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The cost of a penetration test varies among research publications. It usually depends on several factors, such as the type of the pentest (White Box, Gray Box, Black Box, etc.) and which segment of the IT infrastructure is going to be pentested (e.g., applications, networks, or the entire organization).
The average cost of a standard penetration test for a typical company is around $18,300. Another research shows that the average cost of pentesting is from $5,000 to $50,000. The cost also depends on the subscription packages and billing plans offered by various penetration testing service providers.
The penetration testing market is increasing significantly. According to Fortune Business Insights, the size of the pen testing market was $2.20B in 2023 and was projected to grow from $2.45B in 2024 and would reach $6.35B by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 12.6% during the forecast time. In 2023, North America was reported to be the big player in the global pen testing market with a share of 36.36%. The following graph demonstrates the North American pen testing market size from 2024 to 2032.
[fs-toc-h2]What Is Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing, also known as pentesting or ethical hacking, is a simulated cyber attack on corporate systems, applications, networks, and other parts of the IT infrastructure. Penetration testers assist security operations teams in discovering security vulnerabilities and assessing the effectiveness of security measures. It also ensures business continuity, evaluates the effectiveness of an Incident Response Plan (IRP), strengthens employee security awareness and training programs, and assesses an organization’s compliance.
Regular penetration tests help SOC analysts detect flaws and weaknesses early and remediate gaps. Early detection prevents attacks that may put your organization’s reputation at stake and bring your entire business to a standstill.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-95, penetration testing is “a method of testing where testers target individual binary components or the application as a whole to determine whether intra or intercomponent vulnerabilities can be exploited to compromise the application, its data, or its environment resources.”
You can understand pen testing with an example. Suppose your house has weak entry points that can potentially enable a thief to penetrate. To prevent this situation, you hire a person and ask them to identify weak spots, such as unprotected walls, unlocked doors, no alarm systems, no CCTV, etc. The hired expert will inform you about the weaknesses and recommend how to fix them. The penetration testing works in the same way.
The law may restrict the tools and techniques used to conduct penetration tests. To prevent legal issues, penetration testing companies should consider and delineate the following areas:
- Permission from the legal team or any relevant jurisdiction
- Ranges of the IP addresses that need to be tested
- Any hosts that are restricted to be tested
- Testing techniques that are acceptable
- Preventing law enforcement from coming with false alarm
More importantly, penetration testing ensures that the security controls mandated by regulatory standards, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) work as intended. For example, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) requires that enterprises that process credit cards regularly perform internal and external penetration testing and correct security weaknesses and exploitable vulnerabilities.
[fs-toc-h2]What Are the Types of Penetration Testing?
A penetration testing company can offer various pen tests, each with varying objectives, scope, and requirements. The following sections explore each type of pen testing in detail.
White Hat Testing
White Hat Testing, also known as Overt Security Testing, is a transparent security evaluation of corporate systems and networks. This test requires the consent of an IT staff to perform external and internal penetration tests of an organization's IT infrastructure. This approach also helps manage the testing process, minimize operational impacts, and provide learning opportunities for your IT staff.
Black Hat Testing
Black Hat Testing, also known as Covert Security Testing, is used to simulate real-world cyber attacks on a targeted company. This approach doesn’t involve the consent of the IT staff but the permission of the upper management. The test assesses technical security controls, the IT staff's incident response capability, and the company's compliance with security policies. Covert testing can be announced or unannounced.
Red Team Services
Red teaming services or Read Team as a Service (RTaaS) provide security personnel with a method to analyze organizational IT infrastructure through continuous assessments. Doing so helps resolve security gaps and weaknesses. Protection through traditional penetration tests focuses on specific types of vulnerability, yet helps organizations reach desired goals by acting as a modern adversary.
Through its assessment service known as RTaaS, the organization receives an all-encompassing defense review that verifies people-operated systems along with their associated processes and technological components. Organizations must employ red teams to build their security preparedness against advanced threats.
Web Application Penetration Testing
A web application penetration test functions as a security evaluation procedure to simulate how attacks will target online web applications while finding security holes. The procedure starts by defining the application scope with planning followed by vulnerability scan automation and subsequent information gathering.
