Table of Contents
Quick Decision Guide: Do You Need a Pentest?
What Actually Happens During a Test?
Common Findings in Startup Tests
If you're running a SaaS company or building tech products, you need to know about pentesting. Here's what security testing really means for your startup, minus the tech jargon and marketing fluff.
What's Pentesting, Really?
Think of it as hiring good hackers to find problems before the bad ones do. These security experts try to break into your systems (with your permission) to spot weak points. It's like having someone try to pick your locks to prove they're solid, but for your software.
Quick Decision Guide: Do You Need a Pentest?
You probably need one if:
- You're about to launch your product
- You handle customer data
- You're selling to businesses (B2B)
- You need to meet security standards
- You're raising money or working with bigger companies
Money Talk: What It Costs
Let's cut to the chase , for most startups, a pentest runs between $3,500 to $10,000.
What changes the price? A few things:
- Size of what you're testing (one app vs. many)
- How complex your setup is (simple website vs. microservices)
- Type of testing (basic check vs. deep dive)
- Experience level of testers
When to Schedule Testing
Mark these on your calendar:
- Before your first launch
- When you add big new features
- If you switch cloud providers
- At least once every year after that
What Actually Happens During a Test?
Here's a typical timeline:
- Week 1: Planning and setup
- Weeks 2-3: Active testing
- Week 4: Getting results/report and reviewing fixes
What You Get After Testing
The testers will give you:
- List of security holes they found
- How serious each problem is
- Clear steps to fix each issue
- Plain-English explanation of risks
- Follow-up call to explain everything
Common Findings in Startup Tests
Typical issues we see:
- Weak encryption
- Missing security headers
- API problems
- Data exposure risks
- Configuration mistakes
Your Pentest Prep Checklist
Before you start:
- List what needs testing
- Gather tech documentation
- Pick a testing window
- Alert your team
- Budget for fixes
- Clear your calendar for review
FAQ
Q: Will testing break our stuff?
A: Good testers won't crash your systems. But it is not a risk-free guarantee.
Q: Do we need to stop operations during testing?
A: No, testing happens on staging environments or during off-hours.
Q: What if they find something scary?
A: You'll know immediately about serious issues. Most problems are fixable.
Q: How long does fixing take?
A: Small issues: 1-2 days. Bigger problems: 1-2 weeks.
Q: Can we do this internally?
A: You need outside eyes. Internal teams miss things they see every day.
Making It Work for Your Budget
If money's tight:
- Start with critical systems only
- Get a basic test now, deeper dive later
- Fix the big problems first
- Plan for yearly tests in your budget
How SecureLeap Can Help
Looking for a pentest partner who gets startups? SecureLeap brings 20+ years of startup security experience to your team. Here's what makes us different:
- Startup-focused testing: We understand tight budgets and fast development cycles
- Clear communication: No security jargon - just plain talk about what matters
- Fixed pricing: No surprise costs or hidden fees
- Quick turnaround: Results in 2-3 weeks, not months
- Practical fixes: Real solutions that work for your team size and stack
Our testing packages start at $3,500 and we've helped several startups spot and fix security issues before they become problems.
Want to chat about your security needs? Book a no-pressure call with our team at secureleap.tech or email info at secureleap.tech