Top 5 Penetration Testing Methodology to Follow in 2025

Any cyber security strategy cannot be effective unless penetration testing is involved in the process. Due to the wide variety of cyber threats these days, organizations are required to stay ahead of susceptibilities, which creates the need for penetration testing. Ethical hacking or penetration testing helps to spot weaknesses in systems, applications, and networks well before malicious suspects get an opportunity to attack. Penetration testing methodologies, based on the modern technology of 2024, are much more holistic, efficient, and secure processes for testing.

This article talks about the top five methodologies in penetration testing for 2025, the need for Penetration Testing services, and how such methods improve cybersecurity.

The Top 5 Penetration Testing Methodology

Here are the leading penetration testing you can follow in the upcoming year 2025

1. OWASP Testing Methodology

The OWASP (Open Source Web Application Project) Testing Methodology is one of the most widely known frameworks used by the penetration testing community. Because it closely aligns with web application security as one of the prime attack surfaces, it received much attention in 2025.

Main features: 

• OWASP Top 10: The OWASP Testing Methodology covers the identification and mitigation of the top 10 vulnerabilities. These include common injection attacks, cross-site scripting (XSS), and security misconfigurations. Companies should fix these common web application vulnerabilities to prevent the leakage or theft of sensitive data.

• Comprehensive testing: This approach prescribes an extensive process for testing a web application, including authenticating, managing sessions, and enforcing access control.

• Risk Assessment: OWASP has developed a severity rating based on risk, ensuring organizations have priority vulnerabilities.

OWASP testing methodology would provide business web applications with maximum assurance and enable them to execute thorough security testing while aligning with industry standards. Numerous penetration testing companies add guidelines that come under OWASP as a form of best practice for execution within the company.

2. PTES: (Penetration Testing Execution Standard)

The Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES) is a structured, comprehensive approach to penetration testing that goes beyond the basic vulnerability scanning technique. It covers numerous environments, from web applications to net tests, and consistently and appropriately tests security in every phase.

These features are key to the communication pre-engagement processes within the team and the penetration testing customer. This interaction will ensure that both teams agree on objectives, scope, and expectations.

Main Features:

• Pre-engagement Interactions: PTES emphasizes the role of communication during the pre-engagement phase between a penetration tester and the client. This helps achieve an understanding between the two parties about the intended objectives, scope, and expectations.

• Information Gathering: PTES will stress a series of valuable activities, including network discovery, vulnerability scanning, and OS fingerprinting, that will guide the assessment of possible vulnerabilities.

• Exploitation and Post-Exploitation: PTES will take a purposive approach to exploiting identified vulnerabilities and will maintain access to the compromised systems for subsequent investigation and analysis.

• Reporting: The methodology, as such, will lead to the final output of a detailed and informative report that will help organizations understand what such vulnerabilities really are and offer suggestions about how to mitigate them. 

PTES is a thorough process for identifying all possible vulnerabilities and ensuring their address. It is very useful for organizations that need an in-depth assessment and actionable remediation strategy.

3. NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology)

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) also provides a cybersecurity framework with more comprehensive cybersecurity standards, including penetration testing. NIST's framework is well known for focusing on a systematic approach to security.

Key Features:

• Security Control Testing: NIST focuses on testing security controls within an organization's infrastructure to ensure that they effectively protect systems from attacks.

• Comprehensive Coverage: The NIST approach includes network security, access control, incident response, and security auditing.

• Documentation and Reporting: Per the NIST findings, detailed documentation of remediation plans will be prepared. This means organizations have defined a direction for securing systems.

• Constant Improvement: NIST includes the continuous cycle of testing, improvement, and validation of security controls, which makes it very appropriate for business requirements and maintains robust practice in continuous cyber security.

This standard gives a thorough, trusted approach to pen test firms for businesses interested in employing such firms that meet internationally recognized standards.

4. OSSTMM (Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual)

The OSSTMM is the most highly regarded penetration testing methodology for security assessment in all domains, from physical to network to operational security. As of 2025, it is still one of the most comprehensive methodologies available for any organization looking to perform a holistic security audit.

• Security Metrics: OSSTMM comes with metrics on how the security is doing, and it provides organizations with a benchmark for measuring performance in comparison with their security posture.

• Security testing throughout the end-to-end level: OSSTMM will test all aspects of the organization's security, from the physical infrastructure to the digital assets, to ensure that no vulnerabilities remain unaccounted for.

• Real-World Scenarios: OSSTMM promotes system testing against real-world attack scenarios, simulating how a malicious actor may target the organization.

• Independence: OSSTMM is independent testing that allows an unbiased assessment of penetration testing based strictly on an organization's security needs.