After penetration testers identify vulnerabilities, they try to assess the impact and results through post-exploitation procedures. Security professionals document all findings in a detailed report which includes descriptions of vulnerabilities while specifying their associated risks together with suggested remediation actions.
Web application testing supports the enhancement of security protocols while stopping attackers from exploiting program vulnerabilities, which protects important information and applications.
API Penetration Testing Services
API penetration testing includes simulated attacks on Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for vulnerability detection. The testing method starts with defining testing boundaries while acquiring API endpoint data and architectural details and then analyzes possible attack paths.
Security weaknesses are examined through both automated systems and manual assessment methods. The report explains the weaknesses discovered in addition to risk assessments and suggests strategies to fix these issues. The security of APIs requires thorough testing to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches because APIs manage critical sensitive data and functions.
Network Penetration Testing Services
An organization can identify and fix vulnerabilities within its IT environment with the help of network penetration tests that mimic cyber attacks. The complete process includes planning, reconnaissance activities, vulnerability analysis, exploitation stage and post-exploitation functions, and reporting tasks.
Network penetration testing requires three types of tests, which include the Black Box in which pen testers have no prior knowledge of systems going to be pen tested, and the White Box where pen testers have a full knowledge of these systems. The last one is the Gray Box, and, in this case, the pen testers have a partial knowledge of the systems.
Organizations gain better security along with reduced risks and regulatory compliance as well as well-informed investments through these testing approaches. Skilled experts must safely execute vulnerability testing since only qualified professionals can deliver effective results.
External Penetration Testing Services
External penetration testing services analyze the company’s current security by evaluating its external-facing assets, including servers, network devices, and websites. The testing services conduct simulations of actual attacks to detect entry points that adversaries might exploit.
A professional testing service divides the security assessment into key stages, including:
- Reconnaissance – Collect data with regard to the targeted machine to discover potential vulnerabilities.
- Scanning – Scan services, open ports, and other entry points to discover attacks.
- Exploitation – Exploit the identified vulnerabilities to analyze what the cybercriminal can achieve.
- Reporting – Create a report regarding all the identified vulnerabilities and their impact.
- Remediation – Recommend remediation to fix vulnerabilities.
Select a trustworthy provider who demonstrates excellence in testing and precise reporting when choosing these services.
Internal Penetration Testing Services
The security test aims to simulate real-world network-based attacks. The internal penetration test helps staff discover internal system flaws and verify protective controls currently in place.
Ethical hackers or security professionals lead such assessments. The organizations grant permission to conduct this test by examining their internal network infrastructure as well as their applications and systems.
Common testing areas are network infrastructure (switches, routers, firewalls), servers and workstations, internal web applications, databases, Active Directory or other authentication systems, wireless networks, and physical security controls.
Organizations gain several advantages when performing penetration testing since this process grants insights into unsecured areas before attackers can exploit them.
Pen testers provide a detailed report of findings, risk assessment, remediation recommendations, and executive summary for management.
Organizations must secure their internal network environment through internal penetration testing services because this service helps prevent breaches and data loss by identifying security vulnerabilities in advance.
Cloud Penetration Testing Services
The cloud pentesting market is growing exponentially. The Fortune Business Insights report cited above predicts that the cloud market is expected to boost to a higher CAGR during the forecast period of 2024-2032. The specialized evaluation of cloud-based infrastructure and applications through cloud penetration testing services has become vital to prevent cloud-related attacks.
The analysis seeks to discover cloud environment weaknesses while evaluating the operational strength of security protocols and the complete security quality of cloud-based infrastructure.
Such penetration tests provide specific evaluation of cloud attack vectors while supporting all cloud service models including IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS, and need expert knowledge of cloud services and security.
Security tests focus primarily on cloud infrastructure setups combined with identity management, access controls, storage encryption, network protection, and API safety. In addition, the protection of the containerized system is also a priority.
Penetration testing enables experts to conduct scoping and planning before discovering the cloud environment and performing vulnerability assessments, exploitation attempts, and escalation of privileges within a cloud environment.
The process enables the identification of exclusive cloud security threats and proper cloud resource configuration while validating standard compliance and optimizing cloud security costs.
The project produces a detailed technical report together with risk assessment matrices that feature prioritized remediation suggestions as well as an executive summary written for cloud stakeholders.
