Automated penetration testing tools are essential for UK organisations aiming to stay ahead of cyber risks and regulatory demands.
Unlike manual pentests done once or twice a year, today’s tools run continuously, integrate with DevOps pipelines, and deliver audit-ready reports.
To comply with PCI DSS, ISO 27001, and GDPR, organisations need robust technical and vulnerability scanning, supported by strong process governance. Here’s where FlowForma’s vendor risk management tool, FlowAssure, comes in.
FlowAssure’s AI Pen Test Agent interprets pen-test reports, extracts key risks, and routes them into structured workflows for remediation and audit readiness. Together with FlowAssure’s other AI agents, it replaces manual follow-ups with governed, audit-ready automation.
In this article, we will:
Key takeaways
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Automated penetration testing tools simulate cyberattacks to detect vulnerabilities and misconfigurations across networks, web applications, and cloud systems.
Unlike manual testing and traditional pen tests, which occur annually, these tools operate continuously and can integrate directly into CI/CD pipelines to catch issues as they arise. In many environments, they sit alongside other security tools, such as SIEMs, firewalls, and web application security testing platforms, to provide a fuller view of risk.
What is automated penetration testing?
For frameworks such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and GDPR, automated testing ensures constant monitoring and audit-ready reporting without overloading security teams or experienced penetration testers.
For regulated UK sectors like healthcare, construction, and financial services, automated penetration testing tools provide consistent evidence of compliance while improving operational resilience and validating security policies across internal network segments and cloud infrastructure.
Tools like Intruder and Acunetix are best for organisations that prioritise automated vulnerability detection, web application security testing, and continuous monitoring.
Platforms such as Nessus and Metasploit are good for security teams that need network scanning or manual exploit validation.
However, FlowForma is best for mid-sized to enterprise organisations in regulated industries that need governed remediation workflows, audit trails, compliance approvals, and end-to-end penetration testing governance rather than just scanning.
|
Tool |
AI Features |
Best For |
Governance & Compliance |
|
FlowForma |
AI Copilot, AI Agent Rule, Summarisation, FlowAssure, Discovery Agent + AI Agent Pen for reviewing pentest reports. |
Mid-sized organisations to enterprises in regulated industries |
Built-in audit trails, workflow governance, ISO 27001, GDPR, NHS DSPT, vendor risk assessments |
|
Intruder |
ML-driven prioritisation, auto CVE scanning |
SMBs and mid-market teams needing continuous monitoring and recurring scans |
ISO 27001 & PCI DSS reporting templates |
|
Acunetix |
AI web scanning, proof-based validation |
Web-heavy businesses focused on API and application security and web application security testing |
PCI DSS, ISO 27001, HIPAA templates |
|
Qualys |
TruRisk AI risk scoring & correlation |
Large enterprises requiring compliance-focused penetration testing |
PCI DSS 4.0, GDPR, DORA compliance |
|
Metasploit |
Custom scripting automation |
Security researchers, ethical hackers, white hat hackers, and red-team professionals |
Manual documentation only |
|
Terra Security |
AI logic-flaw detection & continuous testing |
Startups needing AI-based continuous pentesting and autonomous penetration testing |
Automated compliance reports |
|
Astra Pentest |
Hybrid AI + human validation |
SMBs needing managed pentesting with expert support |
ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC 2 reports |
|
New Relic |
AI anomaly detection & telemetry |
DevOps teams requiring integrated risk visibility and security testing signals |
Governance via observability dashboards |
|
Invicti |
DAST automation + proof-based scanning |
Enterprises with large web portfolios and CI/CD workflows |
PCI DSS & ISO 27001 reports |
|
Nessus |
Plugin-based automation |
IT teams focused on network and endpoint security |
Optional policy mapping & reporting |
Now, let us explore each tool and its key features in detail:
FlowForma delivers its vendor risk and automated penetration testing governance through FlowAssure.
FlowAssure Page
FlowAssure brings structure and compliance-ready controls to supplier pen-test reviews with its AI Pen Test Agent, which reads, scores, and classifies penetration testing findings.
