TL;DR
Our first pen test cost $4,500, took two weeks, and found 12 issues (2 high, 4 medium, 6 low). Most were things we should have caught ourselves - and that's the point. It was worth it for the external validation, the findings we'd missed, and the report we could share with customers. Here's the full breakdown.
I was nervous before our first pen test. Would they find something catastrophic? Would they judge our code? Would we feel like idiots?
The reality was much more constructive than I'd feared.
Why We Got a Pen Test
Three reasons pushed us to finally do it:
- An enterprise customer required a security assessment
- We wanted external validation of our security practices
- We suspected we were missing things our automated scans didn't catch
The Process
Week 1: Scoping and Setup
- Calls to define what was in scope (our web app, API, infrastructure)
- Signed authorization agreement
- Provided tester with a test account (authenticated testing)
- Set up communication channel for urgent findings
Week 2: Active Testing
- Tester worked through our application methodically
- We got real-time pings for one critical finding
- Answered a few questions about intended functionality
Week 3: Report and Debrief
- Received detailed PDF report
- Video call to walk through findings
- Opportunity to ask questions about remediation
What They Found
High
IDOR in User Profile API
Could access other users' profile data by changing user ID in request
High
Weak Password Reset Token
Reset tokens were predictable and didn't expire quickly enough
Medium
Missing Rate Limiting on Login
Allowed unlimited password attempts without lockout
Medium
Verbose Error Messages
Stack traces visible in production error responses
Low
Missing Security Headers
Content-Security-Policy and other headers not configured
Low
Session Timeout Too Long
Sessions valid for 30 days without re-authentication
Plus 6 additional low/informational findings about configurations and best practices.
"Honestly, the IDOR finding was embarrassing. We should have caught that. But that's why you get external testers - they look at your app with fresh eyes and no assumptions about how it 'should' work."
Was It Worth $4,500?
Yes, for several reasons:
- Found real issues: The IDOR alone could have been a serious incident
- External validation: We could share the report with the enterprise customer
- Confidence boost: No critical findings in most areas we'd hardened
- Learning opportunity: Understanding how a tester thinks improved our own reviews
- Sales enablement: "We do annual pen tests" is a real competitive advantage
How to Prepare
Before your pen test, fix the obvious issues first. Don't pay someone to tell you:
- Your API keys are in the JavaScript bundle
- You're not using HTTPS
- Your npm dependencies have critical vulnerabilities
Run automated scans, fix those issues, then bring in a pen tester to find what automation misses.
- Fix obvious issues before the test (automated scan findings)
- Define scope clearly - what's in, what's out
- Provide appropriate access levels for thorough testing
- Set up communication for urgent findings
- Allocate dev time to fix issues after the report
- Plan for a re-test to verify fixes (often discounted)
How much does a pen test cost?
For a small web application, expect $3,000-$8,000 for a thorough test. More complex apps with mobile, API, and infrastructure can be $10,000+. Get quotes from multiple firms.
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When should a startup get their first pen test?
When you have real users and have already fixed obvious issues. Or when a customer/investor requires it. Don't do it too early - fix the basics first so you get value from the human tester finding things automation can't.
What's the difference between a pen test and a vulnerability scan?
Vulnerability scans are automated and find known issues. Pen tests have humans actively trying to break in using creativity, business logic understanding, and chained attacks. Both are valuable; they catch different things.
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Fix the obvious issues first so your pen test budget goes toward finding what automation can't.
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