For businesses that demand a full security audit, penetration testing companies offering an OSSTMM provide all-around approaches to finding vulnerabilities in multiple systems and attack vectors.

5. CREST (Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers)

CREST is a professional qualification body for penetration testing companies and service providers. Its highly respected methodology focuses on quality penetration testing based on trust, which is perfectly suited to organizations that aim for the highest level of assurance over their security.

Key features:

• Extremely rigorous certification program: A penetration tester certified by the CREST is a highly expert professional who adheres to strict ethical guidelines, ensuring a high-standard test.

• Global Reach: The method developed by CREST is adopted globally by security professionals so that any organization can get the best penetration testing services.

• Risk Management: Penetration testing follows risk management while helping the organization understand what vulnerabilities to correct first to minimize the threat in the right order.

• Compliance Assurance: CREST testing is ideal for the finance and healthcare sectors, as it helps organizations adhere to industry standards and regulatory compliance.

Business firms looking for a penetration testing company that can guarantee high-end skills and professionalism will benefit from world-class services provided by CREST-certified teams with insights into security vulnerabilities.

Advantages of Penetration Testing Methodologies

The methodologies of penetration testing offer many benefits that could assist in strengthening an organization's security posture and protecting its assets. With the right method, businesses will have a deep understanding of the vulnerabilities of their systems, providing the most crucial information for remediation. Here are the top benefits of integrating penetration testing methodologies into your security strategy:

1. Proactive Risk Management

Penetration testing has the great advantage of proactive detection of vulnerabilities that a malicious person may use. With a framework such as the OWASP Top 10 or PTES, a business can identify its critical risks. This ensures the security of sensitive data and, therefore, compliance with the respective industry regulations. It keeps a business one step ahead of cybercriminals by reducing the impact that a potential breach could have on it.

2. Cost Effectiveness

Although penetration testing requires a one-time investment in time and money, it can save businesses significant funds in the long run. Organizations that identify flaws early can implement appropriate remedial measures before the faults are exploited, thereby averting the costs of data breaches, revenue loss, and further reputation loss. For example, if a company adopts a NIST methodology, it can effectively direct all available resources toward high-priority security issues, which helps save more money on such tests.

3. Regulatory Compliance

In most sectors, regulatory guidelines such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS are required. Penetration testing techniques make it easy for organizations to ensure the fulfillment of those mandates by their security practices being validated through penetration testing methodologies. A structured framework like CREST, in compliance with recognized global standards, assists organizations operating within regulated segments in achieving regulatory compliance and having a lesser possibility of attracting penalties and legal liabilities.

4. Building Trust and Reputation

It helps an organization show its customers, partners, and stakeholders that it is serious about security. Conducting regular penetration tests and acting on the findings enhances trust in the company's ability to protect sensitive information. This increases the organization's reputation and can be a competitive advantage in industries where trust is paramount.

5. Improved Security Posture

Organizations improve their security posture through system testing and assessment. Penetration test methodologies, such as OSTMM, ensure an all-rounded assessment of security's facets, from network architecture to application and then on to physical security. Thus, businesses are better positioned to identify gaps in their security strategy, allowing for more secure and resilient infrastructure design.

Predictive Analytics: Critical to the Development of Penetration Testing

The adoption of more advanced technologies in business increases the need for predictive analytics in penetration testing. Predictive Analytics services define interventions with machine learning and statistical models used in a manner to foresee potential vulnerabilities and threats before they arise. Connected with the technology, penetration testers can actively monitor trends, recognize areas needing priority testing, and focus on probable targets.

Historically, predictive analytics has modeled attacks likely to occur in the future, taking a proactive stance while ensuring that a business is ready for potential vulnerabilities before they become a threat.

The inclusion of predictive analytics in the process helps expand security competence and addresses emerging issues while working to enhance authenticity and efficaciousness in penetration testing. 

Conclusion

Penetration testing is the basis of any good cybersecurity strategy. Businesses can follow best practices and methodologies like OWASP, PTES, NIST, OSSTMM, and CREST to identify vulnerabilities in their systems against evolving threats proactively. Predictive Analytics services will make penetration testing even more effective at predicting future risks.

At Aress, we understand the essence of comprehensive cybersecurity in modern times. As a penetration testing company, our security features are a priority in both planning and execution. Our team's incorporation of advanced penetration testing methodologies ensures secure, resilient, and protected mobile apps from upcoming threats.

Visit Aress.com for more information on how Aress can assist you with your app development and penetration testing needs. We are committed to providing high-quality, secure, and reliable app development services that suit your business goals.