There’s no one-size-fits-all price for EN 18031-1 general cybersecurity certification. Current market rates range widely from €5,000 to over €30,000 (≈RMB 40,000 to 250,000+), with significant variations based on product complexity and compliance pathways.

EN 18031-1 General Cybersecurity Certification Cost Breakdown

Total costs combine 3 core components, with no standalone fees:

1. Testing & Evaluation Fees (50-70% of total cost, largest share)

Charged by third-party labs to verify product compliance, covering key work:

·Security mechanism assessment: Review access control, data encryption, secure update processes.

·Penetration testing: Simulate cyberattacks to validate defense capabilities.

·Vulnerability scanning: Detect potential system vulnerabilities.

·RF & EMC testing: Mandatory for wireless devices to prevent interference, usually conducted alongside cybersecurity testing.

2. Certification Body Service Fees (20-30% of total cost)

·Notified Body (NB) audit fees: Mandatory for high-risk products (e.g., payment-enabled devices, password-skippable products). NBs conduct final audits and issue certificates, with fixed, high fees.

·Non-NB certification fees: Low-risk products meeting only basic EN 18031-1 requirements may qualify for self-declaration, with fees limited to lab test report issuance.

3. Additional Potential & Ongoing Costs

·Technical rectification fees: Uncertain costs for hardware upgrades (e.g., adding secure chips) or software fixes (strengthening encryption) if testing fails.

·Annual maintenance fees: No fixed-validity certificate, but annual surveillance audits (document-focused) and ongoing security patches for shipped products are required. Annual fees are 10-20% of initial total costs.

  Cost Estimates by Product Type

Total costs vary drastically by complexity and number of applicable standards. Reference ranges below:

·Simple basic devices (e.g., Bluetooth earbuds, smart plugs): Only EN 18031-1 required, total testing & evaluation: €5,000-€8,000.

·Medium-complexity devices (e.g., health-tracking smartwatches, POS terminals): Require EN 18031-1 + EN 18031-2 (privacy) or EN 18031-3 (anti-fraud), total: €8,000-€20,000.

·Large complex systems (e.g., industrial routers, in-vehicle gateways): Multi-module design, in-depth penetration testing, and potential factory audits required, total: €20,000+.

4 Key Factors Influencing Pricing

·Product category & standard combination: Top cost driver—each additional standard (e.g., EN 18031-1 + 18031-2 + 18031-3) raises costs significantly.

·Certification pathway (critical): NB-mandated certification vs. self-declaration is a cost watershed. High-risk products need NB certification, costing 50%+ more than self-declaration.

·Product complexity: Number of communication protocols, software complexity, and security design level directly impact testing workload. Multi-protocol IoT devices cost 40% more than single-function devices.

·Partner selection & testing arrangement: NB service fees vary by 50-70%. Subcontracting basic testing (e.g., vulnerability scanning) to specialized labs cuts costs by ~20% vs. full NB testing.

  Core Recommendations for EN 18031-1 Cost Management

1.Get accurate quotes: Prepare technical documents (schematics, security design, risk analysis) and request detailed quotes from 2-3 experienced certification bodies/labs.

2.Confirm compliance pathway first: Determine if self-declaration (low-risk) or mandatory NB certification applies—it fundamentally defines cost ranges.

3.Leverage existing compliance to cut costs: ISO 27001 or old EN 303 645 certificates allow 30-40% test fee reductions via reused security assessment reports.

4.Conduct pre-assessment early: Pre-testing with labs identifies and fixes issues upfront. While it incurs pre-assessment fees, it avoids costly formal testing failures and rectifications.

5.Explore subsidies: Some EU programs or China’s SME international market development funds cover up to 50% of certification costs.

For EN 18031-1 pricing, focus on cost drivers rather than a single total. For tailored quotes based on your product type (e.g., smart home, wearables, payment terminals), contact BLUEASIA at +86 13534225140 for professional consulting.