Security audits that find the vulnerabilities before an attacker does.
Hoop Interactive runs OWASP-based vulnerability scanning and manual penetration testing on your website, web app, or API — then delivers a clear report ranking every finding by real business risk.
What is a website security audit?
A website security audit is a systematic review of a website, web application, or API to find vulnerabilities an attacker could exploit — before that attacker finds them first. An auditor examines code, server configuration, authentication, and third-party components, using both automated tools and manual testing, then documents each weakness with a severity rating and a specific fix.
Not every security audit tests at the same depth. A vulnerability scan runs automated tools that flag known weaknesses fast and cheap, but misses business logic flaws no scanner recognizes. A penetration test adds a human tester who actively tries to exploit what the scan finds, chaining vulnerabilities together the way a real attacker would. Compliance frameworks such as PCI DSS specifically require the manual depth of a penetration test, not just a scan.
- Severity-rated
- Findings ranked by business risk, not just technical score.
- Free retest
- Every fix independently verified before sign-off.
- Third-party covered
- Plugins and libraries audited, not just your own code.
- Compliance-ready
- Evidence formatted for PCI DSS, SOC 2, HIPAA, ISO 27001.
Scan, penetration test, or full audit?
Three depths of assessment — and the situation each one is genuinely for.
| Assessment type | What it does | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Vulnerability scan | Automated tools flag known weaknesses against a signature database. | Fast, low-cost baseline checks and frequent monitoring. |
| Penetration test | A human tester manually attempts to exploit vulnerabilities, including business logic flaws. | Compliance requirements and any application handling sensitive data. |
| Full security audit | Penetration testing plus configuration review, malware checks, and compliance documentation. | Regulated industries and enterprise-scale platforms. |
Where automated testing stops working.
What a scanner structurally cannot find, and how to pick the right depth for your risk.
Why an automated scan alone isn't enough
Automated scanners are excellent at finding known vulnerability signatures and terrible at understanding what your application's business logic actually allows. A scanner won't notice that a discount code field lets a user apply the same coupon unlimited times, or that an API endpoint leaks another customer's data with a modified request. Manual testing is where those findings come from.
Scan vs. pentest: which do you need?
Start with a vulnerability scan if you need a fast baseline or run frequent, low-cost checks between deeper audits. Get a full penetration test if you handle sensitive customer data, process payments, or need to satisfy a compliance requirement.
Why invest in a security audit?
A vulnerability found and fixed in an audit costs a fraction of what the same vulnerability costs once an attacker finds it first.
Finds weaknesses first
Exploitable gaps surface in a test, not in a breach notification.
Satisfies compliance
PCI DSS, SOC 2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 requirements covered with evidence.
Protects customer trust
Brand reputation stays intact instead of recovering from a public breach.
Covers third-party risk
Outdated plugins and libraries audited alongside your own code.
A prioritized fix list
Your developers get actionable steps ranked by real business risk.
Cheaper than incident response
Planned remediation costs a fraction of emergency response.
Website security services we offer.
We scope the engagement around your platform and risk profile, not a fixed checklist.
Vulnerability scanning
Automated scanning against known vulnerability signatures across your site, server, and APIs.
Manual penetration testing
Human-led testing that exploits findings, including business logic flaws automated tools miss.
Malware & compromise investigation
Identifying the source of a breach on an already-compromised site and removing malicious code.
Configuration & server hardening review
Checking SSL/TLS configuration, security headers, and server settings against best practices.
Compliance-driven audits
Testing and documentation aligned to PCI DSS, SOC 2, HIPAA, or ISO 27001 requirements.
Ongoing security monitoring
Periodic re-scanning and monitoring between full audits, catching new vulnerabilities as they emerge.
Signs you need a security audit.
Four situations send most founders and IT leads to us for security audit work.
- 01
You handle sensitive customer data
Payment details, health records, or personal data flow through your application without a recent audit.
- 02
A compliance deadline is approaching
PCI DSS, SOC 2, or another framework requires a documented security assessment you don't have yet.
- 03
Your site has never been audited
The application launched and grew without a single independent security review.
- 04
Something already looks compromised
Unexpected redirects, unfamiliar admin accounts, or flagged malware signal a possible active breach.
Common security audit mistakes we help you avoid.
These five mistakes account for most of the breaches we get called in to investigate after the fact.
Relying only on automated scans
CriticalScanners find known signatures and miss business logic flaws entirely. We pair every scan with human-led exploitation testing.
Treating "passed compliance" as "secure"
HighA narrowly scoped audit can satisfy an auditor's checklist while leaving real gaps open. We test for actual risk, not just the compliance minimum.
Skipping the retest after fixes
CriticalAssuming a fix worked without verification leaves vulnerabilities that look closed but aren't. We retest every finding before sign-off.
Ignoring third-party and plugin risk
HighOutdated plugins and libraries are common entry points attackers target directly. We audit third-party components, not just your own code.
Treating one audit as permanent
MediumNew vulnerabilities emerge constantly, and last year's clean audit doesn't cover this year's threats. We recommend periodic re-testing, not a one-and-done.
How we audit your website.
Six stages, from first call to a verified, closed-out report. We work in weekly sprints with a status update every Friday.
Discovery & scope definition
We define what's in scope — gray-box, black-box, or white-box testing — and any compliance requirements to meet.
1–2 weeks · DiscoveryAutomated vulnerability scanning
We run scanning tools across the application, server, and APIs to establish a baseline of known issues.
3–5 days · ScanningManual penetration testing
A human tester actively attempts to exploit findings, including business logic and chained vulnerabilities.
1–4 weeks · TestingFindings report & risk rating
We document every finding with severity, business impact, and a specific remediation step.
3–5 days · ReportingRemediation support
We help your team fix each vulnerability, either as part of the engagement or a follow-on project.
