How Much Does Penetration Testing Cost? What You Need to Know

If your SaaS company is working toward meeting compliance standards, penetration testing should be top of mind. Beyond fulfilling audit requirements, penetration testing protects your product, your users, and your reputation. 

Teams often wonder: how much does penetration testing cost? The short answer is that it varies for each organization.

In this guide, we’ll break down the key factors that influence penetration testing costs, clarify what you’re actually paying for, and offer tips on choosing the right provider. We’ll also explore how penetration testing fits into your broader governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) strategy, helping you stay compliant and audit-ready year-round. 

Why is Penetration Testing Important for Compliance?

If you’re tackling compliance for the first time, you may be asking a common question: Is penetration testing really necessary for my organization?

In many cases, the answer is a resounding yes. Whether you’re working toward SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, or another widely adopted security or privacy framework, penetration testing is either a direct requirement or a strongly recommended best practice. 

Here are a few of the benefits of penetration testing beyond fulfilling a requirement:

• Validates your risk assessment: It confirms whether your identified risks are accurate and relevant in real-world scenarios.
  
• Reveals hidden vulnerabilities: It uncovers various types of security vulnerabilities that may not be apparent through regular reviews or automated scans.
  
• Tests effectiveness of controls: The findings show whether your current security measures are working as intended or need improvement.
  
• Prevents potential attacks: Addressing weaknesses early helps stop malicious actors from exploiting them before any real damage can occur.
  
• Builds trust with stakeholders: Demonstrating proactive security efforts reassures customers and partners that your organization takes data protection seriously.

While penetration testing is essential for regulatory compliance and passing audits, its benefits extend far beyond that. It helps organizations enhance their overall security posture, demonstrate accountability, and ensure that compliance efforts lead to tangible risk reduction.

What Factors Impact the Cost of Penetration Testing?

Let’s address the key question: what drives the cost of penetration testing, and why do prices vary so significantly?

Below are the key factors that influence pricing:

1. Scope of the Environment

The size and complexity of your infrastructure directly affects pricing. A simple website with one login page is much easier, and faster, to test than a complex platform spanning multiple cloud environments, internal networks, application programming interfaces (APIs), and mobile apps. The more systems involved, the more time and effort required, which directly increases the overall cost.

2. Type of Penetration Test

Different types of pen tests come with varying price points. Simply put, penetration tests vary in scope, complexity, and pricing depending on the level of knowledge the tester has about the system being tested.

Below are the three primary types of penetration testing, each with its own cost range and focus areas:

Pen Test Type	Estimated Cost Range	Scope Example	What Affects the Price Range
Black Box Testing	$5,000 – $30,000+	Public-facing assets (e.g., web apps, APIs, domains)	Costs vary based on the number of external-facing assets, IP addresses, and the complexity of the systems being tested.
Grey Box Testing	$7,000 – $40,000+	Partial internal access with some knowledge of the system	Costs depend on the level of access granted, such as access to limited internal documentation or accounts, and the complexity of the systems.
White Box Testing	$10,000 – $50,000+	Full access to the application, code, and infrastructure	The cost increases with the complexity of the application, the number of systems reviewed, and the need for in-depth analysis of the internal architecture.

3. Depth and Methodology

You can choose between lightweight options – such as automated vulnerability scans with minimal manual review – or more comprehensive, hands-on testing that involves custom exploit development and in-depth analysis. The level of effort directly impacts the price: the more thorough and tailored the engagement, the more time and expertise it requires, and naturally, the higher the cost.

Top penetration testing solutions typically combine automated assessments with manual testing, supported by expert oversight and guidance. This well-rounded approach ensures you get the best value.

4. Certifications and Reputation

If you choose a penetration testing provider with testers who hold certifications like OSCP, CREST, or CISSP, you can expect to pay a premium. However, this higher cost reflects the advanced skills, deep knowledge, and proven professionalism these certified experts bring, ensuring a more thorough and reliable assessment of your security posture.

5. Compliance Requirements

Compliance requirements often dictate the scope and depth of penetration testing to ensure that assessments meet industry standards.

For example, if you’re seeking a quote for PCI penetration testing costs, you can expect higher fees compared to a basic IT security assessment. This is due to PCI’s stringent and specific compliance requirements for testing scope, methodologies, and detailed documentation, all of which demand more thorough and rigorous work to ensure full compliance.

💡78% of organizations that failed a compliance audit cited lack of vulnerability testing as a key factor. 

Understanding the Scope of Penetration Testing

This is where many SaaS companies trip up. When you ask a vendor for a quote, you will need to prepare materials that will give them an idea of the scope of the project. 

Here’s what you should have ready:

• Number of apps, environments, and IPs to be tested: The more applications, environments (like staging and production), and IP addresses involved, the broader the scope – typically resulting in more time and resources needed to complete the test.
  
• Authentication details: Applications that require authentication, especially those with multiple user roles or complex permissions, demand deeper analysis and more test scenarios, which can increase the overall cost.
  
• Testing constraints: Limitations, such as only being able to test during specific time windows or needing to avoid disrupting production systems, can complicate and extend the testing process.
  
• Compliance frameworks you’re working toward: If the penetration test needs to meet specific requirements for standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, or SOC 2, the process may require additional documentation, testing depth, or reporting formats – adding to both time and cost.

If you’re unsure about defining your scope, a partner like Scytale can assist. From outlining the scope to delivering the final report, our pen test experts tailor the testing requirements to align directly with your company’s compliance goals.

What are the Different Types of Penetration Testing?

