Do you want to know how much a vulnerability test costs? A lot of companies have trouble finding the money to pay for this important protection step. Most penetration tests cost between $5,000 and $15,000, but they can cost more than $30,000.
This paper breaks down the different types of tests and the things that affect prices. Are you ready to find out how much a pen test costs?
Things that affect the cost of penetration testing
Costs for pen tests depend on a number of important factors. Because of these things, the end price is affected by the test’s reach and depth.
How big and hard the test is
The cost of a vulnerability test depends a lot on how big and complicated it is. It could cost $5,000 to do a quick test of a small network. But it might cost more than $100,000 to do a complicated test on a big machine.
The price is based on the type of devices, the size of the target system, and the number of IP addresses.
Costs also go up because of custom code and tools that aren’t used by anyone else. It takes more time and skill to test these things correctly. Before they can find weak spots, pen testers need to know how the system is put together.
This extra work makes the total cost go up. Projects cost more because they take longer and need more resources as they get more complicated.
The amount of work needed to protect a system is directly related to how complicated it is.
How skilled and well-known the testing company is
Costs for vulnerability testing depend a lot on how skilled and well-known the tester is. The best companies that hire testers who are qualified by CREST, OSCP, OSCE, OSWE, and SANS charge more. When it comes to ethical hacking and safety, these pros are rock stars.
Their skills help find bugs in systems and apps that aren’t obvious.
For simple work, well-known service providers charge $250 to $300 an hour. This rate shows how successful they have been in the past. Clients pay more for teams that have found important bugs in the past.
The next part talks about how rules and the needs of the business affect prices.
Compliance and Requirements Unique to Each Sector
How much vulnerability testing costs is based on compliance rules. New rules like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and GDPR say that security checks must be done every year. These tests make sure that businesses follow the rules for keeping data safe.
Compliance needs are different in each area, which affects the cost of tests.
The cost of cloud security testing varies by business. Because of strict data rules, banks, health care companies, and government bodies often have to pay more. In many fields, testing must be done on a regular basis.
The total cost of security reviews is affected by this constant need.
Support for follow-up testing and cleanup
A very important part of security testing is follow-up testing. It checks to see if the fixes for problems found work well. For most jobs, Blaze Information Security will do one free fix check every 90 days.
This service helps customers make sure that the security changes they made work.
The total cost of a pentest can change if you need help with fixing problems. Depending on the company, this may be part of the deal or cost extra. Most of the time, adding these services makes security better in the long run.
In the next part, we’ll talk about the different ways that security testing can be priced.
To show that your security changes worked, you need to do good follow-up tests.
Testing Pricing Models for Breach
There are different price plans that penetration testing companies use to meet the goals and budgets of their clients. Some of these methods are day packs, hourly bills, and fixed-rate packages. There are pros and cons to each choice.
Want to know which type is best for you? How much does security testing cost? Keep reading to find out more.
Service packages with set prices
A fixed-rate service deal gives you a set list of security testing services at a set cost. These deals give companies a clear, up-front cost that they can use to plan their security spending.
1.Predefined Services: Tests and exams from a list are included in fixed-rate deals. Tests of web apps, network scans, or security checks in the cloud could be listed here.
2.Pricing that is clear: The prices are shown right away. There are no hidden fees, so businesses know exactly how much they’ll pay.
3.Types of Prices: Fixed-rate plans can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $35,000 or more. The price is based on how big and detailed the package is.
4.Saves time: These deals cut down on the time it takes to negotiate. Companies can quickly pick a deal that meets their wants and fits their budget.
5.Standardized Approach: There is a standard way to test fixed-rate options. This makes sure that the quality is the same for all clients.
6.Not much can be changed about these items; they are handy, but they might not meet your specific security needs. It’s possible that some businesses need more detailed tests.
7.A lot of companies use fixed-rate deals to make sure they meet PCI DSS or other security guidelines. Most of the time, these packages include the basic things that are needed by law.
8.Options That Can Grow: Most service companies offer a range of fixed-rate plans. This lets businesses get more protection as they need it.
9.Services Bundled: Some fixed-rate plans come with extra benefits. Some of these could be follow-up tests or simple help with retraining.
10.Perfect for Making Budgets: Since the price is fixed, IT teams can easily include penetration testing in their annual budgets for security.
How to Charge for Time and Materials
A popular way to charge for security testing is through time and materials billing. This method charges clients based on how much time and resources were used during the test.
Rates by the Hour: Reliable service providers charge $250 to $300 an hour for basic services.
- Flexible Scope: This feature lets you change the project’s goals without having to renegotiate a set contract.
- Resource Tracking: The clients pay for the tools and materials that are used in the test.