Conduct periodic penetration testing (e.g., quarterly or bi-annually) or after significant changes to the cloud environment, such as migrations or new service implementations.
Which Type of Penetration Testing is Appropriate for My Organization?
Selecting the best penetration test plays an essential role in maintaining cybersecurity effectiveness. Web penetration testing stands out because it reveals important system vulnerabilities that jeopardize entire information systems. The selection of the best penetration testing method requires expertise from cybersecurity professionals who will provide specific recommendations for your organization.
Be truthful with experts who provide consultations regarding the weaknesses of your system and both current concerns and forthcoming plans. Your organization gains full visibility to its cybersecurity environment through openness so that security experts recommend the optimal testing methods. Taking a solution that fits your specific structure, risk evaluation and security goals will help you achieve better digital asset protection during testing activities.
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[fs-toc-h2]What Is the Cost of Penetration Testing Services?
The pen test quote depends on the duration, scope, and complexity of the project. The number of assets and their components to be tested also affects the cost of the pen testing.
The following table breaks down the pen testing prices based on the size of the project. Prices will be charged on a per-scan basis.
The following table reflects the pentest costs, which range from medium-complexity and moderate-scope pen tests across several IT assets.
[fs-toc-h2]What Factors Can Affect the Pen Testing Cost?
Typically, the cost of a penetration test is directly related to the time invested in preparation, execution, and documentation. To accurately estimate the required hours, both the penetration tester and the organization must evaluate various factors that influence this time and the applicable rates.
The penetration testing doesn’t offer a one-size-fits-all price tag. Instead, various factors can impact penetration test prices. Let us delve into the key factors.
Scope
The cost of penetration testing increases when pen testers deal with multiple testing areas. Extensive scope incorporates multiple systems or various testing types, such as networks, devices, web apps, phishing, etc. Expenses may drop when targeting particular components or maintaining a narrow scope of examination.
Organizations can expect higher pen test costs based on two key factors: the depth of assessment requirements along with the number of IP addresses and applications under testing. Both factors require additional work time which then increases the expense of the project.
Businesses will face higher costs when penetration tests need additional scrutiny because of specific regulatory frameworks together with unique organizational requirements. It’s recommended for enterprises to understand these factors. Doing so can help them predict costs for potential penetration testing.
Penetration Testing Type
The expenses for penetration tests mainly depend on which testing approach organizations select. For example, as said before, Black Box testing costs more than White Box penetration testing because Black Box penetration testers possess no system knowledge while White Box testers deeply understand system operations. A Grey Box system pentesting requires the tester to possess partial knowledge of a system, thus, its cost falls between the other two testing approaches.
A rise in penetration test costs materializes when dealing with sensitive data or regulatory standards because these situations require additional certifications and insurance.
Tester Experience
The penetration testing pricing depends on the tester's experience because multiple factors relate to their skill level. Experienced testers receive higher fees because of their advanced skills, deep knowledge, and effective vulnerability detection.
Knowledgeable testers finish their projects within shorter periods than less experienced testers, so the testing process costs less in terms of ‘time-of-completion.’
Outcomes of quality testing become more comprehensive because experienced testers generate detailed reports that encompass essential recommendations for the remediation of critical vulnerabilities.
Highly skilled professionals who demonstrate excellence through their recognized reliable work can typically charge elevated rates because their reputation in the pen testing market increases their credibility for superior outcomes.
In some cases, an organization may need a specialized penetration test for specific areas, such as regulatory compliance or certain technologies. Under such circumstances, they must need seasoned testers who are well-versed in these fields. This type of testing involves higher costs.
The initial expense of hiring an experienced penetration tester will result in higher payment but their advanced expertise helps organizations find better solutions that eventually reduce their expenses.
Complexity of the System
The system complexity directly impacts the total expenses for penetration testing services. Testing basic systems containing few components and simple structures needs less time along with reduced cost.
The testing process needs substantial time and cost when testing complex architecture alongside multiple features and numerous endpoints. The expanded testing requirements which involve identifying vulnerabilities produce expenses that escalate the total cost.
System complexity requires experienced professionals along with specialized tools and techniques which cause total expenses to rise. Multiple tests and thorough security assessments typically increase the expenses for such systems to find all potential vulnerabilities.