From there, FlowAssure triggers the proper approvals, captures evidence, and maintains an end-to-end audit trail within Microsoft 365, ensuring third-party vulnerabilities are handled with full accountability.
It’s built for compliance-heavy organisations that must maintain audit trails under ISO 27001, GDPR, or NHS DSPT and want to keep internal teams aligned without adopting multiple separate security tools for governance.
FlowAssure extends FlowForma into the vendor risk domain, helping organisations manage how supplier penetration test reports, ISO evidence, SOC 2 documentation, and security questionnaires are reviewed, assessed, approved, and tracked. It is not a scanning tool — instead, it governs the processes around penetration testing.
Here are the key features most relevant to automated penetration testing in 2025:
Penn is FlowAssure’s dedicated AI agent for penetration testing evidence. It reads and interprets penetration tests submitted by suppliers, turning raw reports into actionable intelligence.
Penn automatically:
Pen test findings overview
By converting complex penetration test outputs into structured, decision-ready insights, the Pen Test Agent eliminates human error, accelerates review cycles, and ensures that every supplier’s pen-test results are evaluated to the same standard.
This gives organisations a stronger, more defensible way to manage third-party security risks — something traditional automated penetration testing tools don’t offer.
FlowAssure Agents
FlowAssure uses multiple specialised AI agents to review all the different types of security evidence that vendors provide. Each agent focuses on a specific area, so the assessment is complete, accurate, and consistent every time.
These agents ensure a complete, consistent view of supplier security posture beyond just penetration testing.
To support regulatory requirements, FlowAssure includes built-in compliance workflows aligned to frameworks such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS 4.0, GDPR, and NHS DSPT.
When Penn interprets a vendor’s penetration test, findings automatically flow into these governance processes, where they are assigned, tracked, escalated, or approved. This ensures that every risk is managed and closed in a compliant manner, with zero spreadsheet dependency.
FlowAssure’s compliance module
FlowAssure generates complete audit trails showing every action taken on vendor penetration testing evidence, including what Penn flagged, who approved what, which risks were accepted, and how remediation progressed.
FlowAssure operates within Microsoft 365, and as such, all supplier evidence, decisions, and supporting documents remain within the organisation’s controlled environment.
Every review action is time-stamped, attributable, and linked to its corresponding decision, giving audit teams a defensible trail of how third-party penetration testing was handled.
This level of governance and accountability reduces the likelihood of unmanaged supplier risks and provides stronger assurance for frameworks such as ISO 27001, PCI DSS, GDPR, and NHS DSPT. The result is a prevention-driven model where supplier vulnerabilities are governed, tracked, and resolved with full transparency.
FlowForma’s process-based pricing model allows unlimited workflows under a single licence. There are no per-test or per-scan fees, making it a predictable, scalable solution for organisations expanding their penetration testing automation programmes.
FlowForma’s process-based pricing model
This approach makes budgeting easier and eliminates hidden costs that often appear with traditional SaaS pricing models.
FlowForma’s no-code platform is praised for its end-to-end automation capabilities.
From audit-ready documentation to AI-powered workflow creation, the tool ensures business users can create seamless workflows and save time, while still giving IT oversight and governance.
User review from Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
User review from Morley College London
User review from Coinford
Intruder’s Homepage
Intruder provides automated penetration testing and continuous vulnerability monitoring on a single platform. It detects exposures across the internal network and external assets and alerts teams instantly when new CVEs emerge.
Acunetix Homepage
Acunetix is a powerful web and API vulnerability scanner used by DevSecOps teams to secure application environments.
As one of the top automated penetration testing tools, Acunetix helps businesses validate security posture across large web portfolios through consistent web application security testing, including single-page applications.
Homepage of Qualys
Qualys is an enterprise-grade vulnerability management and compliance platform that continuously monitors hybrid environments and cloud infrastructure.
It combines AI-driven risk scoring with deep compliance mapping, making it the best choice for large enterprises requiring compliance-focused penetration testing and ongoing regulatory reporting.
