How Much Does an IT Security Audit Cost
In the United States, companies are repeatedly tested to show their effective use of cybersecurity. If you want to comply, increase trust or satisfy due diligence, an IT security audit is generally the starting point to check your security measures. But how much does it cost to get one done? How you answer will depend on your systems in place, the kind of industry and the amount of detail in the audit. IT security audit costs can vary widely—a basic vulnerability assessment for a small company costs around $3,000. Audits carried out following regulations such as HIPAA, SOC 2 and ISO 27001 can end up being more expensive if the business is of a good size, often costing over $50,000. This blog explains what impacts the cost of an IT security audit, the kinds of audits available and offers ways for businesses to suit their requirements. Having an idea of what to expect means both startups and established companies can make a smarter plan for winning enterprise clients or getting certified. What Is an IT Security Audit? The purpose of an IT security audit is to look at an organization’s digital structure, find any possible risks, check if policies are being obeyed and confirm the security measures are effective. This is not only a scan for risk; it covers an evaluation of different systems, rules and processes. During an audit, all aspects, including network setup, firewall policies, warning data practices and connections with third parties are covered. It is possible to perform an audit in compliance with HIPAA, ISO 27001 or SOC 2, but some companies also use general audits to view their overall risks. Most audits involve the following actions: IT audits can be conducted by you or a third party, happen regularly or just once, based on your goals. Especially for businesses in healthcare, finance and SaaS, a regular external audit is commonly needed to meet legal and customer requirements. Get a Custom Audit Quote Today. What Factors Influence the Cost of an IT Security Audit in the USA? Depending on various important elements, the cost of an IT security audit in the USA may vary a lot. Any company, from a small software business to a big bank, can use insights into price drivers to figure out its budget better. 1. Scope of the Audit You will pay much less for an audit of just your cloud infrastructure than for one reviewing your network, endpoints, applications and user policies. Managing more systems and assets generally increases the budget. 2. Type of Audit 3. Business Size and Complexity Those with big organizations or IT systems spread across cloud, on-premise and hybrid environments often have to pay more for audit compliance due to the challenging nature of the work. 4. Level of Testing Required Adding vulnerability scans and penetration testing to your audit will make it cost more, but also be worth more. Most of the time, manually testing costs more than using automatic tools. 5. Frequency Would you like the assessment done only once or prefer to have it reviewed each quarter? Year after year, audits are more valuable for your company but are also more expensive. 6. Location and Provider Some high-value IT auditing companies are expensive, especially in big metro areas or for industries with unique technology needs. Still, some firms let you choose between remote audits and flexible pricing if you are starting out. What’s Included in IT Security Audit Pricing? Checking what factors contribute to the price of an IT security audit allows for better rate evaluation. While the cost of an audit depends on its depth and size, usually an audit is conducted using a structure that does not change. Here’s a breakdown of what’s typically included: 1. Pre-Audit Consultation A lot of providers start by having a scoping call or discovery session. During this part of the engagement, engineers find out about the technology you’re using, your business goals, rules from regulators and any internal policies. Sometimes this step is charged individually, and at other times it is part of a bundle with other services. Typical cost: $500 – $2,000 2. Vulnerability Assessment Scanning for vulnerabilities automatically must be done regularly. They check your network, applications and devices to identify old software, incorrect configurations and ports that are not secure. Typical cost: $1,000 – $5,000 3. Penetration Testing Testers in manual pentesting use real attacks to determine if found vulnerabilities can be exploited. Web apps, APIs and tools for remote access need this kind of security most of all. Typical cost: $3,000 – $20,000+ 4. Policy and Control Review The auditors review your existing security rules, methods of handling data, access for users and responses to incidents. For audits that focus on compliance, this plays a significant role. Typical cost: $2,000 – $10,000 5. Compliance Gap Analysis If you’re working toward certifications such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001, auditors run a gap analysis to highlight any security areas where you are not in line with the framework yet. Typical cost: $3,000 – $12,000 6. Remediation Support and Retesting Some companies give post-audit assistance to resolve problems and retest the software. Sometimes, it costs the same for every job, or it depends on how many rescans are needed. Typically cost: $1,000 to $5,000 Types of IT Security Audits and Their Relative Costs All IT audits differ in some way. Different companies focus on their internal processes and risks, or follow the requirements set by authorities. Learning what kind of audit you require will let you see the potential cost and what needs to be involved. 1. Internal Security Audit Such reviews, which might be handled by in-house staff or outside experts, give a basic look at the safety of an organization. Audits can be used to highlight gaps before the formal compliance audit happens. 2. Compliance Audit They confirm that you follow important security frameworks like SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI DSS or ISO 27001. They require careful review of
