Straight answers to the questions we get most from startups, MSMEs, and enterprises in India and worldwide about vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, pricing, timelines, and compliance. Can't find what you're looking for? Ask us directly.
General: What is VAPT?
What is VAPT?
VAPT stands for Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing. A vulnerability assessment scans your systems, applications, or network for known weaknesses and misconfigurations, while penetration testing goes further by having a skilled tester actively try to exploit those weaknesses the way a real attacker would. Together, VAPT gives you both a list of gaps and proof of what an attacker could actually do with them.
What is the difference between vulnerability assessment and penetration testing?
A vulnerability assessment is largely automated: it identifies and lists known vulnerabilities using scanning tools, and is broad but shallow. Penetration testing is manual and goal-driven: a tester attempts to chain vulnerabilities together to breach a system, access data, or escalate privileges, showing real-world impact rather than just a list of findings.
Why does my business need VAPT if I already use antivirus and a firewall?
Antivirus and firewalls protect against known, signature-based threats, but they do not catch logic flaws in your own applications, misconfigured cloud storage, weak authentication, or vulnerabilities in custom-built software. VAPT is designed specifically to find the gaps that perimeter security tools are not built to catch.
How often should VAPT be done?
Most security frameworks and many enterprise clients require VAPT at least once a year, and additionally after any major change such as a new product launch, a significant code release, an infrastructure migration, or a M&A event. Businesses handling sensitive data (finance, healthcare, SaaS) often test twice a year.
What types of penetration testing exist?
Common types include web application penetration testing, mobile app (Android/iOS) penetration testing, network/infrastructure penetration testing (internal and external), API security testing, cloud configuration review (AWS/Azure/GCP), and social engineering assessments such as phishing simulations.
Process, Timeline & Deliverables
How long does a typical VAPT engagement take?
For a small to mid-sized web application, testing typically takes 3 to 10 working days, depending on scope and complexity. Larger applications, multiple environments, or full infrastructure assessments can take 2 to 4 weeks. The scoping call at the start is used to set realistic timelines.
What do I receive at the end of a VAPT engagement?
You receive a detailed report listing each vulnerability found, its severity (typically rated Critical, High, Medium, Low, or Informational using CVSS scoring), proof-of-concept evidence, business impact, and clear remediation steps. Most providers, including Nexoryn Security, also offer a free re-test after fixes are applied plus a signed VAPT certificate.
Do you test in a live production environment or a staging environment?
Testing can be done in either, but a staging or pre-production environment that mirrors production is generally recommended to avoid any risk of downtime or data impact on live users. If production testing is required, it is scheduled carefully with rate-limiting and safeguards agreed upon in advance.
Will penetration testing break or slow down my website?
A professionally scoped and executed test should not cause outages. Reputable testers agree on rules of engagement upfront — including which techniques are excluded (e.g. aggressive denial-of-service testing) — and typically test during low-traffic windows if working on production systems.
What information do I need to provide before testing starts?
Typically just the scope: the URLs, IP ranges, or app builds to be tested, test accounts/credentials if authenticated testing is needed, and a signed authorization letter or contract confirming you own or are authorized to test the target. No source code access is required for black-box testing.
Do you provide a certificate after testing?
Yes. After the assessment and any re-test of fixed issues, a VAPT completion certificate is issued that can be shared with clients, partners, investors, or auditors as proof that your systems were independently tested.
Pricing & Cost
How much does VAPT cost in India?
Pricing varies with scope, but for a single small-to-medium web application, VAPT in India commonly ranges from roughly ₹15,000 to ₹75,000, while larger applications, APIs, mobile apps, or full network assessments can run into several lakhs of rupees. Get an accurate quote based on your specific scope rather than relying on a general number.
Why do VAPT prices vary so much between providers?
Price differences usually reflect the depth of testing (automated-only scans versus genuine manual testing), the experience of the testers, the size of the report and remediation support offered, and whether a free re-test is included. A very low price is often a sign that only automated scanning is being done, not real manual penetration testing.
Is VAPT affordable for startups and small businesses?
Yes. Many VAPT providers, including Nexoryn Security, offer scoped packages designed specifically for startups and MSMEs so they can get essential security testing (such as a single web app or API) without enterprise-level pricing. Testing a narrower, prioritized scope is a practical way to control cost.
Do you offer a free consultation or scoping call before quoting a price?