- Unpredictable Costs: The final costs can be very different depending on how hard the test was and what it found.
- Detailed Billing: Itemized bills show how much time and resources were used for each job.
- Scalability: Good for projects where the full scope of the work isn’t known at the start.
Firms can assign expert pen testers as needed during the project with Expert Allocation.
- Openness: During the testing process, clients can see exactly what they’re paying for.
The client and the tester both take on some of the risk when the project goes over budget or has problems.
- Customization: Allows testing methods to be changed based on new information.
Buys of Day Bundles
When you buy day bundles, you can choose how to pay for penetration testing services. With this plan, businesses can reserve a certain number of testing days ahead of time and pay less for them.
1.Cost savings: When businesses buy day packs, they can save money. A pentest usually costs between $10,000 and $35,000. When you buy in bulk, you can often get a deal.
2.The bundle days can be used at any time by the company. This works well for companies that need to test things regularly but can’t say when exactly.
3.Packages that can be changed: A lot of testers offer a range of deal sizes. A small business might buy a 5-day deal, while a big business might choose 20 or more days.
4.Different kinds of tests: Day packs can include different kinds of tests. Some of these are network, cloud, web, and mobile app pentests.
5.Planning a budget: Buying things ahead of time helps you plan your annual budget. IT teams can set aside money ahead of time for checking security.
6.Quality control: Bundled days don’t mean work has to be done quickly. Testers are still doing thorough checks to find holes in security.
7.Ongoing support: Some bundles come with help with follow-up testing or fixing problems. This is useful after the original pentest.
8.Consistency in the team: Using the same testers over and over again makes things easier. The more often they come, the better they know your processes.
If you want to buy penetration testing services, you can also get fixed-rate service deals.
Combined List of Services
You can be flexible when you buy day bundles, but when you mix services, you get even more value. These deals include a variety of security tests and services to give you the full picture. Here is what you need to know about services that are offered together:
- They use a mix of security tests, such as network, web app, and cloud penetration testing.
- Vulnerability checks and manual testing methods are often included in packages.
- A lot of companies offer both black box and white box tests in the same package.
- Some bundles come with trained cybersecurity experts to help your staff spot threats.
- Some packages come with follow-up tests to see if the fixes worked.
- Companies sometimes offer extras like risk studies or security roadmaps.
- getting bundled services instead of getting each test separately can save you money.
- Businesses can meet many legal needs at the same time with their help.
- Package deals that include both internal and external network tests are common.
- Some packages come with fake threats to see how ready the staff is.
- Bundles may offer ongoing help to fix problems that are found.
What kinds of penetration tests there are and how much they cost
There are different kinds of pen tests. Different types cost different amounts based on what they cover and how deep they go.
What it costs to do web application penetration tests
What it costs to do a web application security test depends on how big and complicated the job is. Here is a list of usual prices:
Type of Test Price Range
$5,000 to $50,000 for a web app
Black Box: $5,000 to $50,000
Grey Box $5,000 to $50,000
Prices depend on things like the size and features of the app. It’s cheaper to try smaller apps. Apps that have a lot of features cost more. Testing time also changes the price. It costs more for longer tests than for short ones. Some companies offer packages that include more than one test. For big jobs, this can help you save cash. When checking for protection, quality is important. Cheap tests might not find flaws that are very important. Tests that work well help find issues quickly and fix them.
How much network penetration tests cost
After checking web applications, we will now talk about how much a network penetration test costs. These tests look at how safe a company’s network system is.
Type of Test Price Range
From $150 to $1,000 per device
$5,000 to $20,000 for external infrastructure
Infrastructure inside the company $7,001 to $35,000.
The costs depend on how big and complicated the network is. It’s cheaper to try smaller networks. It takes more time and money to run networks with more gadgets. This makes the price go up.
There are different ways to price network security tests. Firms sometimes use deals with set prices. Some charge for the time and items they use. A lot of people also use credit-based methods and packages of services.
The cost depends on how in-depth the test is. More in-depth attack simulations cost more than a simple check. It takes more time and skill to do thorough tests. The price goes up because of this.
The skill level of testers also affects the cost. People who are very good at what they do charge more for their services. Most of the time, their experience makes things better. This might make the higher price tag make sense.
Compliance rules can make tests more expensive. Certain fields need certain kinds of security checks. The cost of the test goes up because of these extra steps.
It might cost more for follow-up tests and support services. These help fix problems that have been found. After the first test, they make sure the network stays safe.
Costs of Cloud Penetration Tests
There are different prices for cloud security tests. The price varies on a number of things.
Part Specifics
Tests cost between $5,000 and $50,000.