Metaspoilt homepage
Metaspoilt is an open-source framework that enables ethical hackers and red-team professionals to develop and test custom exploits. It’s ideal for organisations needing hands-on validation of vulnerabilities discovered by automated scanners and vulnerability scanning tools.
Terra Security Homepage
Terra Security uses AI to detect business-logic flaws and complex vulnerabilities that traditional scanners miss. Designed for agile teams, it delivers continuous penetration testing with automated compliance reporting.
Astra Pentest Homepage
Astra Pentest combines automated scanning with manual expert validation to deliver accurate, compliance-ready reports. It’s a good choice for SMBs that need guided penetration testing without the cost of a full-time red team or human tester on staff.
New Relic Homepage
New Relic extends its observability platform to include basic security analytics for DevOps teams. It’s not a traditional penetration testing tool, but it helps teams correlate performance, reliability, and security data in real time, contributing to early threat detection and continuous monitoring.
Invicti homepage
Invicti (formerly Netsparker) delivers enterprise-grade Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) with strong CI/CD integration. It’s built for large software teams that need scalable web security testing, with governance controls, and robust application security testing for their web apps.
Nessus’ Homepage
Nessus by Tenable is a long-established vulnerability scanner for network and endpoint assets. It supports IT operations teams that need reliable vulnerability detection and patch verification across large infrastructures and internal network segments.
Features to look for in automated pentesting tools
Here are the key features to look for while exploring automated pentesting tools:
Automated penetration testing tools should use AI to detect known vulnerabilities, CVEs, misconfigurations, and zero-day exploits. AI reduces false positives and highlights the most critical vulnerabilities.
Platforms that include proof-based exploit validation help security professionals confirm which issues are truly exploitable, strengthening compliance reporting and ensuring teams respond faster to real threats.
The best tools run continuously or trigger after code changes, replacing annual point-in-time pen tests with automated testing and continuous assessments. Integrating into DevSecOps pipelines ensures vulnerabilities are detected early.
Penetration testing tools should produce audit-ready outputs aligned with ISO 27001, PCI DSS, GDPR, and NHS DSPT. These frameworks require technical validation and governance proof, including evidence that security flaws are tracked to closure.
FlowForma’s AI Agents capture approvals, evidence, and sign-offs, ensuring every penetration test has an auditable trail.
Strong platforms prioritise risks using business-impact context and provide dashboards that show remediation progress.
Clear reporting helps leadership understand severity and potential operational disruption. Many combine risk prioritisation with trend analysis to identify recurring security testing gaps and validate risk decisions.
As ecosystems grow, integration with Jira, ServiceNow, Power BI, and Microsoft 365 becomes essential. FlowForma’s native Microsoft 365 integration helps bridge IT, security, and compliance teams without creating bloated stacks of point tools.
Most penetration testing automation tools, such as Acunetix, Qualys, and Intruder, identify vulnerabilities but stop there. FlowForma continues the process — automating remediation tracking, approval routing, and audit documentation.
Here are its key features that give organisations complete control and transparency over every testing cycle:
For mid-sized to enterprise UK businesses that must demonstrate continuous regulatory compliance, FlowForma delivers what scanners can’t: a governed, auditable process that connects technical testing with organisational accountability.
Book a personalised demo to see how FlowForma can simplify penetration testing governance and audit readiness.
Most UK organisations run automated tests weekly or after any significant code or infrastructure change. Continuous testing offers stronger control evidence for ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and GDPR audits.
No. Automated tools cover recurring checks and common exposures, while manual pentests uncover deeper logic flaws, chained attacks, and context-specific weaknesses. Most regulated teams use both approaches to maintain complete coverage.
FlowForma links each finding to a governed workflow, assigns owners, logs actions, and captures sign-offs. This ensures every fix has traceable evidence that satisfies internal auditors and external assessors.
Most tools require only basic security knowledge. Teams need to understand asset inventory, risk severity, and approval routing. AI agents handle scanning, prioritisation, and reporting without specialist-level expertise.
FlowForma is ideal when the challenge is workflow control, not detection. If teams struggle with approvals, remediation tracking, or audit evidence, FlowForma provides structured governance that complements scanners already in place.