Website Security Audit Cost and Timeline in India: A Guide

A website security audit helps prevent cyberattacks and strengthen security by examining a website’s code, configurations, and servers to identify potential vulnerabilities while maintaining data confidentiality.

In India, a website security audit costs between Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 1,50,000. Globally, the range for website security audits is typically between $500 and $20,000.

Similarly, the timeline of an audit depends on factors such as complexity, size of the website, and chosen audit type. The average time taken to complete a website security audit is 2-15 business days.

Understanding Website Security Audit Costs

While the average website security audit pricing in India falls between Rs. 35,000 and Rs. 1,50,000, the exact price depends on the specific services included. Let’s break down what a complete website security audit package entails and approximate ranges of what each of these phases costs:

Phase	Phase Details	Cost Range
Assessment and Scoping	Scope & depth of the audit, and website structure is analyzed	Rs. 50,000 - Rs. 1,00,000
Automated Vulnerability Scanning	Vulnerability scanner tests and rescans. The results are also vetted by security experts.	Rs.30,000 - Rs. 1,00,000
Manual Penetration Testing	Security experts simulate real-world attacks to find vulnerabilities.	Rs.2,00,000 - 12,50,000
Detailed Reporting and Analysis	Detailed reports are provided with remediation plans.	Included with every scan
Remediation Assistance	Some security audit providers will help with the implementation of remediation.	Rs. 1,00,000 - 2,50,000
Follow-up Audits and Rescans	Conducting regular rescans to ensure all vulnerabilities are addressed.	Rs. 50,000 - Rs. 2,00,000

How to Budget for Your Website Security Audit?

• Size and Complexity of Your Website: A complex website with more features will require a more in-depth audit compared to a simpler website. For example, a simple brochure website will have different needs than a complex e-commerce platform.
• Industry: Regulations and compliance requirements can impact the scope and cost of your audit. For example, companies in the financial sector may need much more rigorous testing than those in other sectors.
• Depth of Scope: A basic vulnerability scan will be less expensive than a comprehensive audit that includes penetration testing and code review from security experts.
• Provider Options: The cost will also be influenced by the auditing company’s experience and expertise. For example, a more established firm with highly skilled professionals may charge a premium.

Here are Some Ballpark Figures to Get You Started:

• Basic Vulnerability Scanner: This is a good starting point for smaller websites with limited resources. Depending on the provider, costs can range from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 35,000 per month in India, with the annual cost ranging between Rs. 1,00,000 and Rs. 2,00,000.
• Comprehensive Audit: Ideal for businesses with a larger online presence or stricter compliance requirements, this includes a wider range of tests and may involve code review. Depending on the provider, it will typically cost between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 3,00,000, and the pricing is usually billed annually.
• High-Level Penetration Testing: This is the go-to for enterprises in highly regulated industries or those handling sensitive data. Such a pentest simulates real-world attacks to identify exploitable weaknesses. This is the most expensive option, typically costing Rs. 3,00,000 to Rs. 7,00,000 per year.

Factors Influencing Website Security Audit Cost

1. Scope of a Website Security Audit

As highlighted above, the type of website you have determines the scope of the website security audit you would need. A simple vulnerability assessment looks for broad weaknesses like weak passwords and outdated software. 

A more comprehensive audit simulates hacker-style penetration tests to analyze website servers, databases, application code, and third-party integrations. Such a more in-depth analysis naturally comes at a higher cost.

2. Type of Security Audit Required

There are three types of website security audits: white box, gray box, and black box. White box audits are the most expensive type and require complete knowledge of the website’s internal structure. They are also time-consuming. 

Gray box tests involve limited knowledge of the website and are priced in the mid-range of the three. Black box tests simulate attacks with no knowledge of the website and without any internal access and are the cheapest of the three.

If an on-premise audit is required, costs increase further due to the need for physical presence and infrastructure assessments. 

3. Quality of Pentesters

High-quality, experienced testers who excel in offensive pentests often have a higher price tag due to their advanced skills and expertise. These professionals can simulate real-world attack scenarios to uncover vulnerabilities that less experienced testers might miss.

Pentesters with industry-standard certifications like OSCP and CEH bring additional credibility. While investing in such certified experts ensures a thorough and effective audit, it increases the overall cost. However, their value often justifies the expense by significantly enhancing your website’s security.

4. Frequency of Audits

How often you conduct security audits will also affect your budget. Regular audits, such as monthly, quarterly, or bi-annual assessments, help maintain ongoing security but come with recurring costs, while conducting annual audits is more cost-effective.

In the long run, however, frequent audits can help save money by preventing expensive cyberattacks that result in the significant loss of sensitive data and money. 

5. PTaaS vs. Traditional Pentesting

PTaaS leverages automation and pre-built testing tools, reducing manual effort by security experts. It also offers flexible pricing models and scalability, allowing businesses to pay for what they need. 

Thus, compared to traditional pentesting, PTaaS provides better ROI even though the cost of both services is similar. Its continuous testing and reporting benefits outweight those compared to traditional pentests’ one-time assessment.

Is the Lowest-Priced Website Security Audit Best For You?

