2025-08-28

Wiebe van Leeuwen

Penetration Testing and ISO 27001: Smart Strategies for Every Budget

Penetration Testing and ISO 27001: Smart Strategies for Every Budget

Maintaining ISO 27001 compliance requires a careful balance between security and budget. Penetration tests are essential but can be time- and cost-intensive. Fortunately, there are ways to test effectively without compromising on quality—or exceeding your budget. In this blog, Bram, Manager of New Business at Tible, explains how a smart approach can help you control costs while ensuring strong security.

What drives the cost of a penetration test?

To control costs, it’s important to first understand what drives the price of a test:

• Scope and depth: The more systems or networks you want to test, the higher the costs.
• Test frequency: Regular testing is beneficial but creates recurring expenses.
• External expertise: Specialized testers add value but are often more expensive.
• Manual vs. automated: Automation saves time but sometimes lacks the depth of manual testing.

A Strategic and Cost-Efficient Approach

Now that you know the factors influencing penetration test costs, the key question is: how do you ensure a thorough and reliable test without letting costs spiral unnecessarily?

Here are 5 key considerations:

1. Focus on What Really Matters

Not all systems are equally critical. Identify the components with the highest risk and focus your testing efforts there. Use past incident data to detect and prioritize vulnerable areas.

2. Combine Automation with Human Insight

Use tools like OpenVAS or Nessus to quickly detect vulnerabilities. Combine this with targeted manual testing on complex or sensitive components. This way, you achieve maximum coverage at minimal cost.

3. Plan Smart and Test in Phases

Conduct tests during maintenance windows or off-peak hours to avoid disrupting business processes. Also consider phased testing instead of a single large annual test: this spreads costs and supports continuous improvement.

4. Leverage Internal Knowledge

Do you have an internal IT or security team? Let them perform basic analyses. Invest in training so you are less dependent on external experts. This saves costs in the long run.

5. Consider Managed Security Services

An MSSP can offer penetration testing as part of a subscription model. This allows you to spread costs and regularly gain insights into your security status. It’s not just for large enterprises—smaller organizations also benefit from this approach.

Ready for Action?

At Tible, we don’t just help with execution but also with strategic planning. Want to remain ISO 27001 compliant without exceeding your budget? We’ll work with you—from risk prioritization to the smart allocation of testing capacity.