Price range: $10,000 to $40,000
Costs • The number of cloud services
- Requirements for compliance
- How hard the test is
- Knowledge of the provider
Most tests cost between $10,000 and $35,000.
Cloud vulnerability tests cost a lot of different amounts. It might not cost more than $5,000 for small jobs. Large, hard tests can cost $50,000 or more. Most of them are between $10,000 and $40,000. The price changes based on how many cloud services are tried. Costs can go up when there are strict rules to follow. More time and knowledge are needed to work in complex settings, which drives up costs. People who are very good at what they do usually charge more for their services. A vulnerability test costs between $10,000 and $35,000. This includes many kinds of tests, not just ones that are specific to the cloud.
How Much Does Testing a Mobile App Cost?
The cost of a mobile app security test is generally between $5,000 and $40,000. These prices change based on how many mobile apps you have, what kind of device they run on (like a smartphone or a tablet), and how complicated they are. What the app does, who can use it, and its technology—like whether it uses near field communication (NFC) or works with internet of things (IoT) devices—also affect the price. It may cost more to test apps that deal with private information if they have to follow industry standards like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). Cybersecurity experts use many tools and techniques, such as “black box” tests, to find holes that hackers could use.
And the price changes depending on whether the app is for Android or iOS. This is because security issues may be different for each device. Mobile apps can be attacked by spear-phishing, malware, and people who shouldn’t be able to, so testing needs to cover a lot of ground. A good security tester will check the whole app, from the code to how it sends data over networks. These people test parts of the app by hand as well as with automatic tools to make sure nothing is missed. The goal is to keep IT security high, so this testing helps find and fix issues before hackers can use them to do harm.
What it costs to test SaaS and APIs
The prices of testing SaaS and APIs can change a lot. Most tests cost between $5,000 and $30,000. The price is based on several things. How big the app or API is, how hard the testing is, and who does the work are some of these things. A lot of the time, bigger companies charge more than smaller ones. The cost is also based on the information you need.
It costs more to test APIs than to test SaaS. Most API checks cost between $15,000 and $30,000, but sometimes they cost more. API testing requires more advanced technical skills, which is why it costs more. Next, we’ll talk about what could go wrong if you pick cheap security tests.
How commercial models change the cost of penetration testing
How much companies charge for their security testing services is based on their business methods. People can get better deals when they use existing relationships and group services.
What Existing Supplier Relationships Mean
Costs for security testing can be greatly affected by how well you know your current suppliers. Firms that have worked with testing providers for a long time often get better deals and rates. These links also make it easier to talk to each other and get things done faster.
Business can save cash and get more out of their pen-test spending this way.
When there is a lot of desire for excellent pen testing services, prices tend to go up. But strong ties with suppliers can help fight this trend. Regular clients may be able to get first-choice schedules and deals that are made just for them and their budgets.
This method helps companies keep their security costs low while still getting quality checks.
How the business model affects prices
In addition to the effect of current provider ties, business models also have an effect on the cost of penetration testing. These services can be priced in a number of different ways, including hourly, fixed cost, and contract methods.
Each model changes how companies plan to spend their money on security tests and how they do it. The price of a fixed-cost plan is clear from the start, but the scope of the test may be limited. Retainer models let testing go on all the time, but they need longer obligations.
Hourly coaching gives you more freedom, but it can cost more for bigger tasks.
Both the client’s budget and the testing firm’s method are affected by the plan that is picked. Prices go up for some types because of high demand in the market and a lack of testers. Costs can go up in any price system when specialized skills and advanced tools are used.
Black box testing, which acts like an attack in the real world, usually costs around $4,000 to $15,000. When choosing a paid plan for penetration testing, businesses need to think about how much protection they need and how much money they have.
Why picking cheap penetration tests is not a good idea
You might miss important security holes in your systems with cheap penetration tests. Most of the time, these cheap choices don’t have the skill and knowledge to find real problems.
There are risks and long-term effects.
A lot of the time, cheap penetration tests miss important security holes. They depend too much on automatic scans and use old tools. This lets people get into your network. Hackers can take advantage of these missed weak spots, which can cause data breaches and cost businesses money.
In the long run, quality checking will save you money and protect your business. It finds even more holes in security and helps stop expensive cyberattacks. Modern tools are used by good testers to find complicated threats.
This thorough method protects your assets and image better than choices that aren’t as thorough.
In conclusion
There are many things that affect how much penetration testing costs. Companies that are smart know how important it is to have good security checks. They pick tests that are good for them and don’t cost too much. Key risks are often missed by cheap choices.
In the long run, spending money on good tests saves money and keeps data safe. When companies pick a security testing service, they should think about all of the pros and cons.