For fintechs, security testing often starts and ends with automated vulnerability scans. These tools are essential, but on their own, they can give a false sense of security. Regulators, auditors, and partners expect more than lists of exposed ports or outdated patches. They want assurance that your defences hold up against real-world attacks.
Automated scans continuously sweep your systems for known weaknesses — misconfigurations, missing patches, outdated software. They’re fast, scalable, and critical for day-to-day hygiene. But scanners only check what they’re programmed to detect. They can’t tell you how an attacker would chain those weaknesses together, or whether your team could spot and stop an exploit in progress.
Penetration testing: The trust layer
A penetration test goes beyond automation. Expert testers think like attackers, probing your environment to uncover hidden risks and demonstrating how vulnerabilities could be exploited. This process validates both your technology and your team’s response capabilities.
For fintechs, where trust equals business value, pen tests provide credibility:
- For regulators: Demonstrates resilience under DORA and NIS2.
- For partners: Proves you can safeguard shared data and systems.
- For investors: Signals mature security practices and reduced operational risk.
Scans + Tests = Resilience
It’s not an either/or. Vulnerability scans keep you continuously aware, while penetration tests deliver the human insight that automation can’t replicate. Together, they ensure both coverage and credibility.
Why it matters now
In the EU, regulatory frameworks increasingly require regular testing — not just automated scans, but proportionate exercises including penetration testing and, in some cases, red teaming. Fintechs that only rely on automated tools risk falling short of compliance and trust expectations.
The takeaway: Vulnerability scans keep you clean, but pen tests prove you’re resilient. For fintechs navigating strict EU regulations, combining both is the path to security — and lasting trust.
