How Much Does Penetration Testing Cost in the UK?
A clear, direct answer to this question — written for UK business owners and IT decision-makers.
Direct Answer
Penetration testing in the UK costs £2,000–£15,000+ depending on scope. A basic external network test for an SME costs £2,000–£5,000. Web application testing costs £3,000–£10,000 depending on application complexity. Annual pen testing is recommended for businesses handling sensitive data or pursuing certifications. Cyber Essentials Plus includes a technical audit, but a full pen test provides deeper coverage of your actual attack surface.
Key Points
What you need to know.
The Short Answer
A concise overview of what you need to know.
For UK Businesses
How this applies specifically in the UK context.
Cost Considerations
What to expect in terms of investment and ongoing costs.
Next Steps
What you should do with this information.
Quick Comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
BEC is a type of fraud where attackers impersonate executives or suppliers to trick employees into transferring funds or sharing sensitive data. BEC attacks increased 33% in 2025. The average loss per BEC incident is $137,000. Even organisations with fewer than 1,000 employees face a 70% weekly probability of a BEC attempt.
Phishing is the most common attack type, identified by 85% of businesses that experienced a breach (DSIT 2025). Phishing accounts for 93% of cyber crimes against businesses. AI-powered phishing has driven a 204% increase in phishing emails delivering malware in 2025.
The first hour after detection is considered the golden hour that determines outcome severity. Organisations that detect breaches internally save an average of $900,000 in costs. Only 22% of UK businesses have a formal cybersecurity incident management plan in place.
The top threats are phishing (85% of breaches), ransomware (doubled year-on-year), business email compromise (increased 33% in 2025), and supply chain attacks (35.5% of all breaches now originate from third parties). AI-powered attacks are accelerating all of these threat categories.
Yes. 50% of small businesses (10-49 employees) reported a cybersecurity breach in 2025. UK small businesses face around 65,000 hack attempts daily, with approximately 4,500 successful breaches. More than a quarter of SMBs say a single cyber attack could put them out of business entirely.
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Related Questions
Cybersecurity Guide for UK SMEs
How penetration testing fits within a broader cybersecurity programme for UK businesses.
Cyber Essentials Certification
Cyber Essentials Plus includes a technical audit — the starting point before a full penetration test.
How Much Does Managed Cybersecurity Cost?
Ongoing managed security that reduces the findings a pen test will surface in the first place.