As mentioned previously, penetration testing comes in three primary approaches – Black Box, Grey Box, and White Box – each varying in the level of tester knowledge.

• Black Box simulates external attacks with no prior knowledge of the system, mimicking how a hacker might target your organization from the outside.
• Grey Box involves partial system knowledge, offering a balance between external and internal perspectives, allowing for faster vulnerability discovery while maintaining some obscurity.
• White Box offers the most thorough testing, providing complete system access to examine the code, architecture, and infrastructure for vulnerabilities.

In addition to these core test types, businesses can choose from various engagement options to focus on specific areas:

Engagement Type	Focus	Goal
API Testing	Evaluates the security of APIs, identifying vulnerabilities in data handling, authentication, and communication between systems.	Identify vulnerabilities in API security and data handling.
Cloud Security Assessments	Analyzes cloud environments, including services like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, to uncover vulnerabilities in configurations and integrations.	Uncover vulnerabilities in cloud configurations and integrations.
Mobile Application Testing	Focuses on mobile platforms (iOS and Android), assessing risks like insecure storage or improper API usage.	Assess mobile app security, including storage and API issues.
Web Application Testing	Examines web applications for common vulnerabilities such as XSS, SQL injection, and broken authentication.	Identify common web vulnerabilities like XSS and SQL injection.
Infrastructure Testing	Assesses both internal and external networks, servers, and devices to identify weaknesses in your IT infrastructure.	Identify weaknesses in internal and external IT infrastructure.

These engagement options allow businesses to tailor their penetration testing to meet specific security needs. Ultimately, the choice of testing approach and engagement type influences costs, as more specialized tests and deeper system access typically require additional resources and time.

However, considering the rise in data breaches globally and the lasting financial and reputational impacts of a potential breach, the investment often proves worthwhile.

5 Criteria for Choosing a Penetration Testing Service Provider

Selecting the right penetration testing partner involves more than just comparing price tags. You want to find a provider that offers real value without exceeding your budget. Here are the key factors to consider when evaluating your options:

1. Industry Experience

Choose a provider with proven experience in SaaS environments. Additional value comes from firms familiar with relevant compliance standards, such as SOC 2 and PCI DSS.

2. Certifications Matter

Ensure the testing team holds recognized certifications such as OSCP, CREST, or CISSP. These credentials demonstrate a high level of expertise, which is especially important when working with auditors or within regulated industries.

3. Clear Methodology

A reputable provider should clearly explain their approach, including:

• The tools and technologies used
• Manual testing techniques applied
• How findings will be documented and communicated

4. Detailed and Actionable Reporting

A strong penetration testing report should go beyond listing vulnerabilities. Look for:

• Severity ratings and risk prioritization
• Proof-of-concept (PoC) examples for key findings
• Specific, practical remediation guidance for your team

5. Support After Testing

Ongoing remediation guidance and retesting are crucial. A reputable provider won’t simply deliver a report and walk away – they should assist in addressing findings and validating fixes.

Making Penetration Testing Part of Your Compliance Strategy

Whether you’re preparing for your first SOC 2 compliance audit or your next PCI DSS recertification, penetration testing is a vital tool that strengthens your entire security posture.

Here’s how to integrate it effectively into your strategy:

• Align with your risk assessment: Prioritize testing on the most critical parts of your product and infrastructure based on your risk profile.

• Plan Ahead: Schedule your penetration test 2–3 months before your audit to allow ample time for remediation and adjustments.

• Streamline the process: Leverage top compliance automation tools like Scytale to simplify penetration testing while centralizing evidence, control tracking, and testing for a more efficient compliance workflow.

Simplify Your Penetration Testing with Scytale

Penetration testing is a significant investment, but given what’s at stake, it’s a necessary one that offers numerous benefits for businesses of all sizes. It’s not just about passing your audit; it’s about proactively identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them and cause serious harm to your business.

With Scytale, you can streamline the entire penetration testing process within our AI-powered compliance automation platform, enhancing security controls, eliminating all the grunt work, and ensuring costs remain efficient and predictable.

You can find more information on pricing here.

FAQs about Penetration Testing Costs 

How much does a penetration test cost?

A penetration test typically costs between $4,000 and $50,000+, depending on your environment, the type of testing required, and the provider you choose. Complex applications, multiple environments, and compliance-driven testing (like PCI DSS) will push the price higher.

What factors most influence penetration testing costs?

The biggest drivers of IT penetration testing costs are scope, testing type, and compliance requirements. The more systems involved, the greater the manual effort required, and the more formal documentation needed, the higher the cost.

How do black, grey, and white-box tests differ in cost?

The cost of black, grey, and white-box tests varies based on the complexity and scope. White-box tests, where testers have full access to the system, are typically the most expensive due to the in-depth analysis required. Black-box tests, where testers have no prior knowledge, are generally less costly but still require significant resources. Grey-box tests, with partial knowledge, fall in between in terms of cost and efficiency.

How can I reduce pentest costs without sacrificing coverage?

To reduce costs, consider narrowing the scope to focus on critical systems or high-risk areas. Additionally, using automation tools like Scytale’s integrated pen testing can streamline the process, making it more efficient and cost-effective while ensuring comprehensive coverage.

What’s the difference between an internal and external penetration test?

An internal penetration test focuses on vulnerabilities within your network, often requiring more resources and deeper analysis, making it typically more expensive. An external penetration test simulates attacks from outside the organization, so external penetration testing costs are usually less due to a narrower focus on testing perimeter defenses. However, the cost can increase depending on the complexity of the external systems being tested.