Compare
How Kayvrn compares to the alternatives
Regular automated security monitoring versus penetration testing, vulnerability scanners, free DNS tools, and manual audits.
| Feature |  Kayvrn | Penetration test | Vulnerability scanner | DNS / email tools | Manual audit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No installation or agents needed | |||||
| No credentials or system access needed | |||||
| Results within 30 minutes | |||||
| Regular weekly monitoring | |||||
| Email security checks (DMARC/SPF/DKIM) | |||||
| Subdomain discovery & takeover detection | |||||
| Web application vulnerability testing | |||||
| Cloud storage exposure detection | |||||
| Staff email breach monitoring (10 emails/domain, weekly) | |||||
| CVE / KVE alert when new vulnerability published | |||||
| Prioritised, plain-English action plan | |||||
| Downloadable PDF report | |||||
| Automated alerts on new findings | |||||
| Price accessible to small businesses | |||||
| Historical scan comparison |
Understanding the alternatives
Penetration testing
A manual, hands-on assessment by a security professional. Deep, creative, and valuable — but it costs £3,000–£30,000 per engagement, takes 2–4 weeks to deliver results, and is typically done once or twice a year. It tells you what was wrong at the time of the test, not what's wrong today.
Internal vulnerability scanners
Internal scanner tools scan from inside your network outward. They require installation, access credentials, and ongoing management. Powerful for internal infrastructure, but they don't see what an external attacker sees before gaining any access.
Free DNS and email tools
Free online DNS and email tools check specific, narrow things — DNS records, email configuration, blacklists. They're excellent for spot-checking, but they check one thing at a time and provide no regular monitoring, no vulnerability detection, and no overall security posture score.
Manual security audits
A consultant reviews your systems, configuration, and code. Thorough and detailed, but expensive, slow, and a point-in-time assessment. The configuration you had when the audit was done isn't necessarily the configuration you have six months later.