What is the average cost of penetration testing?

Penetration testing costs can vary significantly depending on the scope and complexity of the test. A basic pentest of a small network or web application may cost a few thousand dollars, while a comprehensive pentest of a large enterprise network can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Factors that can influence the cost of a pentest include:

• The size and complexity of the network or system being tested
• The type of test being performed (e.g. network, web application, mobile application)
• The level of access and control required by the pentester
• The level of customization and specialized expertise needed
• The length of the engagement and the number of resources required

How Much Does a Penetration Test Cost?

For an estimate of penetration testing prices, some penetration testers charge roughly $300 per hour, and a typical pentest can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to complete. However, this is just a rough estimate and the actual cost can vary widely depending on the specifics of the engagement.

It’s important to note that while the cost of a pentest may seem high, it is a small price to pay compared to the potential cost of a successful cyber attack. You can think of a penetration test as a business investment. A pentest can save an organization from financial loss, damage to reputation, and other negative consequences.

Some Factors that Determine Penetration Test Costs

Objective

The objective of the penetration test should be discussed at the initial consultation. Is it an application or a corporate network? How many devices are connected to the network?

Size and Scope

What is the scope of the test? Are we talking about a small business or an international enterprise? Which aspects of the business environment will the pentest cover?

Approach

Penetration testing can be done using one of three basic strategic techniques, each of which has its unique set of procedures and tool requirements. The degree of the theoretical attacker’s understanding of the target system or network is the main difference between these strategies.

Gray-box penetration testing, black-box penetration testing, and white-box penetration testing are three commonly used approaches to penetration testing.