When teams talk about tightening network security, the conversation usually jumps straight to tools – firewalls, endpoint protection, threat detection. But sooner or later, someone brings up audits. And that’s when things get quiet.
Not because audits aren’t important, they are, but because most people don’t really know what they cost. You can Google it and find anything from a few thousand to tens of thousands. Not exactly helpful when you’re trying to plan a realistic budget or pitch it to leadership.
In this article, we’ll break down where the money actually goes during a network security audit. What affects pricing? What surprises tend to pop up? And how do you keep it efficient without cutting corners? Let’s walk through it in plain language.
What a Network Security Audit Is and What It Actually Costs
A network security audit sounds like something every company should do, and it usually is. But the cost is what catches people off guard. It’s not a fixed number, and that can feel frustrating until you look at what’s really being audited.
In short, these audits dig into how your network is set up, where the weak points are, and whether your current protections are actually doing anything useful. That could mean reviewing firewall rules, checking who has access to what, inspecting traffic patterns, and even interviewing staff to understand how policies play out in real life. Some audits go a step further and include manual testing to see if vulnerabilities are actually exploitable.
Here’s a quick breakdown of typical pricing:
- Small businesses with basic setups typically pay $3,000 to $7,000.
- Mid-sized companies with more complexity often spend $7,000 to $20,000.
- Enterprises or regulated environments may pay $50,000 or more.
The price reflects not just the size of your infrastructure, but also how much time the auditors need to understand it, how prepared your documentation is, and how customized the recommendations need to be. The more tailored and hands-on the audit, the more time it takes, and time is what you’re really paying for.
A-listware Network Security‑Related Services
At A‑listware, we are a software development and IT consulting company with over 20 years of combined experience in building secure and resilient technology environments. We help clients across industries design, develop, and support enterprise systems while keeping security and infrastructure stability front of mind. Part of that work includes helping organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture, which often goes hand in hand with understanding and preparing for network security audits.
We offer cybersecurity services alongside software, infrastructure, and help‑desk support, which means we can assist teams not just in identifying vulnerabilities but also in maintaining secure configurations and controls that auditors will look for. Preparing in advance for a network audit – from tightening access rules to documenting your architecture and policies – can streamline the audit process and make the associated costs more predictable. Our approach is practical and focused on delivering value, helping teams make audit outcomes more actionable and grounded in real improvements.
Because we also provide infrastructure services and managed IT support, we work with clients to ensure that both cloud and on‑prem systems are set up with consistent practices. Those foundational elements – clear documentation, well defined controls, and reliable monitoring – not only improve network security in daily operations but can reduce the time auditors spend gathering information. That, in turn, helps teams plan and manage the overall cost of network security audits more effectively.
What You’re Paying For: Audit Phases
A good chunk of the cost isn’t the testing itself. It’s the work before and after. Here’s what a typical audit includes and where the money goes.
1. Pre-Audit Planning
Before anything is tested, someone has to define the scope. That means understanding your environment, deciding what will and won’t be in the review, and gathering the right documentation.
Typical tasks include:
- Scoping calls or discovery sessions.
- Collecting asset inventories.
- Reviewing past audits or reports.
- Mapping out high-risk systems.
Cost: $500 to $2,000. If your documentation is a mess, expect this number to go up.
2. Vulnerability Assessment
Automated scans look for known issues like unpatched systems, open ports, outdated services, and exposed admin panels. This part is fast and cheap, but it’s only the beginning.
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000. Cheaper if you’re doing regular scans in-house and only need validation.
3. Penetration Testing (Optional, but Common)
Pen testers go beyond the scan and try to exploit what they find. This simulates how a real attacker might move through your network, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate data.
Cost: $3,000 to $20,000+. Depends on scope. Testing a single subnet is different from testing your entire hybrid environment with remote endpoints and SaaS integrations.
4. Configuration and Policy Review
Auditors look at how your network devices (firewalls, routers, switches) are actually configured. They also check documentation around access control, incident response, and data handling.
Cost: $2,000 to $10,000. The more devices and custom policies you have, the longer this takes.
5. Compliance Gap Analysis
If you’re working toward something like SOC 2, HIPAA, or ISO 27001, this part checks how close you are to being compliant.
Cost: $3,000 to $12,000. Focused audits may skip this if compliance isn’t a goal.
6. Reporting and Management Review
The final deliverable isn’t just a PDF. Good auditors walk through their findings, explain what matters, and suggest practical steps.
Expect:
- Executive summaries.
- Technical findings with severity ratings.
- Recommended remediation actions.
- Follow-up Q&A sessions.
Cost: $1,000 to $3,000. Add extra if you want remediation support or validation scans afterward.
Hidden Costs You Might Miss
What most people don’t factor in is the internal cost. Your staff spends time gathering info, sitting through interviews, and fixing things mid-audit. That time adds up.
Let’s say you’re a mid-size company and you’ve got the following roles involved:
- Compliance lead: 10-15 hours
- IT manager: 20-30 hours
- Admin assistant: 5-10 hours
- Developers or engineers (for infra validation): 10-20 hours
- Executive or CISO: 2-4 hours
Multiply that by average hourly rates, and you’re looking at $3,000 to $7,000 in soft costs, even before any findings are fixed.
