How much does a typical penetration test cost in Australia?+
A typical Australian penetration test costs between AUD $2,500 and $40,000 per engagement. The median engagement - a SaaS web application + API + cloud config - sits around AUD $8,000 to $15,000. Small single-app tests can be done from AUD $2,500; multi-product FinTech engagements with APRA-grade scope can reach AUD $40,000+. Penva Security provides fixed-price quotes within 24 hours of the scoping call.
Why is there such a wide cost range?+
Because 'penetration test' covers everything from a single web app with two user roles to a multi-product FinTech engagement spanning web, API, mobile, network, segmentation testing and APRA-grade reporting. The cost difference reflects 5 days of one tester vs 60 days of a multi-tester team. Asset count, application complexity, user roles and reporting requirements determine the testing effort.
How do I get an accurate quote?+
Book a 30-minute scoping call. We'll ask about: the assets in scope (URLs, apps, networks, cloud accounts), the user roles and authentication mechanism, the compliance evidence you need, your timeline, and any specific testing constraints. Penva Security returns a fixed-price quote within 24 hours - no escalation games, no surprise add-ons.
Is cheap penetration testing worth it?+
Almost never. Anything under AUD $2,500 is typically scanner-led - a provider running automated tools and reformatting the output. The report is usually 70-90% false positives, misses business logic and authorisation flaws, and is increasingly rejected by ISO 27001, SOC 2 and PCI DSS auditors as primary pentest evidence. The cost of a failed audit or missed vulnerability is many times the saving on a cheap scan.
Are CREST-certified testers worth the higher cost?+
Yes, for any compliance-driven engagement. APRA-regulated entities, Australian Government suppliers, and most ISO 27001, SOC 2 and PCI DSS auditors expect CREST credentials as the baseline 'qualified tester' criterion. The day-rate premium for CREST testers (typically 20-40% above non-credentialed) is more than offset by audit acceptance and the broader skill depth CREST certification represents.
Should the retest be included in the original price?+
Yes - and it's a quote-shopping warning sign when it isn't. The retest is what auditors actually need for closure evidence (ISO 27001 corrective action, SOC 2 CC7.1 remediation, PCI DSS Req 11.4 retest). Providers charging separately for retest (typically AUD $1,500-$5,000) are either using it as a margin lever or admitting they don't expect to come back. Penva Security includes a 60-day free retest as standard.
How much does an APRA CPS 234 pentest cost?+
APRA CPS 234-aligned pentesting typically runs AUD $20,000 to $40,000+ for FinTech engagements, depending on the breadth of products and the depth of segmentation testing required. The price premium over standard pentesting reflects: Australian-jurisdiction requirement, CREST-certified tester requirement, broader scope (typically web + API + mobile + network + segmentation), tripartite-ready reporting, and the regulatory-grade documentation depth APRA reviewers expect.
How can I budget for penetration testing across the year?+
Most Australian SaaS / FinTech / HealthTech businesses budget 1-3% of revenue for security, of which pentest is typically 30-50%. A practical rule of thumb: budget for one annual fixed-price engagement (AUD $10,000-$20,000 typical) plus a contingency for one or two change-driven retests. High-velocity teams add Pay-As-You-Go (AUD $500-$2,000/week) for continuous coverage. Total annual security testing spend for a mid-size SaaS typically lands in the AUD $20,000-$40,000 range.
Does Penva Security publish fixed prices?+
Yes. Penva Security is one of the few Australian pentest providers that publishes a starting price (AUD $2,500) and returns a fixed-price quote within 24 hours of the scoping call. The scope drives the price, the price is fixed once quoted, and the engagement includes a free 60-day retest. No surprise add-ons, no platform fee, no escalation.
Why don't most pentest providers publish prices?+
Two reasons. Legitimate: real pentest scoping is genuinely complex and a single price would be misleading without knowing the scope. Less legitimate: opaque pricing allows price discrimination by company size and lets providers maximise margin per engagement. Penva Security's view: we publish the starting price and ranges by test type so buyers can budget honestly, then we scope and quote each engagement individually for the precise price.
Is there a way to spread the cost over time?+
Yes - the Pay-As-You-Go model (from AUD $500/week) lets you spread testing across a longer period without a large upfront engagement. Good for: SaaS teams shipping weekly, startups managing cash flow, businesses wanting continuous coverage rather than an annual deep-dive. You can pause and resume any time.
How does Australian pentest pricing compare internationally?+
Australian CREST-certified pentest pricing is broadly comparable to UK and US equivalents in USD-converted terms, sometimes slightly lower. Where AU is cheaper, it's usually because of the strong AUD-based local market and the absence of the largest US enterprise consulting premiums. Where AU is more expensive, it's usually because of Australian-jurisdiction requirements (no offshoring) that some US/EU buyers don't impose.