1–4 weeks · RemediationRetest & sign-off
We independently verify each fix closes the vulnerability before issuing final sign-off.
3–5 days · RetestSecurity audit cost and timeline.
Three factors drive the price: testing depth, application complexity, and compliance requirements. Remediation development, if not included, is quoted once findings are known.
- Investment
- $2,000–$8,000
- Timeline
- 1–2 weeks
- Method
- Automated + light manual
- Scope
- Single application
- Delivery
- Severity-rated report
- Investment
- $8,000–$25,000
- Timeline
- 2–4 weeks
- Method
- Human-led exploitation
- Coverage
- Business logic flaws
- Included
- Free retest
- Investment
- $25,000–$75,000+
- Timeline
- 4–8 weeks
- Scope
- Multi-app or infrastructure
- Delivery
- Formal audit evidence
- Frameworks
- PCI DSS · SOC 2 · HIPAA
The tools behind your audit.
Industry-standard tools, backed by manual testing that automation alone can't replace.
OWASP ZAP
Burp SuiteWays to work with us.
Pick the model that fits your risk profile and timeline. All include a full report and free retest.
Fixed-Scope Audit
A defined testing scope, timeline, and price agreed before we start. You know the exact cost up front.
Best for fixed budgetsAudit + Remediation
Our security and development teams working together, from testing through fixing every finding.
Best for end-to-end closureCompliance Engagement
Testing and documentation scoped specifically to satisfy a compliance framework's requirements.
Best for audits and reviewsOngoing Monitoring Retainer
Periodic re-scanning and monitoring between full audits, billed monthly.
Best for continuous coverageEvery security audit comes complete.
No hidden gaps. Each engagement includes everything you need to close the vulnerabilities found.
- Scope definition
- A clear plan for what gets tested and how deeply.
- Vulnerability scanning
- Automated coverage across your application and infrastructure.
- Manual penetration testing
- Human-led exploitation testing, not just a scanner report.
- Severity-rated findings
- Every issue ranked by real business risk, not just technical severity.
- Remediation guidance
- Specific, actionable steps to fix each vulnerability found.
- Compliance documentation
- Evidence formatted for PCI DSS, SOC 2, or other frameworks when needed.
- Free retest
- Independent verification that fixes actually closed each issue.
- Written final report
- A clear, documented record you own outright.
Security audits we deliver across every sector.
The process stays the same. The compliance requirements change by industry.
Ecommerce & Retail
PCI DSS-aligned testing for payment and checkout flows.
Fintech
Transaction and authentication testing built for regulatory scrutiny.
Healthcare
HIPAA-aligned audits for patient portals and health data systems.
SaaS & Startups
SOC 2-focused testing to satisfy enterprise customer security reviews.
Professional Services
Client data protection audits for law, consulting, and agencies.
Education
Student data protection audits for portals and enrollment systems.
Nonprofits
Donor data protection audits scoped to nonprofit budgets.
Enterprise IT
Multi-application audits across large, complex platforms.
Explore more software services.
Website security audit is one of four services we cover under Security, QA & Maintenance.
Cybersecurity Services
The full security service this sits under.
ExploreQA Testing
Functional, automated, and regression testing before release.
ExploreSoftware Maintenance
Patching, updates, and support after launch.
ExploreTechnical Support
Ongoing help desk and issue resolution for live systems.
Cloud Infrastructure Setup
Secure environments with least-privilege access from day one.
ExplorePayment Gateway Integration
PCI-aware checkout, the most audited path in most products.
ExploreCustom Software
Bespoke builds, MVPs & enterprise systems.
ExploreEnterprise Software Development
Multi-department platforms with audit logging built in.
ExploreWebsite security audit questions
The questions founders and IT leads ask us most before starting a security audit.
A vulnerability scan is an automated tool that lists known weaknesses — fast and inexpensive but shallow. A penetration test adds manual exploitation by a human tester, uncovering business logic flaws and chained vulnerabilities that automated scans miss entirely.
A website security audit costs $2,000 to $75,000 or more, depending on scope and depth. A vulnerability scan or basic audit costs $2,000 to $8,000, a manual web application penetration test costs $8,000 to $25,000, and a compliance-driven or enterprise audit costs $25,000 to $75,000 or more.
A security audit takes 1 to 8 weeks or more. A vulnerability scan or basic audit takes 1 to 2 weeks, a manual penetration test takes 2 to 4 weeks, and a compliance-driven or enterprise audit takes 4 to 8 weeks or longer.
Yes. We test against the OWASP Top 10, covering injection attacks, broken authentication, cross-site scripting, and the other categories that account for most real-world web application breaches.
Yes. Every audit produces a written report listing each vulnerability found, its severity, the business risk it represents, and specific remediation steps — not just a raw scanner output.
Yes. We offer remediation support to fix the vulnerabilities identified in the audit, either as part of the engagement or as a separate follow-on project.
Yes. We offer gray-box testing, where we receive credentials and basic context, black-box testing, where we test with no inside knowledge, and white-box testing with full source code access, matched to what your engagement needs.
Yes, for most compliance frameworks handling sensitive data. PCI DSS requires annual penetration testing of the cardholder data environment, and SOC 2, HIPAA, and ISO 27001 audits commonly require a security assessment as supporting evidence.
Yes. We include a retest period to independently verify that fixes actually closed each vulnerability, rather than taking a developer's word that it's resolved.
Yes. We investigate compromised sites to identify the source of the breach, remove malicious code, and close the vulnerability that let the attacker in.
Yes. We sign an NDA before the discovery call, before you share any system or business details with us.
Yes. We offer ongoing monitoring and periodic re-scanning retainers, since new vulnerabilities emerge continuously and a one-time audit only reflects a single point in time.