The verdict in three sentences
Going live without an audit bets the company on there being no flaw at the moment of maximum exposure. A security audit combining code review, OWASP Top 10 checks and a pentest costs 4,000 to 15,000 EUR depending on surface area, delivered in 2 to 4 weeks with a prioritized fix plan. The real risk isn't the audit price but a breach: GDPR fines up to 4% of global revenue, lost trust and an emergency remediation bill.
What an audit covers and what it costs
Price depends on app size, number of roles and depth (black, grey or white box). 2026 ballpark for the European market.
| Audit type | Scope | Cost (EUR) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automated scan + quick review | Small app, 1 role | 4,000 - 6,000 | 1 week |
| Grey-box pentest | Medium app, multi-role | 7,000 - 10,000 | 2 - 3 weeks |
| White-box pentest + code review | Critical app, payment/data | 11,000 - 15,000 | 3 - 4 weeks |
| GDPR / compliance audit | Personal data processing | +2,000 - 4,000 | +1 week |
| Post-fix re-testing | Test replay | 1,500 - 3,000 | 1 week |
Budget for additional remediation: fixing the vulnerabilities found often runs 30 to 60% of the audit cost depending on technical debt.
Vulnerabilities by severity and remediation
A good report doesn't dump 200 raw alerts: it ranks by real severity and gives a concrete action. Sample deliverable aligned with the OWASP Top 10 2021, still in force in 2026.
| Vulnerability | Severity | Impact | Typical remediation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQL injection on a form | Critical | Full database leak | Parameterized queries, WAF |
| Broken access control (IDOR) | Critical | Access to others' data | Server-side checks |
| Weak authentication | High | Account takeover | MFA, password policy |
| Exposed secrets (API key) | High | Service compromise | Vault, rotation |
| Lax server configuration | Medium | Attack surface | CSP headers, hardening |
| Outdated dependencies | Medium | Known exploits | Updates, continuous SCA |
| No logging | Low | Late detection | Logs, alerting |
Simple rule: no critical or high vulnerability should remain open at go-live. Medium/low can be scheduled with a due date.
After the audit: re-testing and cyber insurance
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An audit with no re-test after fixes proves nothing. Plan a re-verification (1,500 to 3,000 EUR) and keep the report: more and more cyber insurers require it and adjust the premium based on demonstrated security.
Mini case study
Kevin, IT director of an e-health SME in Bordeaux, is about to launch a patient portal. The grey-box audit (9,000 EUR) reveals 2 critical flaws (IDOR on records, injection on search) and 5 high. Remediation costs 4,800 EUR and 3 weeks. Against the average cost of a health-data breach (hundreds of thousands of euros before any GDPR fine) and a potential exposure of 12,000 records, the ~13,800 EUR investment is trivial next to the risk avoided.
FAQ
Pentest or code review: which one? Ideally both. The pentest simulates a real attacker; the code review finds flaws invisible from outside. For a critical app, white-box combines the two.
How far before launch should I audit? Schedule the audit 4 to 6 weeks before the target date, to leave time to fix and re-test without slipping go-live.
Does an audit guarantee no flaws? No audit guarantees zero risk. It sharply reduces the attack surface and documents your diligence, which matters in a dispute or a regulator's inspection.
Is it mandatory? Not always, but GDPR requires proportionate security measures. For sensitive data (health, payment), an audit is effectively expected.
How often to renew? At minimum on every major change and once a year. A dependency scan (SCA) should run continuously in the CI/CD.
Let's scope your project. Describe your app (stack, roles, data processed, launch date): we'll price the right audit, remediation and re-testing. 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.
