Penetration Testing Services in Australia

Q: How much do penetration testing services cost in Australia?

Penetration testing in Australia typically costs between AUD $2,500 and AUD $40,000 per engagement. The price depends on the type of test (web app, API, network, cloud or mobile), the number of assets and user roles, the size of the attack surface, and whether testing is black-box or grey-box. Penva provides a fixed-price quote within 24 hours after a free scoping call, with no surprise add-ons and a free retest.

Q: Do you use AI or human testers?

Both — in the right order. Penva uses AI and automation to accelerate reconnaissance, expand coverage and run continuous regression scanning, but every exploit, business-logic test and finding is performed and validated by a CREST-certified human tester. AI provides speed and breadth; humans provide judgment, exploitation and zero false positives. AI-only pentests miss business logic flaws, broken access control, IDOR chains, race conditions and authorisation bypasses — the vulnerabilities behind most real breaches.

Q: What types of penetration testing does Penva offer?

Penva offers web application, API (REST & GraphQL), network (external & internal), cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), mobile (iOS & Android), and AI/LLM penetration testing. All engagements are CREST-certified, human-led and AI-accelerated, and delivered with audit-ready reporting and a free retest.

Q: Are penetration testing services required for ISO 27001, SOC 2 or APRA compliance?

Yes. ISO/IEC 27001:2022 controls A.8.8, A.8.29 and A.5.23 expect technical vulnerability assessment and security testing. SOC 2 Trust Services Criterion CC7.1 requires vulnerability identification, with penetration testing as the standard evidence. PCI DSS Requirement 11.4 mandates testing at least annually and after any significant change. APRA CPS 234 expects regular testing of information security controls. Penva delivers reports formatted to satisfy all four frameworks.

Q: How long does a penetration test take?

Most engagements take 5 to 10 business days of active testing plus 1 to 2 days for reporting. Because AI handles reconnaissance, our testers reach the high-value manual work faster — so timelines are shorter than traditional manual-only firms. A small website may take 3 to 5 days; a complex multi-role SaaS platform with APIs and SSO can take 2 to 3 weeks. Findings are shared progressively so developers can begin fixing during the engagement.

Q: What is the difference between a vulnerability scan and a penetration test?

A vulnerability scan is automated and signature-based — it produces a long list of potential issues with many false positives. A penetration test validates exploitability: a certified human tester confirms which issues are real, chains them together, abuses business logic and produces a short, prioritised list of exploitable findings. Penva uses AI scanning to support coverage, but the test itself is human-led. Scans alone do not satisfy ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS or APRA expectations.

Q: Are Penva’s penetration testers CREST certified?

Yes. Penva’s testers hold CREST Registered Penetration Tester (CRT) and CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) certifications recognised by CREST Australia New Zealand, plus Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) and HTB Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (HTB CPTS). CREST is the certification body referenced by Australian government, financial services and enterprise procurement teams.

Q: Do you provide a free retest after we fix the vulnerabilities?

Yes. Every Penva fixed-price penetration test includes one free retest within 60 days. After remediation, we re-validate each finding and issue an updated report confirming closure — the evidence ISO 27001, SOC 2 and PCI DSS auditors require.

Q: Which industries and cities do you serve in Australia?

Penva serves SaaS platforms, FinTech and payments providers, healthcare and EdTech organisations, e-commerce retailers, professional services and government supply-chain vendors, with active clients in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.

Explore web application, API, mobile, network, cloud and AI security testing. Match the service to your systems, scope and compliance requirements.

Defined Test Scope
Manual Validation
Audit-Ready Reports

Secured 100+ organisations

4.9

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Select your service, scope size and audit requirements for an indicative price and timeline.

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Penva in one paragraph

What Penva does

Explore how penetration testing identifies exploitable weaknesses across your applications, APIs and infrastructure.

Penva Security is a CREST-certified penetration testing specialist servicing Australian businesses. We test web applications, APIs, networks, cloud infrastructure, mobile apps, and AI/LLM-powered systems for SaaS, FinTech, HealthTech, and regulated mid-market.

