VAPT Cost in UAE: What to Expect and Why It’s Worth It

Digital transformation in the UAE economy has proportionately raised the significance of undertaking Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT).  

VAPT charges for not securing your business on time can be more severe than you can imagine. 

Multiple factors contribute sizeably to VAPT costs and these mostly include the scope of testing, organizational size, system complexity, and regulatory compliance requirements. This blog explains VAPT pricing factors in the UAE with their corresponding costs. This will help you get an idea about the investment you need to make for VAPT services.

Understanding VAPT – A Quick Go-Through Of The Concept

• What is VAPT?

The terms ‘Vulnerability Assessment’ and ‘Penetration Testing’ in VAPT involve a collective approach to fortifying your IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology)-based security landscape.

No matter how small or big your business is, or its location, undertaking VAPT assessments is inevitable to prevent cyberattacks. VAPT should comprise VA (vulnerability assessment) and PT (penetration testing) at one stretch. This is because while the former determines how healthy your cybersecurity mechanisms are, the latter tests your capabilities in preventing cyberattacks.  

• VAPT Costs For UAE Businesses

VAPT costs for UAE businesses comprise everything – ranging from preventing cyber threats to compliance checking. According to authentic sources, on an average, VAPT assessment costs in the UAE typically range from AED 9000 to AED 1,80,000. The more complex the systems are, the higher the pricing would be for VAPT assessment. 

VAPT costs in the UAE also depend on the scope of the audit and the expertise of the VAPT assessment provider.

Factors Influencing VAPT Cost in the UAE

To reiterate, VAPT Costs in the UAE are driven by multiple factors. Some of these include:

• Testing Methodology Involved

Indicates the level of depth and sophistications utilised during the testing process, Manual penetration testing or automated scanning. Below is a breakdown of VAPT pricing in the UAE based on specific  categories of testing:

• Web Application Penetration Testing (Basic to Advanced): AED 15000 – AED 30,000 
• Cloud Infrastructure Scan (Size and Complexity): AED 2,200 – AED 3,700 (for basic); AED 1,50,000 (for comprehensive infrastructure testing).
• Network Penetration Testing: AED 20,000 – AED 50,000 (Size and Complexity).
• Size and Complexity of IT Infrastructure

Business operations require highly complex systems with intricate functionalities. Hence, it is certain that these systems will require more extensive testing when undertaking VAPT assessments. As mentioned earlier, VAPT price in UAE can range from AED 2,200 to AED 3,700 for IT infrastructure based on its size and complexity. 

• Industry Compliance & Regulations

UAE necessitates additional testing procedures for regulations and compliance – further influencing/impacting VAPT cost.

Here’s a breakdown of the VAPT cost for ensuring industry compliance and regulations in the UAE:

• ISO 27001: AED 20,000 (for single system) to AED 1,80,000 (large, complex environment)
• PCI DSS: AED 15,000 – 50,000 (for small businesses) and AED 2,00,000 – 5,00,000 (for large enterprises).
• ADHICS: AED 10,000 (For small applications) to AED 40,000 (for complex and feature-rich systems)

• Scope of Assessment

VAPT cost for businesses in the UAE is largely influenced by the scope of assessment. If you want to have your system, application, or network, or all three of these assessed at one stretch, your VAPT pricing will rise proportionally.

Scope of assessment also includes Black Box, White Box, and Grey Box testing as illustrated below:

• Grey Box VAPT Pricing: AED 15,000 to AED 50,000
• Black Box VAPT Pricing: AED 15,000 to AED 150,000
• White Box VAPT Pricing: AED 15,000 to AED 1,80,000

Again, the price range for all categories of VAPT assessments/ tests can vary based on the complexities observed. 

Also Read: Internal Penetration Testing: Why It’s  Essential for Organizational Security

• Service Provider’s Expertise

When it concerns seeking VAPT assessment from a service provider, the latter’s reputation and expertise is paramount. Thus, a VAPT service provider’s experience coupled with reputation and expertise can significantly influence/impact VAPT cost in the UAE.

VAPT service providers’ pricing strategy is also based on their level of proficiency as pointed out below:

• Complexity of the target environment: AED 9000 – AED 1,80,000
• Basic Application Testing: AED 15,000
• Comprehensive Infrastructure Testing: AED 1,50,000

The UAE is home to a variety of experienced and talented VAPT professionals. However, some of them claim to offer cost-effective VAPT assessment services. Nevertheless, the aforementioned rates are standard VAPT pricing for experienced-cum-qualified cybersecurity professionals in the UAE.
The cost of expert VAPT service providers are also based on the local or international companies they serve. This is estimated to be between AED 15,000 and AED 1,50,000. 

