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Compliance Penetration Testing Eight Frameworks, One Engagement

Penva Security delivers penetration testing aligned to the eight compliance frameworks that matter most to Australian businesses. ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS v4.0.1, APRA CPS 234, Essential Eight, IRAP/ISM, HIPAA, and GDPR / Privacy Act.

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  • CREST-Certified
  • Audit-Ready Reports
  • Multi-Framework Single Test
AT-A-GLANCE Audit-ready

Audit-readiness snapshot

A compact summary of the audit driver, typical scope, reporting outputs, and retest evidence.

ISO 27001 Annex A.8.8 / A.8.29
SOC 2 CC7.1
PCI DSS v4.0.1 Requirement 11.4
APRA CPS 234 Paragraphs 27–28
Essential Eight MLO-ML3 maturity
IRAP / ISM AU Gov supply-chain
HIPAA §164.308 evaluation
GDPR / Privacy Act Article 32 / APP 11

What "compliance penetration testing" actually means

Compliance penetration testing is regular penetration testing with reporting structured for a specific audit framework. The methodology (OWASP WSTG v4.2, PTES, NIST SP 800-115) is identical regardless of framework. What changes is the report – citing the right paragraphs, mapping findings to control objectives, formatting attestation letters for the specific auditor.

What "compliance penetration testing" actually means

Compliance penetration testing is regular penetration testing with reporting structured for a specific audit framework. The methodology (OWASP WSTG v4.2, PTES, NIST SP 800-115) is identical regardless of framework. What changes is the report – citing the right paragraphs, mapping findings to control objectives, formatting attestation letters for the specific auditor.

A single Penva Security engagement typically satisfies 2-4 frameworks simultaneously. Australian SaaS commonly bundle SOC 2 + ISO 27001 in one test. Australian FinTech commonly bundle APRA CPS 234 + PCI DSS + SOC 2. HealthTech typically bundle Privacy Act + HIPAA + ISO 27001. The testing is the same; the deliverable is engineered per framework.

The eight frameworks below are the ones that matter most to Australian buyers. Click any framework card to access the dedicated page covering scope, evidence requirements, paragraphs/requirements specifically addressing pentesting, and FAQs specific to that framework.

Certified & aligned with

Compliance Evidence Penva Security Supports

Recognised frameworks and audit-ready evidence structures used across Penva Security engagements.

CR CREST
CR
OS OSCP
OS
OW OWASP
OW
Eight Frameworks

Compliance Frameworks Penva Security Aligns To

Each framework has its own dedicated page covering scope, evidence requirements, and engagement structure. Three Australian-specific (APRA, Essential Eight, IRAP), three global (ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS), one US (HIPAA), one EU + AU (GDPR / Privacy Act).

GLOBAL 01

ISO 27001

Annex A.8.8 / A.8.29

Annex A.8.8 (vulnerability management) and A.8.29 (security testing during development) reference penetration testing as required evidence for certification and surveillance audits.

View framework page ➜
GLOBAL 02

SOC 2

CC7.1

Trust Services Criterion CC7.1 specifically addresses penetration testing evidence. The most common compliance driver for Australian SaaS selling into US enterprise customers.

View framework page ➜
GLOBAL 03

PCI DSS v4.0.1

Requirement 11.4

Requirement 11.4 mandates penetration testing of the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE) by qualified internal resource or external third party. v4.0.1 is the current standard.

View framework page ➜
GLOBAL 04

APRA CPS 234

Paragraphs 27-28

Paragraphs 27-28 mandate ‘systematic testing’ of information security controls. Applies to ADIs, insurers, and superannuation funds regulated by APRA in Australia.

View framework page ➜
GLOBAL 05

Essential Eight

ML0-ML3 maturity

ACSC’s prioritised mitigation strategies with maturity levels ML0-ML3. Increasingly a procurement criterion for Australian Government supply-chain engagements.

View framework page ➜
GLOBAL 06

IRAP / ISM

AU Gov supply-chain

The Australian Signals Directorate’s IRAP program and ISM are the basis for Australian Government cloud and ICT services certification. IRAP-aligned testing for AU Gov supply chain.

View framework page ➜
GLOBAL 07

HIPAA

§164.308 evaluation

Security Rule §164.308 evaluation requirements. Relevant for Australian HealthTech vendors serving US covered entities as business associates – tested alongside Privacy Act.

View framework page ➜
GLOBAL 08

GDPR / Privacy Act

Article 32 / APP 11

GDPR Article 32 ‘security of processing’ and Privacy Act APP 11 ‘reasonable steps’ both reference security testing. Penva Security engagements satisfy both standards.

View framework page ➜
Cross-Framework Overlap

Common Requirements Across the Eight

Where the frameworks overlap – the requirements that appear in multiple frameworks simultaneously. This is why a single engagement can satisfy 2-4 frameworks.

Common Requirement Coverage of 8
REQUIREMENT 01 OF 10
Written remediation plan
8
Frameworks
/8
ISO 27001
SOC 2
PCI DSS
APRA CPS 234
Essential Eight
IRAP / ISM
HIPAA
GDPR / Privacy
Where It Appears
All eight – the deliverable format differs but a remediation roadmap is universally expected.
Cross-Framework Overlap

Common Requirements Across the Eight

Where the frameworks overlap – the requirements that appear in multiple frameworks simultaneously. This is why a single engagement can satisfy 2-4 frameworks.

