IT Security Costs: Audits, Penetration Tests and Secure Development
What security audits, penetration tests and secure development cost – transparent ranges and models.
IT Security Costs – Audits and Secure Development
IT security: typical costs
Security audits and penetration tests are often billed as fixed-price projects: a basic web application test can start from €5,000 excl. VAT, more comprehensive audits from €15,000 excl. VAT. Secure development (security by design, code reviews, hardening) is usually part of the development project or billed as an additional percentage. We recommend clarifying scope and deliverables in advance so that costs remain plannable.
What influences IT security costs?
The scope of an IT security project depends on the size of the system, the number of interfaces and the depth of the audit. A simple website has fewer attack surfaces than a multi-tenant SaaS platform with APIs and integrations. Penetration tests can focus on the web front end only or include infrastructure, authentication and business logic. We define the scope in a short briefing and then provide a fixed quote. Secure development – building security into architecture, code reviews and hardening – is often included in our development rates or quoted as a separate phase so you can plan budget clearly.
Ongoing security (monitoring, incident response, updates) can be billed as a retainer or as part of a maintenance contract. We recommend starting with an audit or penetration test to identify the most critical risks, then prioritising remediation and optionally integrating secure development into your next project. Use the calculator below to estimate risk and potential impact; for a tailored quote for audits, penetration tests or secure development get in touch – we outline options and typical cost ranges without obligation.
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IT Security Costs
Audits & Ongoing Security
How much does a security audit or penetration test cost?
A basic web application test can start from €5,000 excl. VAT; more comprehensive audits from €15,000 excl. VAT. We define scope in a short briefing and provide a fixed quote.
What influences IT security costs?
Scope depends on system size, number of interfaces and audit depth. A simple website has fewer attack surfaces than a multi-tenant SaaS platform. Penetration tests can focus on the front end only or include infrastructure, authentication and business logic.
Is secure development included in development projects?
Secure development (security by design, code reviews, hardening) is usually part of the development project or billed as an additional percentage. We can quote it as a separate phase so you can plan budget clearly.
What about ongoing security?
Monitoring, incident response and updates can be billed as a retainer or as part of a maintenance contract. We recommend starting with an audit to identify critical risks, then prioritising remediation.
How secure is your company?
Assess your IT security risk and the ROI of a security audit
What industry are you in?
Typical pricing models (overview)
| Model | When it fits | Budget & flexibility | Typical risks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed price (fixed scope) | Clearly defined scope, stable requirements, repeatable delivery. | Predictable total cost; little room for change without a change order. | Scope creep leads to change orders or quality trade-offs. |
| Time & Material | Discovery, legacy, evolving requirements, or close collaboration. | Maximum flexibility; budget transparent via hourly or daily rates. | Without prioritisation, effort can grow—backlog and reviews matter. |
| Retainer / maintenance package | Ongoing operations, updates, small features, and support. | Agreed capacity per month; predictable follow-on cost. | Large changes may still need a separate estimate. |
| Hybrid (milestone + T&M) | MVP or phased releases with clear go-lives, then iterate. | Core delivery fixed price; extensions on a time-and-materials basis. | Define contractually what is in scope vs. extra work. |
Calculators on this page provide indicative ranges; we choose the right model with you based on risk, scope, and planning horizon.
Costs & next steps
IT security costs: audits, penetration tests and secure development – transparent ranges for assessments and hardening.
The ranges shown are indicative. For a binding quote we discuss scope, priorities and funding options in a free intro call. Many digitalization projects qualify for grants – try our funding calculator.
Browse all cost calculators, explore services and typical solutions. Questions about It Security? Contact us.