VAPT In UAE – Is It Worth It?

Answering this question will be a resounding ‘Yes’, specifically regarding the fact that the cybersecurity scene is exploding in the UAE. According to statistics, there has been a 60.59% surge in demand for cybersecurity professionals to secure businesses and consumer data. This for sure conveys the worth of undertaking VAPT assessments in the UAE – and investing in the same!

This being stated, let’s assess the key parameters to determine why it’s worth investing in VAPT.

• Cost vs. Consequence

It has been understood that VAPT costs in the UAE are influenced/impacted by specific factors as mentioned above. Note that the heavy charges incurred if not seeking VAPT assessment can go beyond the highest possible VAPT cost. You may also face severe legal and financial penalties as a result of not securing your business with VAPT. Subsequently, loss of reputation to your business may be the worst consequence you will suffer.

Also Read: Annual VAPT Checklist for Secure Business Operations in UAE

• Regulatory Compliance

Understanding UAE’s need to ensure strict regulatory compliance, VAPT cost for the same lies between AED 50,000 and above. If you fail to adhere to the above, you will incur substantial monetary losses accompanied by legal proceedings and loss of reputation.

• Business Reputation & Trust

The digital landscape encompasses both technological innovations and the simultaneous threat of cyber attacks. Businesses elsewhere are strictly meant to secure their systems, networks, and applications. This is crucial as far as protecting customer data and retaining customer confidence are concerned. The VAPT charges in UAE for ensuring business regulation and trust can exceed to the maximum depending on the complexity. However, these will not surpass the huge financial losses that businesses will otherwise incur if not availing VAPT assessment services.

• Risk Mitigation

There is no doubt that early detection and risk mitigation with VAPT assessment help save long-term expenses. The consequences of not availing VAPT services for your business operations can be way harder than the determined VAPT costs. 

Choosing the Right VAPT Service Provider in the UAE

In the previous sections, we covered VAPT costs with cost structure explained for every factor contributing to VAPT pricing. We also elaborated the significance of investing in VAPT services in the UAE.
Now it’s time to choose the VAPT Service Provider based on your specific business-cum-industrial needs. Selecting an appropriate VAPT Service Provider in the UAE should consider the following criteria:  

• Certifications and Credentials

Be knowledgeable of the relevant certifications and credentials that an ideal VAPT service provider should hold. Some known certifications and credentials that are prevalent in the UAE include:

• OSCP Certification

Short for Offensive Security Certified Professional or OffSec Certified Professional, this is kind of an ethical hacking certification offered by Offensive Security (OffSec).

The role of OffSec is vital to achieving OSCP certification because the former teaches expert penetration testing methodologies by utilising essential tools. You can get OSCP certified when you successfully clear the related exam.

• CREST

Comprises a group of certifications for depicting knowledge, skills, and competencies at their best as recognised worldwide by the professional services industry.
CREST certifications such as CPSA (CREST Practitioner Security Analyst) are mandatory requirements for companies hiring or buying security assessment services.

• Checklist for selecting a reliable cybersecurity firm

When choosing a reliable cybersecurity firm/provider in the UAE, preparing a full-fledged checklist helps a lot.

• Preparing such a checklist suggests you to consider the following parameters:

• Knowing your business requirements
• Assessing Experience and Expertise
• Considering the Range of Services that an ideal/reliable cybersecurity service provider can provide.
• Evaluating Their Reputation (looking for essential certifications will help)
• Signing the Contract (Mandatory ultimate step)

• Questions to ask before hiring a Security Service Provider

Hiring an appropriate Security Service (VAPT) provider in the UAE should consider the following questions:

• “Do you have previous experience as a security service provider?”
• ‘Can you provide references from existing customers in any sector, including ours?’
• ‘Who are your usual clients?’

VAPT assessments have emerged as an essential service in the UAE given the growing incidents of cyber threats.

With VAPT service providers growing increasingly in the UAE, some of them tend to offer cost-effective vulnerability assessment services. However, the UAE government is particular about hiring highly knowledgeable, skilled, and competent VAPT professionals with the desired qualifications and credentials.
Investing in VAPT is critical to strengthening your security posture by developing robust defense mechanisms to prevent potential cyberattacks. This highly necessitates choosing/hiring the right VAPT service provider.

Wattlecorp, one of the leading cybersecurity companies in UAE, India, and Kerala, is proficient in offering top-notch VAPT services. The pride and recognition that this cybersecurity provider has earned through offering a wide range of cybersecurity solutions across the globe owes these to its team of professional hackers.
Not availed VAPT service yet? Connect with Wattlecorp Cybersecurity Services LLP for a smarter VAPT investment and have your business secured at all times through our VAPT professionals

Frequently Asked Questions