SCENARIO 01
Selling into US enterprise customers
TYPICALLY REQUIRES
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FAQ

Compliance Pentest — Common Questions

Direct answers to the questions buyers ask when scoping a compliance-aligned pentest. Updated May 2026.

Why is compliance penetration testing different from regular penetration testing?
Methodologically, the testing itself is identical – OWASP WSTG v4.2, PTES, NIST SP 800-115. What’s different is the reporting format, methodology citations, and attestation language. A compliance-aligned pentest report includes specific framework citations (ISO 27001 Annex A.8.8, SOC 2 CC7.1, PCI DSS Req 11.4, etc.), maps findings to relevant control objectives, and produces an attestation letter formatted for the specific audit type. The testing is the same; the deliverable is engineered for the auditor.
Which framework should I prioritise if I'm only going to do one?
Depends entirely on your buyer and your geography. For Australian SaaS selling internationally: SOC 2 Type II. For Australian regulated entities (ADIs, insurers, super): APRA CPS 234. For payment processors: PCI DSS. For Australian Government supply-chain: Essential Eight ML2 minimum. For HealthTech: Privacy Act + HIPAA if US-adjacent. For most growing AU businesses, ISO 27001 is the broadest foundation that opens doors across many specific audits – it’s our most common starting recommendation when buyers don’t have a single specific compliance driver.
Can one pentest engagement satisfy multiple frameworks simultaneously?
Yes – and this is the normal pattern, not the exception. A single Penva Security engagement typically produces evidence accepted by 2-4 different frameworks. The most common combinations: SOC 2 + ISO 27001 (SaaS), APRA CPS 234 + PCI DSS (FinTech), HIPAA + Privacy Act (HealthTech). The testing methodology is shared; the report is structured to address each framework’s specific evidence requirements. This is significantly more cost-effective than running parallel engagements per framework.
What's the difference between an Australian framework like APRA CPS 234 and a global one like SOC 2?
Three meaningful differences. (1) APRA CPS 234 is regulatory (legally binding for APRA-regulated entities) while SOC 2 is market-driven (required by US enterprise procurement but not legally mandated). (2) APRA CPS 234 has a paragraph 36 reporting obligation to APRA itself; SOC 2 reports are circulated to your customers’ procurement teams. (3) APRA CPS 234 mandates tripartite review (the regulated entity, the service provider, and APRA); SOC 2 is between you and your AICPA-registered auditor. Otherwise, the testing methodology is identical.
Do I need a different pentest team for each framework?
No. CREST-certified Australian pentesters can test against all eight frameworks listed here. What varies is the report structure and methodology citations – those are deliverable formatting, not testing capability. Penva Security delivers all eight framework alignments using the same tester team and same methodology, with framework-specific report formats per engagement requirement.
What's the typical compliance pentest cost in Australia?
Compliance pentests don’t cost more than non-compliance pentests at Penva Security – the methodology is the same. Standard pricing: AUD $2,500 (small scope, single framework) to $40,000+ (large multi-framework engagement). Most compliance engagements land at $7,500-$25,000 for the testing itself, with reporting variations adding minimal cost. See our cost page for detailed pricing across scope sizes.
Which framework is most common for Penva Security engagements?
Three frameworks dominate Australian pentest demand: SOC 2 Type II (Australian SaaS selling into US enterprise), ISO 27001 (broad-base credential for international credibility), and APRA CPS 234 (Australian financial services). Together these account for the majority of our annual engagement volume. PCI DSS, Essential Eight, IRAP/ISM, HIPAA, and GDPR/Privacy Act engagements are common but represent smaller proportions individually.
Does Penva Security help with the broader compliance work or just the pentest?
Just the pentest – it’s our specialty. The pentest is one input among many in a compliance program (alongside policy work, risk assessment, control implementation, employee training, audit preparation). For the broader compliance program, we work alongside Australian GRC consultancies, IRAP-aligned advisors, and SOC 2/ISO 27001-specific compliance firms – all of whom we can recommend during scoping if you need an introduction.
Is the new URL structure (/compliance-penetration-testing/) different from the old one (/penetration-testing/)?
Yes. As Penva Security’s content has grown, we restructured compliance-aligned content under /compliance-penetration-testing/ to make the URL hierarchy clearer. The 8 framework pages are progressively migrating to the new URL structure. Both URL patterns remain accessible during migration; new internal links from other Penva Security content point to the new structure.
Where do I find the per-framework testing details?
Each of the 8 frameworks has its own dedicated page covering: what the framework requires, which paragraphs/requirements specifically address pentesting, what evidence auditors expect, typical Penva Security engagement scope, and FAQs specific to that framework. Click any framework card above to access the dedicated page.
Next step

Not Sure Which Frameworks Apply to You?

Book a free 30-minute scoping call. We’ll map your situation to the right framework(s) and return a fixed-price quote within 24 hours. Most engagements satisfy 2-4 frameworks in a single test.

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