While the penetration testing cost can vary depending on your needs, it’s a valuable investment that can help you identify and fix security weaknesses before attackers do.
Finding the hypothetical “average” of a penetration test is highly uncommon, and this calculated average obscures the variations between different penetration testing categories (networks, applications, entire organizations, etc.) and methodologies (black box, gray box, white box, social engineering, etc.).
Furthermore, each organization has specific requirements and penetration testing providers possess varying skill sets. Consequently, penetration testing costs can begin as low as a few hundred dollars and soar beyond $100,000. This vast spectrum can be perplexing and exasperating for organizations attempting to allocate a budget for a penetration test. Fortunately, this broad range can be condensed and comprehended by considering the factors that influence penetration test pricing.
The Average Costs Issue
Average pricing can be deceptive because penetration testing costs frequently utilize various units or what’s encompassed within a penetration test:
- A designated number of IP addresses
- The engagement is determined by a presumed company size
- A singular scan
- A singular application
- A singular website encompassing all integrated web applications
The difference in coverage between these different options can result in significantly different price ranges that might confuse readers. Potential clients need to meticulously examine the details and not be misled by the figures.
Standardized Versus Tailored Pricing
Disagreements regarding average pricing often stem from differing perspectives on standardized versus customized pricing structures. Some vendors advocate for entirely customized pricing specific to each client’s needs, while others argue that standardized pricing demonstrates a vendor’s reliability.
Both arguments are incomplete without a closer look at the underlying details. Certain standardized pricing models rely on pre-defined penetration tests with inflexible scopes. These tests restrict the vulnerabilities assessed or the number of IP addresses and applications scanned.
Clients naturally gravitate towards the predictability of flat-rate, standardized pricing. However, they often neglect the reality that, in addition to offering narrowly focused tests, vendors typically factor in contingency costs within the pricing structure. Consequently, standardized pricing can often be more expensive than customized pricing for the equivalent service.
Pricing is just one factor to consider. Before making a decision, potential buyers should meticulously examine the fine print associated with published prices and service descriptions to determine if the offered penetration tests align with their specific requirements.
Key Factors Affecting Penetration Testing Costs
Generally, the cost of a penetration test correlates directly to the number of hours required for preparation, execution, and documentation. However, calculating those hours necessitates that both the penetration tester and the organization acknowledge the factors influencing those hours, along with the corresponding hourly rates applied.
Scale
The dimensions of an organization and the number of systems included for testing will be the main factors influencing costs. While other elements can modify the price per system or price per hour, the scope and scale act as the multiplier that generally determines the majority of the final fees.
In spite of the increase in the number of penetration testing tools that can automate some penetration testing procedures, ultimately, any weaknesses identified by automated tools should be validated for exploitation by a penetration tester. Even when an automated tool might detect no vulnerabilities, a hacker with specialized skills might leverage their experience to exploit the system, network, and so on.
Scope Breakdown
- Networks: Number of IP addresses, segments, virtual networks, WANs, SD-WANs, etc.
- Devices: Devices, applications, websites, virtual/physical networks, containers, IoT elements.
- Applications: Mobile, web apps, and websites to be tested. This may include API, database, or supply chain testing.
- Social Engineering: Number of people in the organization (if charged per person).
- Scope Boundaries: Excluding specific areas (e.g., locations, applications) or third-party vendors (e.g., SaaS providers, major APIs).
Penetration Test Methodology
The chosen penetration testing approach will impact the required testing hours and potentially incur additional costs. Organizations should be acquainted with the various test types (automated tool scans, professional penetration tests, etc.) to understand how they influence the quotes they receive.
Penetration Tester Expertise
The penetration tester’s proficiency will sometimes be reflected in their billing rate. Testers with a more extensive track record will naturally command a higher fee. However, somewhat paradoxically, choosing the seemingly costlier option can lead to overall savings. Testers with less experience might have a lower hourly rate, but they might require more hours to configure tools or pursue unproductive attack vectors that a seasoned tester could efficiently bypass.
Regulatory Adherence
Certain regulations might mandate specific testing procedures for designated systems, utilizing particular techniques, or employing specifically accredited vendors. As an example, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) now mandates that organizations accepting payment cards utilize PCI Security Council Approved Scanning Vendors to conduct the required third-party penetration tests.
Target Systems
The specific elements the penetration test needs to assess significantly impact the project. Testing a website with integrated applications, linked databases, and attached infrastructure can be vastly different from examining a hybrid environment encompassing wireless networks, on-premises data centers, cloud data centers, and SD-WAN-connected users.
Penetration testers necessitate a diverse range of skills and tools to target networks, mobile apps, web applications, websites themselves, databases, cloud infrastructure, virtual networks, Kubernetes clusters, and SaaS tools. While the number of systems remains the key cost factor, the system type may influence the testers’ hourly rate.
Remediation and Retesting
Following the identification and confirmation of a security weakness by a penetration tester, the organization will need to address the problem. Often, organizations will seek correction of the issues from their existing IT service providers, while employing the penetration testing vendor to verify the effectiveness of the implemented solution.
Information Necessary for a Penetration Test Quote
To assist a vendor in crafting insightful and valuable quotes, a buyer should outline expectations or identify key elements such as:
- Scale and scope
- Penetration test methodology
- Compliance requirements
- System kind
- Potential future engagements
- Special requirements
- Contract type
Additional preparation might be beneficial to maximize the value of the penetration test or minimize costs.
The Bottom Line: a Sound Investment
Every penny spent on professional penetration testing is a wise investment. Each vulnerability identified prevents potentially devastating costs associated with a data breach. Even a report with “no findings” delivers priceless peace of mind and demonstrates an organization’s commitment to diligently safeguarding its IT infrastructure and sensitive data.
Companies that neglect to conduct their own penetration tests are more susceptible to attackers and may face unpleasant surprises if a partner conducts a supply chain penetration test and exposes their vulnerabilities. In these scenarios, organizations risk substantial business losses or reputational damage.
Regardless of an organization’s faith in its IT security, only a thorough penetration test can truly validate that confidence. Unvalidated confidence can be a dangerous gamble, setting the stage for a harsh wake-up call.