Penetration testing (pen testing) is a cornerstone of any robust cybersecurity strategy, however, not all pen tests are created equal.
In the rush to secure systems and check compliance boxes, some organizations opt for the cheapest option available. While it might seem like a win for the budget, a subpar pen test can create vulnerabilities that cost far more in the long term. Here are seven reasons why going cheap on your pen test can end up being an expensive mistake.
What makes a pen test cheaper? The better question is, what elements of a quality penetration test are skipped or scaled back to cut costs?
Cheap penetration testing options often sacrifice key elements, relying exclusively or almost exclusively on automated penetration testing tools, skipping manual validation, limiting the scope of testing, or employing inexperienced testers. These approaches might reduce upfront expenses but fail to provide the thoroughness required to identify and address critical vulnerabilities.
Consequently, organizations are left with an incomplete understanding of their risk profile and a false sense of security. This can seem great for checking a box on a cyber-insurance application or certain compliance requirements, but does little to materially strengthen your security program and help your organization as well as its clients, customers, and employees avoid a worst-case breach or ransomware scenario.
1. Cheap Penetration Testing Leaves Blind Spots
Cheap penetration testing often prioritizes speed over depth. This is the most obvious way a budget-friendly option can be your downfall later on, but let’s cover it anyway:
A cursory test of limited scope or complexity, conducted by predominantly automated tools—no matter how advanced they may claim to be—focuses solely on surface-level vulnerabilities without deeper manual analysis. This can leave critical vulnerabilities undetected, such as logical flaws, privilege escalation pathways, or complex attack chains that skilled attackers or a trained penetration tester could find and exploit.
For example, internal penetration testing might be ignored entirely in favor of faster, external network penetration testing. Addressing a breach caused by such an oversight can result in hefty financial and reputational costs.
2. Unqualified, or Entry-Level Penetration Testers
At responsible, well-managed, and ethical companies, entry-level penetration testers are required to obtain certifications, train endlessly, stay abreast of the latest industry news, learn testing tools inside and out, shadow expert staff during engagements, and run their first self-led engagements with careful oversight and review of a veteran tester. At the best companies, associate penetration testers obtain multiple certifications, and hundreds of hours of real-world experience before they ever complete a test independently.
How valuable is cheap penetration testing conducted by someone who hasn’t completed these steps and worked their way up into their role by proving their expertise? Results will vary, to say the least.
Inexpensive pen testing providers often employ less experienced testers or outsource to unvetted third parties to save costs. This can introduce communication disconnects, even language barriers if the company in question is seeking out cheaper labor abroad, and these junior or poorly trained testers may lack the expertise to understand complex systems, leading to misidentified vulnerabilities, false positives, or false negatives.
Relying on such findings means you could waste resources chasing non-issues or, worse, fail to remediate actual threats, setting the stage for costly incidents. A certified penetration testing professional brings the expertise necessary to avoid these pitfalls and ensure high-quality results. Keep in mind, that you’re investing in your penetration tester and their years of experience–and trust us–you get what you pay for.
3. Non-Comprehensive Reports Provide Little Value
A quality pen test culminates in a detailed report outlining vulnerabilities, their severity, and actionable remediation steps.
Discount providers frequently cut corners by delivering boilerplate reports that lack specificity or clarity. For example, they may omit details such as the exact conditions required to exploit a vulnerability, its potential impact on interconnected systems, or prioritized steps for remediation. Such reports may also fail to contextualize risks for your unique environment, whether they stem from internal network penetration testing or external network penetration testing. This leaves you ill-equipped to address real threats effectively.
4. Compliance Failures Can Lead to Fines
If your pen test is part of a compliance requirement (e.g., PCI DSS, HIPAA, or SOC 2), a cheap assessment might not even ‘check the box’ as we discussed earlier.
For example, PCI DSS mandates rigorous testing of payment systems, and HIPAA requires thorough protection of patient data. SOC 2 penetration testing specifically requires a tailored approach to ensure that your systems align with trust service criteria. A non-compliant test might miss these critical requirements, leading to penalties, such as fines of up to $50,000 per violation under HIPAA or significant fees for PCI non-compliance. Regulatory audits can expose these shortcomings, resulting in additional remediation costs and damage to your reputation.
Worse, relying on a non-compliant test could leave you liable for breaches that occur later.
5. Missed Opportunities for Risk Mitigation
A well-executed pen test does more than find vulnerabilities, it provides insights to improve your overall security posture.
Low-cost providers often fail to engage in meaningful discussions about risk mitigation or strategic improvements. For instance, they might overlook opportunities to implement zero trust architecture, improve incident response plans, or enhance employee security training. These omissions can extend to missing nuanced insights from the completed penetration test. This oversight leaves your organization vulnerable to emerging threats and denies you the long-term benefits of a robust cybersecurity framework.
6. Limited Scope Leaves Assets Unprotected
Cheap penetration testing frequently restricts scope to save time and resources. They might focus on easily testable areas while ignoring others, such as network infrastructure, APIs, or third-party integrations. For example, a budget-friendly provider may test only your web applications but skip crucial infrastructure penetration testing, leaving your core systems unprotected.
Similarly, focusing only on internal vs external penetration testing without a comprehensive approach can create significant blind spots. Attackers won’t limit their focus, and an untested asset could become the weak link that compromises your entire organization.
7. Breach Costs Far Outweigh Testing Savings
Ultimately, the biggest risk of a cheap pen test is the potential for a breach.
IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024 estimates the average global breach cost at $4.88 million. Beyond direct financial losses, breaches result in downtime, legal fees, lost customers, and damaged trust. Skimping on penetration testing agreements with a reputable provider is a gamble that can backfire catastrophically, far outweighing any upfront savings.
How to Choose the Right Pen Testing Provider
Avoiding the pitfalls of cheap penetration testing requires investing in quality assessments. Here’s what to look for in a provider:
- Proven Expertise: Choose firms with experienced, certified testers (e.g., OSCP, CISSP).
- Customized Scoping: Ensure the test addresses all critical assets and potential attack vectors.
- Comprehensive Reporting: Look for detailed, actionable reports tailored to your environment.
- Reputation and References: Check reviews, case studies, and client testimonials.
- Commitment to Collaboration: Engage providers who take the time to understand your needs and discuss remediation strategies.
Key Takeaways
The ROI of a penetration test is notoriously difficult to determine. However, a low-quality test that leads to a breach communicates the need to invest in a thorough engagement, performed by certified security experts rather effectively.
While the allure of a cheap penetration test is understandable, the potential costs of an inadequate assessment far outweigh the savings. Investing in a reputable, thorough pen test—whether it includes internal penetration testing, infrastructure penetration testing, or assumed breach penetration testing—is an investment in your organization’s security and resilience. The stakes are too high to cut corners.
