Penetration Testing
Assess external and internal networks for exposed services, weak configurations, missing patches, weak credentials, and paths for lateral movement, including segmentation testing where required.
5. Cloud Security Assessment
Review cloud configurations and architecture on platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud for identity and access weaknesses, exposed storage, insecure network rules, and logging gaps.
6. Secure Source Code Review
Review application source code with static analysis tools and manual analysis to find insecure coding patterns, hard-coded secrets, and weak validation before they reach production.
7. Wireless, IoT and OT Security Testing
Test wireless networks, connected devices, and industrial control environments for weak encryption, default credentials, insecure protocols, and exposed management interfaces, using methods that avoid disrupting operations.
8. Configuration and Hardening Review
Review operating systems, databases, web servers, and network devices against recognized hardening guidance and identify deviations that increase risk.
9. Social Engineering and Phishing Simulation
Where included in the scope, run controlled phishing simulations to measure employee awareness and support targeted training.
10. Reporting, Debrief and Retest
Deliver an executive summary and a technical report, hold a debrief with your teams, support remediation, and retest findings to confirm closure.
Where a regulator or tender requires a report from a CERT-In empanelled organization, this should be confirmed at scoping so that the right arrangement can be made.
Key Benefits of VAPT
Regular testing gives you clear evidence of your security position and a prioritized list of fixes.
• Find Weaknesses Early: Identify vulnerabilities before attackers or auditors do.
• Understand Real Risk: See which weaknesses can actually be exploited and what the impact would be.
• Meet Regulatory and Customer Expectations: Provide testing evidence for audits, tenders, and security questionnaires.
• Prioritize Remediation: Fix the issues that matter most first, using risk-based ratings.
• Support Compliance: Provide evidence for ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, and the DPDP Act programmes.
• Release with Confidence: Test new applications and major changes before go-live.
• Reduce Breach Impact: Lower the chance of incidents that cause downtime, data loss, and reputation damage.
Systems and Areas Covered
A VAPT engagement may cover the following areas, depending on the agreed scope.
| System / Area | Key Testing Focus |
| Web applications | Authentication, session management, access control, injection, business logic |
| Mobile applications | Local data storage, transport security, authentication, binary protections |
| APIs | Authorization, data exposure, input validation, rate limiting |
| External network | Exposed services, misconfigurations, missing patches, weak credentials |
| Internal network | Privilege escalation, lateral movement, segmentation, directory services |
| Cloud environments | Identity and access, storage exposure, network rules, logging and monitoring |
| Source code | Insecure coding, secrets, dependencies, input validation |
| Wireless and IoT | Encryption, default credentials, firmware and protocol weaknesses |
| Industrial and OT systems | Protocol exposure, remote access, segmentation from IT networks |
The actual scope is agreed in writing before testing begins, and testing outside the agreed scope is not performed.
Our VAPT Process
Step 1: Initial Consultation and Scope Definition
Understand your systems, objectives, and compliance drivers. Agree the scope, testing approach, timelines, and rules of engagement in writing.
Step 2: Authorization and Preparation
Obtain written authorization, confirm contacts and escalation paths, agree testing windows, and set up access and test accounts.
Step 3: Discovery and Attack Surface Mapping
Identify hosts, services, endpoints, and technologies in scope and map how they connect.
Step 4: Vulnerability Assessment and Threat Modeling
Scan for known weaknesses and consider likely attack paths based on the business function and data of each system.
Step 5: Manual Testing and Exploitation
Attempt to exploit selected weaknesses in a controlled manner, avoiding actions that could damage data or disrupt services.
Step 6: Reporting
Prepare findings with evidence, risk ratings, and remediation guidance.
Step 7: Debrief
Walk your technical and management teams through the results and discuss priorities.
Step 8: Remediation Support and Retest
Support fixing and retest the findings, and update the report to show which have been closed.
What Is Included in a VAPT Report?
Depending on the agreed scope, deliverables may include:
• Executive summary of business risk for management.
• Scope, methodology, tools, and testing period.
• Technical findings with affected assets, evidence, and reproduction steps.
• Risk ratings based on CVSS and business context.
• Remediation recommendations written for the teams that will fix the issues.
• Observations on positive security practices.
• Retest results showing which findings are closed.
• Letter or summary of testing for customers or auditors, where required.
Sensitive findings are handled under a confidentiality agreement and shared only with authorized people.