The methodology is human-led + AI: AI handles reconnaissance and coverage at machine speed; CREST-certified humans handle exploitation, business-logic testing, and validation. Reports are built for ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS v4.0.1, APRA CPS 234, Essential Eight, IRAP/ISM, HIPAA, and the Privacy Act - the eight compliance frameworks that matter most to Australian buyers.

Fixed pricing from AUD $2,000 with an instant quote, free 60-day retest included, 100% Australian jurisdiction. The rest of this page covers the specifics - services, frameworks, industries, engagement model, and answers to the most-asked buyer questions.

Human-Led + AI

Why "AI + Human" Beats AI-Only and Manual-Only

AI-only tools are fast but blind to business logic. Manual-only firms are thorough but slow and narrow. Penva combines both, in the right order, so you get speed and coverage and the judgment that catches real breaches.

AI Layer

Speed & Coverage

What automation does best - at machine scale.

Maps the full attack surface and every endpoint in hours, not days
Fires thousands of payloads to surface candidate issues quickly
Fingerprints technologies, versions and known CVEs automatically
Runs continuous regression scanning between human-led tests

Human Layer

Judgment & Exploitation

What only a CREST-certified tester can do.

Manually exploits and chains low-severity issues into critical attack paths
Abuses business logic - coupon reuse, price manipulation, approval bypass
Finds broken access control, IDOR and authorisation flaws AI misses
Validates every finding by hand, removing all false positives

Result:

Broader coverage and faster delivery than manual-only - with the human-verified, business-impact findings that AI-only platforms cannot produce.

Our Services

Penetration Testing Services We Offer

Every engagement is CREST-certified, human-led and AI-accelerated, and delivered with an audit-ready report and a free retest. Choose the assessment that matches your environment.

Web Application Penetration Testing

Manual, OWASP-aligned testing of authentication, access control, business logic and APIs - covering the OWASP Top 10 and beyond for SaaS, portals and e-commerce.

Web app pentest

API Penetration Testing

REST and GraphQL testing against the OWASP API Security Top 10 - BOLA, broken function-level authorisation, mass assignment, excessive data exposure and injection.

API pentest

Network Penetration Testing

External and internal infrastructure testing - exposed services, misconfigurations, privilege escalation and lateral movement, mapped to MITRE ATT&CK.

Network pentest

Cloud Penetration Testing

AWS, Azure and Google Cloud configuration and exploitation testing - IAM weaknesses, exposed storage, metadata abuse and insecure cloud-native services.

Cloud pentest

Mobile App Penetration Testing

iOS and Android testing aligned to the OWASP MASVS - insecure storage, weak crypto, certificate handling, API abuse and reverse-engineering resistance.

Mobile pentest

AI & LLM Penetration Testing

Testing for AI-powered products against the OWASP LLM Top 10 - prompt injection, data leakage, insecure output handling, model abuse and agent tool misuse.

AI / LLM pentest

How We Compare

Penva vs AI-Only and Generic Pentest Firms

A side-by-side look at where each approach delivers - and where it leaves you exposed.

Capability	Penva Security	AI-Only Pentest	Generic Pentest Firm
Business Logic Flaws	Found & chained	Missed entirely	Sometimes found
Manual Exploitation	100% manual, OSCP-level	Pattern-matching only	Partial, scanner-led
Certified Testers	OSCP + CREST	No human tester	Often outsourced
Live Vulnerability Sheet	Real-time, shared	Dashboard only	End-of-test report
Free Remediation Retest	Included, 60 days	Continuous (subscription)	Often paid extra
False-Positive Rate	Near zero (manually verified)	High	Low
Audit Acceptance	Recognised by auditors	Often not accepted alone	Accepted
Australian-Based Tester	Local, AU jurisdiction	Cloud platform, often US	Mixed

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Get a quick estimate or discuss your systems, scope and deadlines.