Yes, a short scoping call is standard practice — it lets the provider understand your application, infrastructure, and compliance needs so the quote reflects your actual environment rather than a generic package.
Compliance & Regulatory Requirements
Is VAPT legally required in India?
There is no single blanket law mandating VAPT for every business, but it is effectively required in regulated sectors: RBI-regulated entities (banks, NBFCs, payment aggregators), SEBI-regulated entities, and organizations handling government or critical infrastructure data are typically required to conduct periodic security audits, often through a CERT-In empanelled auditor.
What is CERT-In empanelment and does it matter for my business?
CERT-In (the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) maintains a list of empanelled security auditors approved to conduct audits for government and regulated entities in India. If your business works with government bodies, banks, or regulated financial institutions, they may specifically require a report from a CERT-In empanelled auditor.
How does India's DPDP Act 2023 relate to VAPT?
The Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 requires organizations handling personal data to implement 'reasonable security safeguards' to prevent data breaches. While the Act does not name VAPT explicitly, regular vulnerability assessment and penetration testing is widely considered a practical way to demonstrate and maintain those safeguards.
Do international clients need VAPT for compliance like SOC 2, ISO 27001, or GDPR?
Yes. SOC 2 (common for US SaaS companies) and ISO 27001 (an international standard) both expect regular vulnerability and penetration testing as part of their control requirements, and auditors will typically ask for a recent VAPT report as evidence. GDPR does not mandate a specific testing method but requires 'appropriate technical measures,' for which VAPT reports serve as supporting evidence.
What about PCI-DSS for businesses handling card payments?
PCI-DSS explicitly requires both internal and external vulnerability scans (at defined intervals) and annual penetration testing for any business that stores, processes, or transmits cardholder data, along with additional testing after significant infrastructure or application changes.
Can a VAPT report help us close deals with enterprise clients?
Very often, yes. Many enterprise buyers and investors now require proof of independent security testing as part of vendor due diligence before signing a contract. A recent, credible VAPT report and certificate can directly unblock or speed up these deals.
For Startups, MSMEs & International Clients
We are a small startup — is our app really a target for attackers?
Yes. Automated attack tools scan the entire internet continuously regardless of company size, and smaller companies are often targeted precisely because they are assumed to have weaker defenses. Startups that store user data, payment details, or proprietary code are attractive, low-effort targets.
Can Nexoryn Security work with clients outside India?
Yes. Nexoryn Security serves clients across the United States, United Kingdom, UAE, Singapore, Canada, and Australia in addition to clients across India, with all testing conducted remotely and reports delivered in English with standard international severity scoring (CVSS).
Do you sign an NDA before testing?
Yes, engagements are NDA-first by default. A mutual non-disclosure agreement is signed before any scoping details, credentials, or findings are shared, so your application and data details remain confidential throughout and after the engagement.
Can you test applications built on any tech stack?
Testing methodology is largely stack-agnostic since it focuses on how the application behaves and responds, not its underlying code. Common stacks tested include React/Angular/Vue front-ends, Node.js/Django/Laravel/.NET back-ends, and mobile apps built natively or with React Native/Flutter.
What is the difference between a one-time VAPT and Shield, your continuous protection subscription?
A one-time VAPT gives you a point-in-time snapshot of your security posture through a single manual + automated engagement, useful for a compliance deadline or a major release. Shield is a subscription platform instead: it runs ongoing automated and manual assessments, gives you a live dashboard with a vulnerability heat map, and tracks your readiness for frameworks like SOC 2 and India's DPDP Act over time, rather than a single report. Businesses that ship frequently or need continuous assurance for enterprise/compliance buyers tend to prefer Shield over a single annual test.
About Nexoryn Security
Where is Nexoryn Security based and who do you serve?
Nexoryn Security is based in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India, and provides VAPT, penetration testing, and cybersecurity audit services remotely to startups, MSMEs, and enterprises across India and internationally, including the US, UK, UAE, Singapore, Canada, and Australia.
How do I get a quote from Nexoryn Security?
You can request a free consultation and scoping call through the contact page or by calling +91 90583 25613. A quote is prepared after understanding your application, infrastructure, and any compliance requirements you need to meet.
Does Nexoryn Security offer remediation support, not just a report?
Yes. Alongside the vulnerability report, practical remediation guidance is provided for each finding, and a free re-test is typically included once fixes are implemented, to confirm the issues are actually resolved before the final certificate is issued.
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