Pricing · Penetration testing
How much does penetration testing cost in Australia?
Most single penetration tests in Australia cost between $4,000 and $15,000. A small external test can come in at $3,000, and a full-scope engagement runs from $15,000 to $50,000 or more.
- External network
- $3,000 to $8,000
- Web application
- $4,000 to $12,000
- Internal network
- $5,000 to $15,000
Most providers hide their pricing behind a contact form. Below is the full table, what moves the number, and how to tell a test that finds real problems from one that only produces a PDF.
The short answer
What a pen test costs in Australia.
These are typical ranges for manual testing by accredited testers. Automated tools start cheaper, but they are a different product, covered further down.
| Assessment type | Typical range (AUD) |
|---|---|
| External network | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| Internal network | $5,000 – $15,000 |
| Web application | $4,000 – $12,000 |
| Wireless (WiFi) | $2,500 – $6,000 |
| Full-scope engagement | $15,000 – $50,000+ |
Ranges are a planning guide, not a quote. The final figure depends on the size of your environment and what you need tested. A scoping call settles it quickly.
Where the number comes from
What drives the cost up or down.
Two quotes can look very different for the same job. Five things explain almost all of the gap.
Scope
The size of what you are testing. A handful of external IPs costs far less than a sprawling internal network. Number of applications, user accounts, and physical sites all feed the price.
Manual versus automated
An automated scan runs in hours for a few hundred dollars. Manual exploitation by an experienced tester takes days and finds what scanners miss. They are different products, and the price reflects it.
Report depth
A raw scanner export is cheap. A risk-rated report with reproduction steps, an executive summary, and remediation guidance takes skilled time to write.
Retest policy
Some providers charge again to confirm your fixes worked. Others build a retest window into the original fee. Check what each quote includes before you compare the headline number.
Tester accreditation
Certified, locally based testers cost more than an offshore scan-and-send. They also understand Australian obligations like the , APRA CPS 234, and the Privacy Act.
By assessment type
What each test covers.
Most businesses start with one or two of these. A full-scope engagement bundles several together and is priced as a programme.
External network
Tests your internet-facing infrastructure the way an outside attacker would. Usually the first test a business runs and the most cost-effective place to start.
See scope detail→Internal network
Assumes an attacker is already inside, through a phishing email or a rogue device. Maps how far they could move and what they could reach.
See scope detail→Web application
Tests a specific application against the OWASP Top 10 and business-logic flaws. Cost scales with the number of roles, inputs, and features in scope.
See scope detail→Wireless (WiFi)
Checks your wireless networks for weak encryption, rogue access points, and segregation gaps between guest and corporate traffic.
See scope detail→Value, not just price
What the fee should include.
The cheapest quote is rarely the best value. A fair price should cover all of the following before you compare two numbers.
Scoping call
A conversation to define exactly what gets tested, the rules of engagement, and the timeline before any work begins.
Manual exploitation
Human testing using real attack techniques, not an automated scan with a logo on the cover.
Risk-rated report
Every finding rated by likelihood and impact, with reproduction steps and an executive summary for the board.
Technical debrief
A walkthrough of the findings with your team so the report does not just sit in an inbox.
Remediation guidance
Step-by-step fix instructions written for the engineers who have to implement them.
Retest window
We validate your fixes within 30 days of the report at no extra cost. Confirmation the issues are actually closed.
Before you sign
Red flags in a cheap pen test.
A low price often means a smaller job than you think. These are the signs a quote is cheap for the wrong reasons.
- An automated scan sold as a penetration test.
- No manual exploitation written into the scope of work.
- A template report with your company name swapped in.
- No retest, so you pay again to confirm your fixes worked.
- Offshore testers with no grounding in Australian compliance.
How we quote
How IronSights prices an assessment.
We quote on fixed scope, not open-ended day rates. You know the number before the work starts, and it does not move unless the scope does.
It begins with a short scoping call to understand what you want tested and why. From there we put a written scope and a fixed-price quote in front of you within five business days. There is no lock-in, and you are free to walk away.
Want the detail on how the testing itself runs? Our penetration testing methodology walks through every stage, from reconnaissance to the final report.
Common questions
Asked by buyers like you.
Not in this list? Book a 30-minute consultation. No obligation.
How much does a penetration test cost?
In Australia, most single penetration tests cost between $4,000 and $15,000. An external network test is usually $3,000 to $8,000, a web application test $4,000 to $12,000 and an internal network test $5,000 to $15,000. A full-scope engagement across several of those runs from $15,000 to $50,000 or more. The number depends on how many systems, applications and user roles are in scope, and we fix it at scoping before any work starts.
What is the average cost of a pentest?
There is no single average, because a five-IP external test and a full internal and application engagement are different jobs. For a typical Australian small or mid-sized business, a first test of the internet-facing systems or one web application lands around $4,000 to $8,000. Larger estates with internal testing and several applications sit at $15,000 and up. Be wary of quotes far below these ranges, which usually mean an automated scan sold as a .
Is penetration testing worth it for a small business?
Yes. Smaller businesses are targeted precisely because attackers assume their defences are thinner. A scoped external test is an affordable starting point and often satisfies and tender requirements at the same time.
How much does a web application penetration test cost?
Most web application tests fall between $4,000 and $12,000. A single-role application with a handful of forms sits at the low end. A customer portal or SaaS product with several user roles, an API and third-party integrations sits in the middle to upper part of the range, because every role and every input has to be tested for access-control and injection flaws. A separate API or a mobile app that talks to the same backend is scoped as its own line item. We agree a fixed price at scoping, before any work starts, and the 30-day retest is included.
How long does a penetration test take?
Scope drives the timeline. An external test usually runs two to five days of active testing. Internal and web application tests depend on complexity. We give you a firm timeline at scoping, not a guess.
Do I need a penetration test for Essential Eight compliance?
The does not mandate a on its own, but testing is the practical way to prove your controls hold up against a real attacker. We map findings to the Essential Eight so the work feeds your compliance posture.
How often should we run a penetration test?
Once a year is the common baseline, plus a test after any major change to your environment, such as a new application, a cloud migration, or an office move. Annual testing is also where most policies and tenders set the bar.
What is the difference between a vulnerability scan and a penetration test?
A vulnerability scan is automated and lists potential weaknesses. A has a human exploit those weaknesses, chain them together, and prove the real-world impact. A scan tells you a door might be unlocked. A pen test walks through it.
Can you test outside business hours?
Yes. For sensitive or production environments we agree on a testing window up front, including out-of-hours work where it reduces operational risk. That is settled in the rules of engagement before testing starts.
First step
Get a fixed-price quote in under a week.
If you know roughly what you want tested, we can have a scope and a firm quote in front of you within five business days, with no lock-in.