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Our Process

A Four-Phase Engagement

Aligned to OWASP WSTG v4.2, NIST SP 800-115, MITRE ATT&CK and the Penetration Testing Execution Standard (PTES).

STEP 01

Planning and Scoping Definition

We confirm the systems, testing goals and dates with you. You approve the scope and give us permission to begin.

Two people discussing which applications and systems to include in a penetration test, with selected systems marked on a shared board.

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A structured testing approach

Penetration Testing Methodologies

Good testing starts with a clear scope and ends with evidence your team can use. Explore the guidance behind assessment planning, technical coverage and reporting. The right references depend on your systems and the agreed scope.

Testing reference 01ASD / ISM

ASD Information Security Manual

For Australian organisations, the ISM provides a useful reference when defining the purpose of a security assessment and the controls that need attention.

Agree the assessment scope. Identify the systems, significant changes and security controls that need independent testing.
Turn findings into action. Use evidence from testing to prioritise weaknesses and plan remediation.

Read the ASD / ISM guidance

Testing reference 02 CREST logo

CREST penetration testing guidance

A useful engagement starts with clear expectations. CREST guidance helps buyers and testing teams define the work, understand its limits and agree what a useful report should contain.

Set boundaries before testing. Confirm authorisation, access, timing and communication with the people responsible for the systems.
Make the report usable. Explain validated findings, their impact and the steps needed to address them.

Read the CREST guidance

Testing reference 03 OSSTMM logo

Open Source Security Testing Methodology Manual

OSSTMM focuses on observable operational security. It provides a structured way to examine exposure and the effectiveness of controls across networks, communications and other agreed areas.

Record what was tested. Keep clear boundaries between assessed systems, excluded areas and the methods used.
Support conclusions with evidence. Document confirmed observations so stakeholders can understand and compare the results.

Read the OSSTMM guidance

Testing reference 04 OWASP logo

OWASP Web Security Testing Guide

The OWASP WSTG gives application testers a practical reference for checking how a running application handles identity, access, data and business workflows.

Test beyond the login screen. Examine authentication, session handling, authorisation, input validation and business logic.
Choose checks that fit the application. Build coverage around its architecture, user roles and important workflows rather than treating every system alike.

Read the OWASP guidance

Testing reference 05 PTES logo

Penetration Testing Execution Standard

PTES describes an engagement from the first scoping discussion through reconnaissance, validation and reporting. It helps keep the technical work connected to the reason for the test.

Plan around realistic threats. Use information gathering and threat modelling to identify meaningful attack paths.
Explain the outcome. Connect validated weaknesses to their business impact and practical remediation priorities.

Read the PTES guidance

Testing reference 06 NIST logo

NIST SP 800-115 security testing guidance

NIST SP 800-115 is a technical reference for planning assessments, carrying out tests and analysing the results. It also explains the strengths and limitations of different testing techniques.

Select an appropriate test approach. Match the techniques, access requirements and rules of engagement to the assessment objectives.
Follow through after testing. Analyse findings and develop mitigation actions that the system owner can put into practice.

Read the NIST guidance

Testing reference 07 ISSAF logo

Information Systems Security Assessment Framework

ISSAF is an established assessment reference that connects preparation, technical testing and the work required to close an engagement responsibly.

Prepare the engagement. Agree the scope, contacts, test conditions and escalation arrangements before work begins.
Close with a clear handover. Document results, remove test artefacts and confirm the next steps with the system owner.

Read the ISSAF guidance

Compliance

Audit-Ready for Every Major Framework

Every Penva report is purpose-built to satisfy auditors - with the executive summary, CVSS 3.1 scoring, evidence appendix and formal letter of attestation that compliance assessors require.

ISO/IEC 27001

Controls A.8.8, A.8.29, A.5.23, technical vulnerability management and secure development.

View ISO/IEC 27001 testing

SOC 2 Type II

Trust Services Criterion CC7.1, vulnerability identification and remediation evidence.

