Selection guide

Understand AI pentesting.

AI pentesting is penetration testing in which agents using an artificial intelligence model choose and execute tests within an authorised scope. Judge the service by its evidence, actual coverage and documented limitations.

By the rootzero team ·

01 Choosing a service

Define the role of AI.

An assistant helping a consultant, a scanner rewriting alerts and an agent conducting tests perform different functions. Ask who chooses actions, who sends requests and how a result becomes a published vulnerability.

AI-powered pentesting here targets an application, its APIs or authorised services. Testing an AI system, such as an assistant connected to internal data, targets risks specific to the model and its integrations. Distinguish these scopes in the proposal.

02 Choosing a service

From authorised scope to evidence.

With SpectrAI, you agree the application and environment, verify the domain, provide accounts, define exclusions and authorise launch. For a private application, a relay reaches only authorised services from your network.

Agents explore accessible workflows and test hypotheses within this scope. Findings are assessed and reports published automatically. Evidence must demonstrate each published finding; the report also records limitations. This verification does not guarantee the absence of false positives or remaining vulnerabilities.

03 Choosing a service

Prepare web and API access.

Document entry points, test accounts, roles, authorised test data and prohibited operations. For multi-tenant SaaS, define test workspaces and expected separation between users and organisations. An accessible API does not automatically expose every business workflow.

The scope distinguishes tested surfaces, areas blocked by missing access and exclusions. Source code, repositories, bare IP addresses, social engineering and physical testing are outside the SpectrAI offer described here.

04 Choosing a service

Examine the deliverable.

For each published vulnerability, expect an affected asset, explained impact, justified severity, reproduction steps and remediation advice. Contextualised requests and responses help developers understand the result. A summary alone does not demonstrate testing depth.

The SpectrAI sample report illustrates a deliverable rather than predicting results for your application. Two retest batches included within sixty days of each report verify requested fixes. They are separate from a new full evaluation.

05 Choosing a service

Choose according to risk.

A time-bounded test cannot demonstrate that an application is secure. Unusual business logic, a critical architecture or a specific requirement may justify specialist human expertise and a separate source code review. Ask the report’s recipient what evidence they require before ordering.

The AI label alone does not establish better coverage, a lower price or guaranteed delivery. Compare proposals with the same scope, access and deliverables. A report does not constitute compliance certification.

06 Choosing a service

Make the offer verifiable.

Before providing access, establish the model provider, shared data, processing locations, retention and stopping controls. A product developed in France does not mean all data remains in France.

  • Who authorises the target, accounts and operations?
  • What evidence accompanies each finding, and how is it assessed?
  • Which surfaces are excluded or might remain untested?
  • Who receives data, and how are secrets handled?
  • Which retests, debrief and terms appear in the proposal?
  • For an MSP: who invoices, supports the client and authorises the engagement?

Common questions

Clarify your choice.

How much does an AI pentest cost?

SpectrAI prices appear in a proposal after scoping. Prepare the application, environment, roles, APIs and constraints. Compare total cost, reporting, debrief and retests.

Can a production application be tested?

Agree the environment and precautions before launch. Define exclusions, test data, accounts and the stopping procedure. Being able to reach a target does not constitute authorisation.

Can a consultancy provide the service under its own brand?

The partner programme includes a customised portal, reports and emails. The firm retains the commercial relationship; client authorisation, scope and evidence provenance remain necessary.

Examine the references.

Published by rootzero, the maker of SpectrAI. These examples describe our offer and are not a market benchmark.

Continue your comparison.

Move from definitions to selection criteria, deliverables and terms.

AI pentest, manual pentest or scanner: how to choose

Scope your next pentest.

Business, MSP or consultancy: describe the application, access and deadline. We agree the proposal with you.