Infrastructure security testing, 2026
Network Penetration Test Cost (2026): $10K to $50K
Network penetration testing remains the most varied pentest category by cost, because the engagement scope can be a 50-IP external attack-surface check or a multi-week internal assumed-breach exercise against a multi-site Active Directory forest. The 2026 range is $10,000 to $50,000, with the typical mid-market engagement landing around $22,000. This page breaks down what is actually inside that range, what drives engagements outside it, and what to look for in a 2026 quote.
2026 typical range
$10K - $50K
External, internal, or combined
2026 average
$22,000
Combined SMB scope
Typical duration
5-15 days
Often split across two test windows
Network pentest pricing by scope
Network pentest cost decomposes cleanly into four scope variables: internal vs external, IP count, AD complexity, and segmentation testing inclusion. The matrix below shows where common scope combinations land in 2026 pricing terms.
| Scope | IP count band | 2026 USD price | Testing days |
|---|---|---|---|
| External only, no AD | Under 50 IPs | $10,000 - $15,000 | 5-7 days |
| External only, no AD | 50-200 IPs | $14,000 - $22,000 | 7-10 days |
| External only, no AD | 200-500 IPs | $20,000 - $30,000 | 10-14 days |
| Internal + external, single AD | Under 200 IPs internal | $22,000 - $32,000 | 10-15 days |
| Internal + external, single AD | 200-500 IPs internal | $28,000 - $42,000 | 14-20 days |
| Internal + external, multi-domain AD | 500+ IPs internal | $38,000 - $50,000+ | 18-25 days |
| Segmentation testing addon (any scope) | All zones | + $3,000 - $7,000 | + 2-4 days |
External network pentest scope detail
An external network pentest treats your internet-facing perimeter as the target. The tester works from outside your network, with only the agreed scope (IP ranges, domains) and a Letter of Authorisation. The methodology aligns with NIST SP 800-115 and typically covers attack surface enumeration, port scanning and service fingerprinting, vulnerability identification through scanners and manual review, and exploitation attempts on identified weaknesses.
The cost driver here is how many distinct services the tester needs to manually validate. A 100-IP environment with 12 unique services (web, mail, VPN, RDP, etc.) takes meaningfully longer than a 100-IP environment with only 2 services. Most quotes assume a typical service distribution; if your environment is unusually service-dense, declare it during scoping.
A common scope expansion that catches buyers by surprise is web application pentesting on internet-facing web servers. Some firms include light web app review in the network test (banner-grabbing, default credentials, well-known CVEs) but explicitly exclude OWASP-style web app testing. Always clarify whether web app testing is bundled or separate.
Internal network pentest scope detail
An internal network pentest is structurally different from external because the tester starts inside the perimeter, simulating an attacker who has already gained a foothold (via phishing, supply chain, or stolen credentials). This is sometimes called an assumed-breach exercise. The objective is to evaluate how quickly and how far the attacker can move once inside.
Key cost-driving activities include: domain controller enumeration and Kerberos-based attacks (Kerberoasting, AS-REP roasting, Golden Ticket detection), lateral movement testing across hosts, privilege escalation on individual systems, sensitive data discovery (SQL servers, file shares, source code repositories), and persistence and exfiltration simulation. Most internal pentests aim to demonstrate that an attacker can reach Domain Admin or equivalent within the engagement window.
Internal pentests typically require either remote access to a jump-box on your network or an on-site visit; on-site work adds $1,500-$4,000 per testing-week of travel costs.
Active Directory testing economics
Active Directory is the centre of gravity for most internal pentests because compromising AD usually provides the keys to the wider environment. The labour cost of AD testing scales with the AD environment itself, and the most common scoping mistake is under-declaring AD complexity.
- Single domain, less than 500 users: 1-2 testing days. Standard Kerberoasting, BloodHound enumeration, password spraying, ACL abuse review.
- Single domain, 500-5,000 users: 2-4 testing days. Adds deeper ACL review, GPO analysis, certificate services testing (ESC1-ESC15), and tier-zero asset isolation verification.
- Multi-domain forest with trusts: 5-10 testing days. Cross-trust attacks, forest-level Golden Ticket testing, federation testing if Entra ID is integrated.
- Hybrid Entra ID + on-premises AD: Add 2-4 days. Pass-through authentication, hash sync, and conditional access policy testing.
Segmentation testing for PCI DSS
For organisations subject to PCI DSS that use network segmentation to reduce the scope of the Cardholder Data Environment (CDE), segmentation testing is mandatory under v4.0.1 Requirement 11.4.5. The objective is to demonstrate that controls preventing access from non-CDE zones to the CDE are effective, and the test must be repeated at least annually.
Pricing is typically a $3,000-$7,000 addon to a standard network pentest. The work involves testing every documented allowed pathway into the CDE plus probing for undocumented paths from each non-CDE network zone. For multi-site environments, the cost can climb to $10,000-$15,000 because each site needs its own on-site or remote testing window.
Segmentation testing has high signal-to-noise: in our buyer corpus, roughly 35% of first-time segmentation tests find at least one previously unknown path into the CDE. The test usually pays for itself in PCI audit findings avoided.
What to verify in a network pentest quote
Three quote elements consistently produce post-engagement disputes for network pentests, and clarifying them in the SoW saves a lot of friction.
- IP count band and overage rules. What happens if you find another 50 IPs you forgot about during scoping. Most firms allow 10-20% scope expansion for free; more than that triggers a change order.
- AD complexity assumption. The quote should explicitly state how many domains, what trust relationships, and whether Entra ID is in scope.
- Segmentation testing inclusion. Yes or no. If yes, how many zones and how many pathways are assumed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a network penetration test cost in 2026?v
A network penetration test in 2026 costs $10,000 to $50,000 in the United States. External-only tests against a small IP range (under 50 IPs) start around $10,000-$15,000. Combined internal and external testing for an SMB with Active Directory and segmentation typically runs $20,000-$35,000. Enterprise scopes with 500+ IPs and multi-site AD forests reach $40,000-$50,000+.
What is the difference between internal and external network pentest cost?v
External network tests target internet-facing infrastructure and typically cost $10,000-$25,000. Internal network tests assume a foothold inside the network (assumed-breach approach) and target lateral movement, privilege escalation, and Active Directory takeover; these typically cost $15,000-$35,000. Combined engagements (which most compliance frameworks expect) run $20,000-$50,000.
Why do IP counts matter for pentest pricing?v
IP count drives pentest pricing more than buyers expect because each in-scope IP requires service enumeration, vulnerability identification, and exploitation attempts where applicable. The relationship is not linear: 50 IPs and 200 IPs require similar enumeration time, but 1,000 IPs takes meaningfully longer. Most boutique firms quote in IP-count bands (under 50, 50-200, 200-500, 500+) with a fixed price per band rather than per-IP arithmetic.
Does Active Directory complexity affect pentest cost?v
Yes, significantly. AD testing is one of the most labour-intensive components of internal network pentests. A flat AD environment with a single domain and a few hundred users adds 1-2 testing days. A multi-domain forest with trust relationships, federated identity, and complex group nesting can add 5-10 days, materially shifting the engagement total. Always declare AD complexity during scoping.
Is network segmentation testing worth the extra cost?v
For PCI DSS environments, segmentation testing is mandatory if you rely on segmentation controls to reduce CDE scope. The cost premium is usually $3,000-$7,000 added to the network pentest base price. For non-PCI environments, segmentation testing is high-value when you have invested in network-level isolation that you have never independently validated; it commonly finds segmentation gaps that would have gone undetected for years.
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