View SOC 2 Type II testing

PCI DSS v4.0

Requirement 11.4, annual application penetration testing and after every significant change.

View PCI DSS v4.0 testing

APRA CPS 234

Information security controls testing for Australian banks, insurers, and superannuation funds.

View APRA CPS 234 testing

Essential Eight

ASD/ACSC mitigation strategies, application security validation evidence.

View Essential Eight testing

HIPAA

Technical safeguards for healthcare applications handling protected health information.

View HIPAA testing

GDPR & Privacy Act

Article 32 / APP 11, appropriate technical measures for personal data protection.

View GDPR & Privacy Act testing

ST4S

Safer Technologies for Schools framework, applications used in Australian education.

View ST4S testing

Pricing

Transparent, Fixed-Price Engagements

Penetration testing in Australia typically ranges from AUD $2,500 to AUD $15,000 depending on the type of test, the number of assets and the size of the attack surface. Get a fixed quote within 24 hours - no surprise add-ons.

Fixed-Price Pentest

From A$2,000 / engagement

Pre-defined scope with clear deliverables - ideal for compliance-driven engagements.

Human-led + AI-accelerated testing
Audit-ready PDF report (ISO / SOC 2 / PCI DSS)
Free retest within 60 days
Letter of attestation
1:1 remediation walkthrough

GET A FIXED QUOTE

Pay-As-You-Go

From A$500 / week

Continuous testing for agile teams shipping weekly. Built for SaaS and FinTech.

Ongoing human + AI testing support
Real-time issue notifications
Direct Slack / Teams collaboration
Test new features as they ship
Pause or resume any time

SCHEDULE A CALL

Why Penva Security

Why Australian Businesses Choose Us

The credibility signals procurement teams, auditors and engineers look for - backed by real engagements.

Experience across sectors

We have partnered with organisations across critical sectors, including finance, education, e-commerce, and healthcare, to enhance their security posture, meet compliance requirements, and confidently pass audits.

Findings backed by evidence

We've identified critical vulnerabilities in 70% of tested applications, including server compromises and leaked credentials, and helped secure their applications and infrastructure.

Clients Served: 100+
Critical issues found: 70%
Organisations Protected: 100+
Client Satisfaction Rate: 98%

Comparison criteria	Others	RecommendedPenva Security
Specialisation	Offer broad cybersecurity services with limited pentest focus	Focused and deeply specialised in penetration testing only
Pricing	High quotes with only a single actual resource on the project	Affordable and flexible pricing tailored to project needs
Transparency	No visibility throughout the penetration test engagement	Transparency via shared sheet tracking all test cases in real time
Collaboration	One-off report delivery after the penetration test is completed	Continuous collaboration with devs & providing a clean report at the end
Certifications	General security certs, often lacking pentest specialisation	Specialised pentest certs that take years to achieve

Professional penetration testing certifications held by our team
Brand Name	Certification	Certification Worth
	OSCP by Offensive Security OSCP+ by Offensive Security	The OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) is a highly regarded certification that validates practical penetration testing skills and is globally recognised by employers and regulators.
	CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) CREST Registered Penetration Tester (CRT)	CREST partners with national bodies in the UK, US, Australia, and Singapore, ensuring global recognition and compliance with the highest cybersecurity standards.
	HTB CPTS by Hack The Box	HTB Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (CPTS) validates hands-on penetration testing, vulnerability chaining and practical remediation reporting. It assesses how a tester identifies security weaknesses, demonstrates their impact and documents actionable findings.

Our testers hold recognised professional certifications in hands-on penetration testing.

Instant Estimate Quote

Get an Instant Penetration Testing Estimate

Answer a few scoping questions to get a practical estimate for web, API, mobile, infrastructure, and cloud penetration testing.

What type of penetration testing do you need?

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Team credentials

Our Team's Certifications

Our team holds industry-recognized pentest certifications that take years to achieve.