VAPT Standards and Guidelines
Testing refers to recognized methods and frameworks so that results are consistent and credible.
| Standard / Framework | Application |
| OWASP Top 10 and OWASP Web Security Testing Guide | Web application risks and testing method |
| OWASP API Security Top 10 and Mobile guidance | API and mobile application testing |
| NIST SP 800-115 | Technical guide to information security testing and assessment |
| CVSS | Common scoring system for the severity of vulnerabilities |
| MITRE ATT&CK | Knowledge base of attacker techniques used to shape test scenarios |
| PCI DSS penetration testing requirements | Testing requirements for the cardholder data environment |
The method and standards used are confirmed at scoping, based on the system and any regulatory requirement.
VAPT Requirements in India
Several Indian regulators expect regular security testing by entities they supervise. These include the Reserve Bank of India for banks, NBFCs, and payment system operators, the Securities and Exchange Board of India for market intermediaries, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India for insurers.
PCI DSS requires penetration testing for organizations in the cardholder data environment, and many government and public sector tenders ask for reports from organizations empanelled by CERT-In. Enterprise customers also increasingly ask for a recent penetration test report.
The frequency is usually at least annually and after significant changes, but the exact requirement depends on your regulator, contracts, and risk.
Organizations should confirm the specific requirements that apply to them. A VAPT report supports compliance, but it does not by itself establish compliance with a regulation.
Who Needs VAPT Services?
Any organization with internet-facing systems, sensitive data, or customer security requirements can benefit from regular testing.
• Banks, NBFCs and Fintech Companies: Organizations subject to financial regulator expectations on security testing.
• SaaS and Technology Companies: Product companies that need to demonstrate security to enterprise customers.
• E-Commerce and Payment Businesses: Organizations that handle customer and card data online.
• Healthcare, Education and Insurance: Institutions that hold sensitive personal data.
• Manufacturing, Energy and Government Bodies: Organizations with connected plants, critical systems, and tender-driven security requirements.
Why Choose ConsultHive for VAPT Services?
Structured, Standards-Based Method
Our testing follows recognized methods and a defined process, so results are consistent and repeatable.
Manual Testing Beyond Scanners
We combine automated tools with manual testing to find logic flaws and chained weaknesses that scanners miss.
Clear, Actionable Reporting
Reports are written for both management and the engineers who must fix the issues, with evidence and practical guidance.
Safe and Authorized Testing
We work under written authorization, agreed rules of engagement, and confidentiality terms, and we avoid actions that could disrupt your services.
Integrated Compliance Support
ConsultHive also supports PCI DSS, ISO/IEC 27001, SOC reports, DPDP Act compliance, and cyber forensics, which helps you connect testing with broader compliance and incident readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions About VAPT
1. What is VAPT?
VAPT stands for Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing. It identifies security weaknesses and safely tests whether they can be exploited, then reports them with fixes.
2. What is the difference between a vulnerability assessment and a penetration test?
A vulnerability assessment is broad and mostly automated, and it lists and ranks weaknesses. A penetration test is manual and targeted, and it attempts to exploit weaknesses to show real impact.
3. Is VAPT mandatory?
It depends on your regulator, contracts, and standards. Some regulators and frameworks expect regular testing, and customers often ask for it. Please confirm the requirements that apply to you.
4. How often should we do VAPT?
Commonly at least once a year, and after significant changes such as a new application, major release, or cloud or infrastructure migration. Your regulator or contract may set a specific frequency.
5. Will testing disrupt our systems?
Testing is planned to limit risk, with agreed windows, rules of engagement, and communication channels. For sensitive production systems we can test in staging or use safer techniques.
6. What do you need from us to start?
A defined scope, written authorization, points of contact, and access details such as test accounts and network information. For white-box testing we also need documentation or code access.
7. What is the difference between black-box, grey-box and white-box testing?
Black-box testing is performed with no prior knowledge of the system, grey-box with limited knowledge such as a user account, and white-box with full access to documentation or code. The right approach depends on your goals.
8. Do you provide a CERT-In empanelled report?
Where a tender or regulator requires a report from a CERT-In empanelled organization, please tell us at the start so that this can be confirmed and arranged properly before the engagement begins.
9. Is retesting included?
A retest to verify fixes is part of the process. The scope and number of retests are agreed in the proposal.
10. How much does VAPT cost in India?
The cost depends on the number and type of applications, APIs, IP addresses, and environments in scope, the testing depth, and the retest requirement.
Contact ConsultHive with your scope details to request a quotation.
Test Your Security with ConsultHive
Define your scope, test your systems, and fix what matters most with ConsultHive.
Our VAPT services help organizations find weaknesses before attackers do and give teams clear steps to fix them.
Primary CTA: Request a VAPT Quote
Contact ConsultHive
+91 63828 84764
contact@theconsulthive.com