While the average vulnerability assessment costs between $1,000 and $5,000, the final price tag can vary significantly based on scope, target complexity, and the features offered under various plans. In today’s complex threat landscape, where cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and AI-driven, robust vulnerability assessments are no longer optional but essential.
To effectively protect against modern threats, these assessments must evolve beyond traditional penetration testing to encompass behavioral analytics and automation, simulating real-world threats to fortify defenses.
To better understand these costs, let’s break down the key components contributing to the overall price.
Factors Affecting Vulnerability Assessment Cost
Investing in a vulnerability assessment is a business decision, and naturally, you’re looking for a strong return on investment (ROI). However, determining the true value of a vulnerability assessment can be challenging due to factors beyond cost, such as the quality of risk assessment and ease of management.
To better understand the cost of a vulnerability assessment, let’s examine the five primary components that contribute to the overall price:
Factor #1: The Vulnerability Scanner
A vulnerability scanner is the cornerstone of any assessment, continuously probing your infrastructure for weaknesses. Its effectiveness depends on several key features:
- Regularly Updated Scanner Rules: To stay ahead of evolving threats, the scanner’s rules must be consistently updated to facilitate automation and scan behind login capabilities.
- Comprehensive Vulnerability Coverage: A robust scanner should identify a wide range of vulnerabilities with vetted scans, including those listed in critical frameworks like OWASP Top 10 and SANS 25.
- CI/CD Integration: Seamless integration into your development pipeline enables continuous vulnerability scanning.
- User-Friendly Management Dashboard: A clear and interactive dashboard facilitates efficient vulnerability management, allowing for collaboration with security experts.
Factor #2: The Vulnerability Assessment Report
The assessment report is the final product, and its quality determines the success of the entire process. An effective report should:
- Categorize Vulnerabilities: Clearly classify vulnerabilities based on severity and risk to your organization.
- Provide Clear and Concise Summaries: Explain findings in a way that is understandable to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Offer Detailed Remediation Guidance: Include step-by-step instructions and, ideally, video demonstrations to aid in the repair process.
Factor #3: Remediation Support
While the core assessment process has a fixed price point, the level of assistance provided for fixing identified vulnerabilities varies widely. VAPT providers offering comprehensive remediation support, such as expert guidance, hands-on assistance, or even managed remediation services, often charge a premium.
Conversely, those with minimal or no remediation support typically have lower costs. Ultimately, the choice between cost and the value of additional support depends on an organization’s specific needs and resources.
Factor #4: Scope of the Assessment
The number of systems, applications, or networks included in the assessment directly correlates with the cost. A comprehensive assessment covering the entire IT infrastructure will naturally be more expensive than a focused evaluation of specific systems.
Factor #5: Industry and Regulatory Compliance
Regulatory compliances such as GDPR, HIPPA, and SOC 2 impose specific assessment requirements, often involving stringent documentation and adherence to particular standards. These extra layers of scrutiny increase the complexity and time invested in the vulnerability assessment process, resulting in higher costs than standard assessments.
By now, you know what contributes to the vulnerability assessment price. You also know what to look for when you are trying to compare a bunch of VAPT tools. We will discuss a solution that trumps most of its competitors by a mile in all these categories to help you get a well-defined line of reference.
Why is it Important to Choose the Right Vulnerability Assessment Provider?
Vulnerability assessment is a necessary process that improves your company’s security posture by mitigating security loopholes before they’re exploited. So, above anything else, it has to be easy. If stressed about the vulnerability assessment process, you might eventually stall it and pay for the consequences.
The right vulnerability assessment partner gives you an easy way of monitoring the vulnerabilities. They assist with the remediation process and help you put everything on autopilot. Once settled with the VAPT provider, you wouldn’t want to change the good thing.
So, it is imperative to choose the right one the first time. To make the best choice initially, consider taking advantage of free or low-cost trial periods like $7/per week often offered by providers.
How can Astra Help?
Astra’s advanced PTaaS platform combines the power of automation, AI, and human expertise to deliver unparalleled vulnerability assessment services for web applications, and the API endpoints it consumes.
Our intelligent scanner meticulously examines web applications with over 10,000 tests, ensuring zero false positives through rigorous validation. Moreover, with the scanner rules updated on a fortnightly basis, seamless integrations, and scan-behind-login, Astra does it all.
Leveraging AI-driven test cases to uncover complex vulnerabilities, it provides actionable insights through intuitive dashboards and customizable reports, all at a competitive price.
Astra’s Vulnerability Assessment Cost
| Scanner | Pentest | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|
| $1,999 | $5,999 | Starting at $9,999 |
| Weekly Vulnerability Scans & 4 Vetted Scans | Unlimited Vulnerability Scans & 1 Pentest by Security Experts | Vulnerability Assessment & Pentesting by Security Experts |
| 10,000+ Tests | Integration with CI/CD Tools | Cloud Security Report |
| Pentest Dashboard, Scan Behind Login | Zero False Positive Assurance with Vetted Scans | Publicly Verifiable VAPT Certification |
| No rescans | 2 rescans + 30 days post pentest support | 4 rescans + 90 days post pentest support |
| No certificate | Publicly verifiable certificate | Publicly verifiable certificate |
| Trial for 7 days available at $7 | Everything in the Scanner Plan | Everything in the Pentest Plan |
The above table summarizes Astra’s vulnerability scanner cost and plans. The cost is based on the number of tests and the depth of the plan, allowing you to choose a package that best suits your needs and budget.
Final Thoughts
A vulnerability assessment is necessary because it proactively identifies security weaknesses in your systems before attackers exploit them. The ideal vulnerability assessment should provide actionable insights through a clear and concise report. Choosing a vulnerability assessment provider goes beyond just cost.
Vulnerability assessment costs range from $1,000 to $5,000 annually, and factors like the quality of the vulnerability scanner, the report itself, and the remediation support can significantly impact the value you derive from it.
Look for features like vulnerability categorization based on severity, step-by-step remediation instructions, and video walkthroughs to aid developers. Finally, consider the remediation support offered by the provider.
FAQs
What is the minimum vulnerability scanning price for Astra pentest?
Astra pentest starts at $199 per month.
What are the USPs of Astra’s vulnerability assessment?
Continuous scanning with CI/CD integration, contextual collaboration, free rescans, and the widest possible coverage of CVEs.
Who should opt for a vulnerability assessment?
Any digital business trying to stay secure from cyber attacks should opt for a vulnerability assessment. This is especially true for businesses working with sensitive customer data.