OSCP
CREST CRT
AWS Security Specialty
eJPT
HTB CPTS
OSCP+
OSEP
OSWE
GIAC GPEN
CompTIA PenTest+
eCPPT
PNPT

FAQ

Penetration Testing Services - Common Questions

Direct answers to the questions Australian businesses ask most often. Updated May 2026.

What are penetration testing services?

Penetration testing services are controlled, authorised security assessments in which certified ethical hackers simulate real-world cyber attacks against your applications, APIs, networks, cloud and mobile systems to find and prove exploitable vulnerabilities before criminals do. Modern penetration testing combines AI-accelerated reconnaissance for speed and coverage with human-led exploitation and validation for judgment, business-logic testing and zero false positives.

How much do penetration testing services cost in Australia?

Penetration testing in Australia typically costs between AUD $2,500 and AUD $40,000 per engagement. The price depends on the type of test (web app, API, network, cloud or mobile), the number of assets and user roles, the size of the attack surface, and whether testing is black-box or grey-box. Penva provides a fixed-price quote within 24 hours after a free scoping call, with no surprise add-ons and a free retest.

Do you use AI or human testers?

Both - in the right order. Penva uses AI and automation to accelerate reconnaissance, expand coverage and run continuous regression scanning, but every exploit, business-logic test and finding is performed and validated by a CREST-certified human tester. AI provides speed and breadth; humans provide judgment, exploitation and zero false positives. AI-only pentests miss business logic flaws, broken access control, IDOR chains, race conditions and authorisation bypasses - the vulnerabilities behind most real breaches.

What types of penetration testing does Penva offer?

Penva offers web application, API (REST & GraphQL), network (external & internal), cloud (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud), mobile (iOS & Android), and AI/LLM penetration testing. All engagements are CREST-certified, human-led and AI-accelerated, and delivered with audit-ready reporting and a free retest.

Are penetration testing services required for ISO 27001, SOC 2 or APRA compliance?

Yes. ISO/IEC 27001:2022 controls A.8.8, A.8.29 and A.5.23 expect technical vulnerability assessment and security testing. SOC 2 Trust Services Criterion CC7.1 requires vulnerability identification, with penetration testing as the standard evidence. PCI DSS Requirement 11.4 mandates testing at least annually and after any significant change. APRA CPS 234 expects regular testing of information security controls. Penva delivers reports formatted to satisfy all four frameworks.

How long does a penetration test take?

Most engagements take 5 to 10 business days of active testing plus 1 to 2 days for reporting. Because AI handles reconnaissance, our testers reach the high-value manual work faster - so timelines are shorter than traditional manual-only firms. A small website may take 3 to 5 days; a complex multi-role SaaS platform with APIs and SSO can take 2 to 3 weeks. Findings are shared progressively so developers can begin fixing during the engagement.

What is the difference between a vulnerability scan and a penetration test?

A vulnerability scan is automated and signature-based - it produces a long list of potential issues with many false positives. A penetration test validates exploitability: a certified human tester confirms which issues are real, chains them together, abuses business logic and produces a short, prioritised list of exploitable findings. Penva uses AI scanning to support coverage, but the test itself is human-led. Scans alone do not satisfy ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS or APRA expectations.

Are Penva's penetration testers CREST certified?

Yes. Penva's testers hold CREST Registered Penetration Tester (CRT) and CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) certifications recognised by CREST Australia New Zealand, plus Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) and HTB Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (HTB CPTS). CREST is the certification body referenced by Australian government, financial services and enterprise procurement teams.

Do you provide a free retest after we fix the vulnerabilities?

Yes. Every Penva fixed-price penetration test includes one free retest within 60 days. After remediation, we re-validate each finding and issue an updated report confirming closure - the evidence ISO 27001, SOC 2 and PCI DSS auditors require.

Which industries and cities do you serve in Australia?

Penva serves SaaS platforms, FinTech and payments providers, healthcare and EdTech organisations, e-commerce retailers, professional services and government supply-chain vendors, with active clients in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.

Let's talk security

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