The verdict in three sentences
A security audit is not a compliance expense, it is a sales accelerator: without a pentest report, enterprise deals requiring SOC 2 or ISO 27001 stay blocked. In 2026 in Dublin, a black-box pentest costs EUR 4,000-9,000, a grey/white-box approach EUR 8,000-20,000, and remediation adds 3 to 15 person-days. The right reflex: audit before production, then at every major release.
Audit types and 2026 pricing
Price depends on how much access the auditor gets. In black box they attack with no information, like a real attacker; in white box they have code and access, which is more exhaustive but longer.
| Audit type | Auditor access | Coverage | 2026 price (EUR) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black-box pentest | None | External surface | 4,000 - 9,000 | 3-6 d |
| Grey-box pentest | User account | Authenticated flows | 8,000 - 14,000 | 6-10 d |
| White-box pentest | Code + infra | Exhaustive | 12,000 - 20,000 | 10-15 d |
| Code audit | Full repo | Code vulnerabilities | 6,000 - 15,000 | 5-12 d |
| Architecture review | Diagrams + interviews | Design | 4,000 - 10,000 | 3-8 d |
A senior pentester's day rate in Dublin sits between EUR 700 and 1,100 in 2026. A professional report includes CVSS severity, exploitation proof and a prioritized remediation plan.
The scope to cover
A serious audit is not just an automated scan. It must cover the OWASP Top 10, authenticated intrusion tests, secrets management and architecture review.
| Area | What is tested | Recommended cadence |
|---|---|---|
| OWASP Top 10 | Injection, XSS, broken access | Every major release |
| Authenticated tests | Privilege escalation, IDOR | Annual |
| Secrets management | API keys, tokens, .env | Annual + CI |
| Encryption | Transit (TLS), at rest | Annual |
| Dependencies | Library CVEs | Continuous (CI) |
| Configuration | Headers, CORS, cookies | Every release |
Remediation often costs as much as the audit itself: budget 3 to 15 person-days depending on the number and severity of flaws found, roughly EUR 1,500-12,000.
The commercial impact of a report
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
A recent pentest report plus in-progress compliance unblocks enterprise sales cycles. More and more buyers across Europe and internationally demand security proof before signing.
| Buyer requirement | What you must provide | 2026 cost to obtain |
|---|---|---|
| Security questionnaire | Recent pentest report | EUR 4,000 - 9,000 |
| SOC 2 Type I | Audit + documented controls | EUR 15,000 - 35,000 |
| SOC 2 Type II | Evidence over 6-12 months | EUR 25,000 - 60,000 |
| ISO 27001 | ISMS + certification | EUR 20,000 - 50,000 |
Mini case study
Sophie, CIO of a 25-person HR SaaS vendor in Dublin, must answer an RFP from a large industrial account requiring a pentest report under 12 months old. She orders a grey-box pentest at EUR 11,000, plus 6 person-days of remediation at EUR 4,800. The deal at stake is worth EUR 90,000/year. The EUR 15,800 investment unlocks a contract that pays back in under three months, and the report will serve three other RFPs the same year.
FAQ
How often should I pentest? At least once a year and at every major release. Enterprise buyers usually require a report under 12 months old, which forces an annual cadence.
What is the difference between a pentest and a code audit? A pentest attacks the running application to find exploitable flaws; a code audit reads the source to catch vulnerabilities upstream. They are complementary; budget EUR 6,000-15,000 for a code audit.
Do I need SOC 2 or ISO 27001 from day one? Rarely at launch. A simple pentest report at EUR 4,000-9,000 often suffices for early enterprise accounts; SOC 2 (EUR 15,000-60,000) becomes worthwhile once several prospects demand it.
How much is remediation? Between 3 and 15 person-days depending on the number of critical flaws, roughly EUR 1,500-12,000. Well-designed code from the start greatly reduces this line item.
Does a pentest guarantee no vulnerabilities? No, it is a point-in-time snapshot within a defined scope. That is why you combine an annual pentest, continuous dependency scanning and good development practices.
Let's scope your project. Tell us the application type, the scope to audit and the commercial deadline, and we will frame pentest, code audit and remediation. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