In-House vs. External Audits
Some companies try to save money by keeping audits internal. It’s doable, but it comes with trade-offs:
Internal Audit Pros
An internal network security audit can be appealing for a few reasons. It tends to cost less, especially if your team already has the time and technical skills to handle it. Internal staff are also more familiar with the systems, which can make the process faster and easier to schedule around day-to-day operations.
Internal Audit Cons
But there are trade-offs. Internal audits often come with some degree of bias, even if unintentional. It’s easy to miss issues when you’re too close to the setup. You also lose the benefit of external validation, which can be important for clients, partners, or regulatory audits. An in-house review may not carry the same weight as a third-party assessment when it comes to proving you’ve taken security seriously.
External audits are more expensive, but they bring objectivity and often deeper expertise. Many companies do both – internal quarterly reviews plus external audits annually or before big launches.
Key Factors That Impact Final Cost
Some costs are predictable. Others sneak up on you. Here are the variables that swing the price most:
- Size of network: More subnets, more systems, more hours.
- Remote vs. on-site: Travel adds cost unless the firm works fully remote.
- Documentation readiness: Poor prep means more billable hours.
- Level of testing: Surface scans vs. deep manual penetration.
- Compliance needs: The closer to certification, the more thorough the review.
- Follow-up expectations: Some firms charge for retesting or post-audit support.
Network Security Audit Cost Summary
| Business Type | Scope of Audit | Typical Cost Range | Notes |
| Small Business | Basic external audit | $3,000 – $7,000 | Limited assets, one location, standard IT stack |
| Mid-Size Company | Broader audit with deeper scope | $7,000 – $20,000 | May include cloud, multiple offices, policy review |
| Enterprise or Regulated Org | Full-scale third-party audit | $20,000 – $50,000+ | Complex environments, compliance-driven, often includes testing |
| Internal Audit (all sizes) | Self-conducted by internal team | Cost of time and resources | Requires skilled staff, lacks external validation |
How to Keep Costs Manageable Without Sacrificing Value
There are smart ways to keep your audit budget under control without doing a half-baked job. Here’s what works:
- Narrow the scope strategically: Don’t try to audit everything at once. Start with internet-facing systems or your most critical data paths.
- Fix obvious issues beforehand: Run internal scans, patch known CVEs, close open ports, remove old users.
- Prepare documentation early: Clean inventories, access policies, and network diagrams save tons of time later.
- Bundle services: Some firms offer reduced rates if you combine a scan, pentest, and policy review.
- Go remote if possible: Remote audits are often cheaper and faster to schedule.
- Schedule off-peak: Avoid end-of-year rushes when auditors are swamped.
Final Thoughts
Security audits aren’t cheap, but breaches are worse. And while network security audits vary in price, they’re not random. The biggest cost driver is how prepared you are before the auditor shows up.
For most small to mid-size companies, budgeting $10,000 to $20,000 gives you room for a professional review with real testing and follow-up. If you’re trying to meet compliance standards, expect to spend more.
Think of the audit as a way to prove what’s working, fix what’s not, and get peace of mind that your network isn’t quietly full of holes. And if you’re strategic about scope and timing, you can do that without torching your entire budget.
FAQ
- How much should a small business expect to pay for a network security audit?
For a small company with a basic network setup, a professional audit might run between $5,000 and $15,000. That typically covers a one-time assessment, reporting, and recommendations. If you’re bundling it with other services like penetration testing or infrastructure cleanup, expect the upper end of that range.
- Are internal audits enough, or do I need an external firm?
Internal audits can be useful, especially if your team knows what to look for and has access to the right tools. But external firms bring fresh eyes and often spot risks your internal team is too close to see. For regulated industries or high-stakes environments, outside audits are usually the safer bet.
- What’s the biggest cost driver in a security audit?
Complexity. The more systems, devices, access points, and cloud services you have, the longer it takes to review everything properly. Customized environments or poor documentation also add to the bill because the auditors spend more time figuring things out before they even begin testing.
- How often should we do a network security audit?
At least once a year is a good baseline for most businesses. If you’re in healthcare, finance, or any industry with compliance requirements, you might need one more often. Also, anytime you undergo major infrastructure changes or migrate systems to the cloud, it’s smart to do another round.
- Can we reduce audit costs without cutting corners?
Yes, by getting your house in order before the audit starts. Have your documentation ready. Know your network map. Fix obvious gaps first. A well-prepared environment speeds up the process and can shave off hours (or even days) of billable time. Some companies even do a “pre-audit” internally to catch low-hanging fruit.
- What’s the difference between a vulnerability scan and a full audit?
A vulnerability scan is automated and usually surface-level. It flags known issues but doesn’t tell you much about how your business operates or whether your controls make sense. A full audit, on the other hand, looks at configurations, policies, user behavior, and the broader picture. Think of the scan as a blood test, and the audit as a full physical exam.