Complex systems require extensive remediation and retesting because of their multiple critical problems which lead to increased total cost. It drives an increase in both the necessary resources and time along with expert personnel, which directly influences penetration testing costs.
Compliance Requirements
Penetration testing costs increase substantially because of compliance requirements. The adoption of particular compliance requirements such as PCI-DSS and HIPAA or GDPR leads tests to involve broader coverage so total expenses increase due to longer assessment processes.
Organizations face repeated costs for penetration testing since many regulations demand assessments at fixed intervals such as every year or twice per year.
Logical assessment costs escalate when testers have specialized knowledge of compliance requirements due to their ability to validate full regulatory compliance.
Tests conducted for compliance need greater recommendations because they require longer follow-up assessments to confirm the resolution of discovered vulnerabilities, leading to increased costs.
System Type
System type is probably the most critical aspect in determining penetration testing costs. For instance, testing a website that integrates too many databases, apps, and connected infrastructure is different from a hybrid environment that consists of wireless networks or from on-premises data centers with cloud resources.
Every penetration tester needs specialized skills to perform tests on distinct components which include networks alongside mobile apps but also web applications, databases, cloud platforms, virtual networks, Kubernetes clusters, and SaaS platforms. Although the number of systems is a key factor in determining costs, the specific type of system can also affect the rates that testers charge.
Remediation and Retesting
Remediation is time-consuming as it requires a lot of coding, system patching, reconfiguration, or even new hardware in some cases. As a result, both project duration and labor costs for the penetration testers as well as the organizational IT staff rise significantly.
Remediation is usually a specialized task. The cost will vary based on the level of expertise required. Your company may need network engineers, system administrators, developers, threat hunters, incident responders, and so on. Retesting also incurs labor costs since the penetration testers have to come back to the system to confirm the efficacy of the fixes.
Unexpected problems may occur in the course of remediation. A patch for one vulnerability may inadvertently cause others. This calls for more research, more remediation work, and further retesting, resulting in surprise cost blowouts.
Vendor Type
Vendor type can greatly influence the penetration testing cost in some ways. Experienced penetration testing vendors with a good reputation and extensive experience in the industry might have a higher fee because of their track record and provision of premier services.
Companies specializing in specific industries, such as healthcare, technology, finance, etc. can be expected to charge an extra rate based on their skills and knowledge level.
Organizations utilizing advanced tools and technologies could have more expensive operational expenditures.
Regulatory standards, such as PCI DSS, GDPR, HIPAA, etc. could add additional cost due to the extra effort involved in these tests. Generating in-depth reports with comprehensive analysis tends to cost more than simple reporting.
Vendors may offer different price structures that include fixed-price contracts, or an hourly rate, influencing total cost based on the scope and nature of the project.
[fs-toc-h2]How Should I Choose the Right Penetration Testing Services Provider?
Selecting the appropriate penetration testing vendor is indispensable to discovering vulnerabilities effectively and efficiently. The following sections delve into some important considerations:
- Expertise and Experience
Always look for a vendor who has a good reputation in the pen testing market. Consider their longevity in the pentesting industry and successful case studies that highlight vulnerabilities they have addressed.
Reputed vendors always receive client testimonials, awards, or industry recognition. You also need to assess their use of penetration testing methodologies, commitment to keeping abreast of the latest cybersecurity trends, and engagement in the cybersecurity community. You can also get references from their past clients.