Regarding website security audits, focusing solely on the lowest price can be a false economy. It’s better to prioritize ROI and consider the value you receive for the cost of the audit. Here are some reasons why the cheapest option might not be the best one for you:

Limited Scope

Lower-priced audits usually only offer basic scans, potentially missing critical vulnerabilities that could result in financial and data losses. These vulnerabilities could leave your site exposed to serious attacks and heavy fines as reparations.

Lack of Expertise

While budget-friendly options exist, a skilled professional can identify intricate issues that might elude basic tools.  Security audits require a deep understanding of current threats and vulnerabilities. An expert eye can identify complex issues a basic tool might miss.

Remediation Guidance

A truly valuable security assessment goes beyond simply identifying vulnerabilities. A good audit should not only identify problems but also offer clear and actionable recommendations on how to address them.

How Can Astra Security Help?

Key Features:

• Platform: SaaS
• Types of Pentests: Gray box and black box
• Pentest Capabilities: Continuous automated scans with 9300+ tests and manual pentests 
• Accuracy: Zero false positives
• Compliance Scanning: OWASP, PCI-DSS, HIPAA, ISO27001, and SOC2
• Expert Remediation Assistance: Yes
• Workflow Integration: Slack, JIRA, GitHub, GitLab, Jenkins, and more
• Price: Starting at $1999/yr

Built by experienced penetration testers, we offer three major plans to help address all your website security audit concerns:

Scanner	Pentest	Enterprise
Rs. 1,67,000 per year	Rs. 5,00,000 per year	Rs. 6,65,000 per year
Weekly Vulnerability Scans	Unlimited Vulnerability Scans & 1 Manual Pentest	Vulnerability Assessment & Pentesting by Security Experts
9,300+ Tests	Integration with CI/CD Tools	Cloud Security Report
Pentest Dashboard, Scan Behind Login	Zero False Positive Assurance	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
Free trial for 7 days	Everything in the Scanner Plan	Everything in the Pentest Plan

The above table shows the pricing of website VAPT based on the number of tests and the depth of the plan

Scanner Plan

Built on the industry-leading standards of OWASP, NIST, and SANS25, Astra’s automated web scanner empowers you with continuous security insights. Containing 9300+ tests, it goes beyond just identifying vulnerabilities—it analyzes their impact, prioritizes them by criticality, and provides step-by-step remediation guidance specific to your application.

Astra’s expert-vetted scans ensure zero false positives. Its round-the-clock support and seamless integrations with CI/CD tools, Slack, Jira, and more make it a perfect fit. 

Lastly, it goes the extra mile by scanning the API your app consumes to conduct an in-depth hacker-style audit, including port scanning and subdomain takeover, for just Rs. 1,67,000  per year.

Pentest Plan

The Astras Pentest plan is priced at Rs. 5,00,000 per year. In addition to everything in the Scanner plan, it also includes a comprehensive penetration test (VAPT) conducted by security experts who simulate real-world attacks to find vulnerabilities and assess their severity and potential impact.

The plan also includes a dedicated cloud security review, compliance reports, and business logic security testing, which identifies vulnerabilities that could be exploited to manipulate your application’s core functionalities.

A publicly verifiable penetration test certificate builds trust with users and stakeholders, displaying your commitment to security. Our team of security experts provides valuable insights and contextual advice, helping you prioritize and address issues effectively.

Enterprise Plan

The enterprise plan is customizable and tailored to your needs. It allows you to set up testing for multiple targets, utilize a 3-month rescan period, and receive all the benefits of the Pentest plan. The pricing for this plan is variable based on customizations, but it starts at Rs. 8,33,000. 

The enterprise plan is best suited for customers with diverse infrastructures, including web applications, mobile applications, cloud infrastructures, and networks. There would be a CSM dedicated to your organization as your POC and the SLA/contract can be customized according to your requirements. This plan also offers multiple payment options.

Typical Timeline For A Website Security Audit

A website security audit can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. For smaller, less complex websites, the audit might be completed within 3 to 7 business days. However, larger, more intricate websites with extensive functionalities may require 10-20 business days to complete.

• Setup and Onboarding (1-2 business days): Defining the scope of the audit.
• Automated Pentesting Prep & Execution (2 business days): Running automated vulnerability scans to identify potential weaknesses and conducting manual pentesting to simulate real-world attacks.
• Manual Pentesting (8-10 business days): Identifying attack vectors through manual pentests combined with AI test cases to analyze CVEs and business logic errors.
• Analyzing & Creating Reports (1-2 business days): You will receive reports with detailed reproduction and patch instructions. To validate fixes, you will run 2 free rescans over the next 60 days.

Final Thoughts

Investing in a website security audit is a vital first step for a company that prioritizes protecting its digital assets. You can receive significant ROI from an audit, even though the cost varies depending on the audit’s scope, type, and the pentesters’ level of experience. 

By preventing a cyberattack, an organization can avoid severe financial losses, harm to its brand, and operational disruption. Choosing qualified security experts and considering PTaaS for continuous security will help improve the effectiveness of your security measures. 

An audit should aim for long-term security and resilience, and businesses can make informed audit choices based on a clear understanding of the costs, timeline, and advantages. Moreover, even though a security audit may be a little expensive, the ROI is worth it!

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