Don’t Settle for the Tradeoff

Security teams are caught between depth and breadth. 

Manual pentests deliver pinpoint accuracy on what’s truly exploitable, but they’re time-consuming, narrow in scope, and too rare to keep up. On the flip side, traditional vulnerability management and BAS tools scan broadly but overwhelm teams with unvalidated alerts and noise.

NodeZero® breaks the cycle giving you the depth of a pentest and the breadth of a scanner, proving real risk in your live environment continuously. 

  • No agents. 
  • No complexity. 
  • Just answers that matter.

How NodeZero compares.

Capability / Method
NodeZero Platform
Vulnerability Scanners
Manual Pentests
BAS Tools
Proof of Exploitation
NodeZero: Yes — verifiable evidence of real exploitation
Vulnerability Scanners: No — identifies potential CVEs
Manual Pentests: Sometimes — screenshots or logs
BAS Tools: No — simulated payloads only
Exploit Chain Discovery
NodeZero: Yes — chains real TTPs to show full attack paths
Vulnerability Scanners: No — reports isolated issues
Manual Pentests: Sometimes — depends on skill
BAS Tools: No — runs atomic simulations
High‑Value Targeting
NodeZero: Auto‑discovers and tests access to crown jewels
Vulnerability Scanners: No crown‑jewel awareness
Manual Pentests: Requires manual tagging
BAS Tools: Static objectives only
Advanced Data Pilfering
NodeZero: Finds exposed credentials and sensitive data
Vulnerability Scanners: No business data validation
Manual Pentests: May uncover if specifically scoped
BAS Tools: Not part of core test set
Endpoint Security Effectiveness
NodeZero: Proves whether EDRs detect or block real attacks
Vulnerability Scanners: Alerts only, no validation
Manual Pentests: Rarely tested
BAS Tools: Simulates endpoint events
Deception & Precision Detection
NodeZero: Built-in Tripwires detect live lateral movement
Vulnerability Scanners: Not supported
Manual Pentests: Not typically included
BAS Tools: Simulated triggers only
Threat Actor Mapping
NodeZero: Maps findings to real adversary behaviors
Vulnerability Scanners: No TTP alignment
Manual Pentests: Depends on analyst interpretation
BAS Tools: High‑level MITRE mapping
Rapid Response & KEV Coverage
NodeZero: RR integrates exploitable KEVs within hours
Vulnerability Scanners: Lists KEVs, no actionability
Manual Pentests: Depends on researcher turnaround
BAS Tools: Delayed or manual integration
Revalidation of Fixes
NodeZero: One‑click retest and verification
Vulnerability Scanners: Manual rescan required
Manual Pentests: Requires new engagement
BAS Tools: Not built for retesting
Tests in Production
NodeZero: Yes — live, real attacks, safely executed
Vulnerability Scanners: Yes — passive scans, detection only
Manual Pentests: Rarely — mostly pre-prod
BAS Tools: No — uses sandbox/testbeds
Environment Coverage
NodeZero: Full stack: cloud, hybrid, on‑prem
Vulnerability Scanners: Primarily on‑prem and known assets
Manual Pentests: Scoped per contract
BAS Tools: Often limited to simulated scenarios
Speed to Insight
NodeZero: Hours — fast, autonomous, low setup
Vulnerability Scanners: Hours to days (scan time only)
Manual Pentests: Weeks to complete and report
BAS Tools: Days to configure and interpret
Scalability
NodeZero: Unlimited tests, concurrent and repeatable.
Vulnerability Scanners: Scales with alerts, not accuracy
Manual Pentests: Limited by human resources
BAS Tools: Limited by test coverage
Workflow Integration
NodeZero: Native API, platform-native workflows
Vulnerability Scanners: Basic export to SIEM/ITSM
Manual Pentests: Offline reports only
BAS Tools: Some integrations, limited feedback
Control Validation
NodeZero: Validates IAM, EDR, SOC response, and more
Vulnerability Scanners: No — doesn’t validate security tools
Manual Pentests: Sometimes
BAS Tools: Scenario-based at best
Vulnerability Management Hub
NodeZero: Centralizes exploitable vulns, fixes, and impact
Vulnerability Scanners: Long lists, no context
Manual Pentests: Inconsistent tracking
BAS Tools: Not designed for VM
Executive Value
NodeZero: Clear, real-world risk for C-suite and board
Vulnerability Scanners: Technical noise, low signal
Manual Pentests: Depends on quality of findings
BAS Tools: Simulated risk, hard to explain
Cost Efficiency
NodeZero: Continuous validation at lower cost
Vulnerability Scanners: Low cost, high alert fatigue
Manual Pentests: Expensive, point in time
BAS Tools: Platform + tuning overhead
Unique Capability
NodeZero: Drops NodeZero Tripwires™, detects real movement
Vulnerability Scanners: Lists CVEs and misconfigs
Manual Pentests: Emulates attacker with expertise
BAS Tools: Replays attacker techniques
Next‑Gen Command & Control (MCP)
NodeZero: MCP Server enables natural language execution
Vulnerability Scanners: Not supported
Manual Pentests: Requires expert CLI or tooling
BAS Tools: Pre-scripted or dashboard-only

Why teams choose NodeZero.

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Proof, Not Guesswork

NodeZero delivers proof of exploitability across exposures—so you can stop chasing false positives and start fixing what matters.

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Fast Time to Value

Deploy in minutes. No agents, no credentials, no integrations. Start finding exploitable paths before your next coffee break.

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Continuous Testing at Scale

Why wait for annual or quarterly assessments? NodeZero runs autonomously and in-production—giving you a comprehensive understanding of how attackers view your environment.

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Cost Reduction

Some of our customers haven’t paid for a vulnerability scanner in years because NodeZero is helping uncover what truly matters. Start reducing or completely eliminate spend on noisy, surface-level scanners.

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Prioritize by Impact, Not CVE Score

NodeZero highlights what attackers would actually exploit in your environment, not a generic baseline score. Shift from “failing to fix everything” to “fixing what matters.”

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Empowers the Whole Team

From IT to Blue Teams, from Red Teams to MSSPs, NodeZero provides clear, actionable insights, so everyone can act with confidence and urgency.

Ready to see why thousands trust NodeZero?

Your current tools might be showing you risks. But are they showing you what’s exploitable right now?

Don’t just take our word for it — see the difference for yourself.

Let us show you how NodeZero:

  • Reveals what attackers would exploit today
  • Help you prioritize what actually matters
  • Verify every fix, instantly

Book your demo today.