- Certifications
It’s good practice to always hire a certified professional or a pen testing vendor. To this end, you must ensure that your pen testing team holds one or more of the following certifications, among others:
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
- Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) Penetration Tester (GPEN)
- EC-Council Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT) Master
- Certified Red Team Operations Professional (CRTOP)
- Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT)
- CompTIA PenTest+
- EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Service Offerings
Your organization may involve a diverse and complex IT infrastructure that needs to be assessed. Therefore, it’s essential to hire a pen testing provider who is highly skilled and offers a range of pen testing services. Generally, there are the following pentesting offerings in the industry:
- Red Teaming
- Cloud Security Testing
- Physical Penetration Testing
- Web Application Testing
- Vulnerability Assessment
- Social Engineering Testing
- Incident Response Testing
- API Security Testing
- Mobile Application Penetration Testing
- Wireless Network Testing
- Compliance Testing
- Network Penetration Testing
- Methodology
It’s essential to know what methodology your penetration tester follows. Various international standards provide guidelines for conducting penetration tests. The vendor must adhere to the guidelines stipulated in these standards. Some of the prestigious standards are listed below:
- CIS – Center for Internet Security
- PCI DSS – Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
- NIST SP 800-115 – National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-115
- OWASP – Open Web Application Security Project
- ASV – Approved Scanning Vendor
- CREST – Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers
- ISO/IEC 27001 – International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission 27001
- ISSO – Information System Security Officer
- PTES – Penetration Testing Execution Standard
- Report Quality
Make sure that the report is clear and easy to understand. Typically, the report should incorporate some essential details, such as executive summary, methodology, conclusive findings, and recommendations tailored to organizational needs.
The executive summary should present essential findings, ranked risks, and actionable suggestions. In-depth reports should include vulnerabilities and their associated severity levels, such as Critical, High, Medium, and Low classifications. Critical vulnerabilities need to be addressed immediately.
The report should propose recommendations regarding how to fix identified vulnerabilities. Appendices may have other details like methods and instruments used if needed.
- Communication and Support
Before choosing your pen testing vendor, you must ensure that they prioritize clear communication, provide you with regular updates, and offer easy accessibility. They should deliver detailed reports and carry out a comprehensive review after a pen test.
More importantly, pen testers must assist in fixing identified vulnerabilities. In case you encounter urgent issues, your pentesting vendor must be available to fix them. Doing so can help build a solid partnership with a vendor.
- Cost and Value
Price structures are available in multiple forms. Vendors offer different subscription plans. Fixed-price payments or hourly rates are also offered. You need to check prices and values from multiple vendors, map them with your organization’s requirements, and choose the one that is affordable and appropriate for your business needs.
[fs-toc-h2]Conclusion
The ballpark cost of a standard penetration test is about $18,300. Another research shows that the average pentesting costs are from $5,000 to $50,000. The cost also depends on the subscription packages and billing plans offered by various penetration testing service providers.
Penetration testing is a practice of testing security in which pen testers mimic real-world cyber-attacks to circumvent the security of corporate systems, applications, and networks. Pentesting can help determine how well the corporate system tolerates real-world attacks, the level of sophistication hackers need to exploit the victim machine, countermeasures required to mitigate a threat, and the organization’s ability to detect potential attacks and respond to them appropriately and immediately.
Factors that affect the cost of a pen test include scope, pentesting type, tester experience, the complexity of the system, system type, compliance requirements, vendor type, and remediation and retesting.
You should choose the right penetration testing vendor based on several factors that incorporate expertise and experience, testing methodology, certifications, service offerings, report quality, communication, and cost.
Astro Information Security – Your First Choice
Astro Information Security offers penetration testing services that will help you protect your digital assets and secure the future of your business.
Modern sophisticated hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in your systems and networks by moving laterally in your IT environment. These vulnerabilities must be addressed in a timely fashion to avoid reputational, financial, and compliance damage.
To get started, contact Astro’s team and schedule a meeting. We are ready with penetration testing that would suit your unique needs and challenges.
[fs-toc-h2]FAQ
What factors determine the cost of penetration testing in 2025?
The factors influencing the pentest cost may include scope, vendor’s experience, complexity of the system, and site location. In addition, report offerings and methodology also affect the overall cost.
Can I expect additional charges other than the initial cost?
Yes, additional charges apply if you require remediation support, follow-up consultations, and retesting.
What is the average cost of pentesting services in 2025?
The penetration test pricing range is between $5,000 and $50,000. However, the price can vary due to scope, complexity level, regulatory requirements, etc.
Which type of penetration testing is appropriate for my organization?
Web penetration testing should be a priority as it reveals important system vulnerabilities that jeopardize entire network systems. The selection of the best penetration testing method requires expertise from cybersecurity professionals who will provide specific recommendations for your organization. However, you must choose the type of pen test that best suits your business needs.
How should I choose the best penetration testing provider?
Penetration testing providers should be chosen based on several factors, including expertise and experience, testing methodology, certifications, service offerings, report quality, communication, cost factors, and so on.
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