Penetration testing is a crucial investment in your organisation's cybersecurity, but understanding the associated costs can be challenging. While there's no one-size-fits-all price tag, several key factors determine the investment required to thoroughly assess your security posture. This guide breaks down what influences penetration testing costs and helps you make an informed decision for your business.
What is the average penetration testing cost?
The average penetration testing cost can vary significantly depending on the specific requirements of an organisation. The level of penetration testing needed to conduct a thorough evaluation of your organisation's security, and effectively identify potential security vulnerabilities, will vary between businesses, influenced by several factors. For instance, a larger organisation with numerous assets should anticipate a considerably higher expense compared to a start-up.
A penetration testing company will likely opt to bill at a flat, daily rate. Although knowing an upfront cost for a penetration test without any prerequisites might seem advantageous for organisations, it often results in overspending.
OnSecurity chooses to charge clients on an hourly basis for their penetration testing services, due to our unique “real time reporting” feature. Unlike traditional vendors, we provide actionable insights and vulnerability findings while we test your networks, giving you live insights into your security posture and minimising the risk window.
This approach, paired with our hourly billing, reduces spend by removing the need for a lengthy PDF-report to be compiled post-test. Our hourly billing and real-time insights into your security posture minimise spending and risk by eliminating the need for lengthy post-test reports. We provide actionable insights and vulnerability findings as we test your networks, unlike traditional vendors.
We offer an instant pentest quote that’s calculated based on the type of pen test and a few simple questions about your needs.
What factors influence the cost of penetration testing?
Several factors will influence the cost of your penetration test. These can range from the scope of the test itself to how long (or how many hours) the pentest will take to complete. Let's delve into some of the primary factors that can impact the cost of a penetration test.
Scope of the test
The "scope" of the test refers to part of the preliminary stages of pentesting, whereby a pentesting team will assess the size and complexity of the test based on your organisation's assets, as well as how long they believe it will take to complete. In this period, they will also review any possible constraints, considering the budget necessary to provide nuanced insights into your security posture.
Different organisations handle scoping in various ways. For instance, OnSecurity's platform offers a quick and efficient scoping process by allowing clients to generate an instant estimate themselves based on the details provided in a straightforward questionnaire.
Alternatively, you can opt for a more traditional approach by getting in contact directly, where one of our experienced pentesters creates a tailored estimate in-house.
Complexity of the systems
Some system pentests, such as web application penetration tests and external infrastructure tests, will have varying levels of complexity based on the scale and intricacy of your organisation's systems.
For example, an external penetration test's price will be influenced by how many IP's require testing: a small organisation with only one IP would cost far less to pentest than a larger organisation with multiple IPs due to the amount of time required. Similarly, a web application test with a greater number of user roles and workflows would be considered far more complex of a pentest than one with fewer user roles, also influencing the overall cost.
Mobile application penetration testing and its complexity will differ on the system used: iOS applications are notoriously trickier to pentest than Android applications, for example.
Duration of the engagement
The duration of the engagement will depend on the complexity and quantity of assets being tested, but it is good to always remember that manual penetration testing will take longer than an automated scanner.
This is because manual testing requires a team of real, in-house pentesters working in your systems to provide more complex and comprehensive assessment. Automated scanners provide a more limited form of security testing. They use static code to identify common cybersecurity issues and often lack the nuance and experience of human testers. This means they often miss more complex vulnerabilities or combinations of vulnerabilities that manual testing would catch.
Experience and reputation of the testing provider
Experience and reputation make all the difference in penetration testing. While many cybersecurity professionals could technically pentest a system, offensive security certified professionals with known experience and technical background in penetration testing will always provide more complex and actionable insights.
CREST-accredited pentesting organisations are a foolproof way to guarantee a high level of quality, due to the rigorous regulatory compliance necessary to achieve such a standard. Additionally, in-house experienced penetration testers are a good signal of a positive reputation, with an ability to enact on identified critical vulnerabilities more rapidly than vendors with remote or externally-hired testers.
Does the type of penetration test affect the cost?
The type of penetration test does not determine the cost; rather, it is the duration of the engagement that impacts pricing. Whether the test focuses on networks, web applications, wireless security, or social engineering, the pricing model remains consistent. Costs are based on the time required to conduct assessments, identify vulnerabilities, and compile findings into a detailed report.
For example, a three-day web application test will cost less than a two-week network assessment, but if both tests take the same amount of time, their costs will be identical. While certain tests may require specialist tools or more experienced testers, these factors influence the duration rather than introducing separate pricing structures.
Ultimately, when planning for a penetration test, organisations should consider the level of coverage they require and the time necessary to achieve it, rather than focusing on the test type as a factor in cost determination.
What are the long-term financial benefits of investing in penetration testing?
Organisations who conduct penetration tests regularly benefit from numerous long-term financial advantages. Some of the most notable benefits include:
Better overall cyber resilience
Ensure business continuity and work with peace of mind that your data is secure with better overall cyber resilience.
Prevent costly data breaches
The cost of a data breach can be crippling to organisations with no cybersecurity strategy in place to remediate the damage.
Regular penetration not only minimises the risk of a breach in the first place, but also provides actionable insights for businesses to fortify their cybersecurity strategy, ensuring minimal fall-out in the instance of a breach and reducing fines.
Meet regulatory compliance requirements
Boost business and demonstrate your dedication to safeguarding customer data by achieving regulatory compliance, while dodging costly non-compliance fines.
How can businesses choose the right penetration testing provider?
Finding a trusted and transparent penetration testing partner can feel challenging, especially with the continual evolution of cyber-threats. It's always best to seek examples of good-quality testing or read an organisation's customer case studies or reviews before committing.
Plus, penetration testing companies that adhere to industry standards such as CREST-accreditation, and hold security certifications such as ISO 27001 exemplify a dedication to high-quality service and showcase their expertise in managing cybersecurity regulations.
In-house testers and custom pricing are always indicators of a healthy pentesting provider, as it signals a nuanced approach and holistic interpretation of your business's specific needs rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
For penetration testing that ticks all the boxes, look no further than OnSecurity. Try our free and instant quote tool today to get a clear cost estimate within minutes.
