A freelance penetration tester / ethical hacker deliberately simulates real-world attacks on your IT infrastructure, web applications, APIs, or networks—with the goal of identifying exploitable vulnerabilities before an actual attacker does. The result is not an abstract security report, but a prioritized findings report with proof-of-concept evidence, CVSS scores, and concrete remediation recommendations. This provides companies with a solid foundation for technical hardening measures and enables them to specifically meet compliance requirements such as ISO 27001, BSI IT-Grundschutz, or PCI DSS.
Typical triggers for engaging our freelance penetration testers / ethical hackers include upcoming certifications, the launch of new products or platforms, security incidents, and regulatory requirements related to the KRITIS framework or the NIS2 context. Precisely because penetration tests are conducted on an ad hoc and project-specific basis, engaging experienced freelancers is the most efficient solution—without the need to build up permanent internal capacity.
Companies rely on our freelance penetration testers / ethical hackers when they need realistic attack simulations that exceed their internal expertise or capacity—and when results must be delivered quickly, transparently, and in a way that can be audited.
We verify whether a candidate has a proven track record of conducting penetration tests in comparable environments—such as regulated industries, cloud-native architectures, or OT/ICS environments. Certifications such as OSCP, CEH, or GPEN are taken into account, as is the type of systems tested to date. Only candidates with relevant methodological knowledge (OWASP, PTES, MITRE ATT&CK) make it to the shortlist.
A good penetration tester not only delivers findings but also provides verifiable proof of exploits, reproducible test steps, and practical remediation recommendations. We ensure that candidates can independently use tools such as Burp Suite, Metasploit, Nmap, or BloodHound and document results in a structured manner. The ability to communicate vulnerabilities clearly to developers and management is equally crucial.
Penetration tests require close coordination with your security, development, and compliance teams—the candidate must be able to work in a communicative and structured manner. We take into account whether remote, hybrid, or on-site work is required, and align availability and work style with your project requirements. This ensures that onboarding and test execution get off to a smooth start.
We work with you to clearly define which systems, applications, or environments are within the scope, what level of testing (black-box, gray-box, or white-box) is desired, and what compliance or certification requirements govern the assessment. Based on this information, we will work with you to define the rules of engagement and the specific success criteria for the project.
We match your needs with our verified freelance penetration tester/ethical hacker profiles—based on specialization, certification status, industry experience, and availability. You’ll receive a suitable profile within 24–36 hours so that your assessment schedule doesn’t get held up.
For us, it’s not the length of a report that matters, but whether your company is actually more secure after our engagement. Our freelance penetration testers and ethical hackers provide findings that your teams can directly translate into hardening measures—and are available for retests if needed.
Freelance penetration tester / ethical hacker specializing in web applications and API security. Areas of expertise: Burp Suite Pro, OWASP Top 10, FinTech & e-commerce, findings reporting, OSCP-certified, REST/GraphQL testing.
Freelance penetration tester / ethical hacker specializing in network and Active Directory attacks. Areas of expertise: BloodHound, Impacket, lateral movement, privilege escalation, enterprise IT environments, red team campaigns.
Freelance penetration tester / ethical hacker specializing in cloud security and DevSecOps integration. Areas of expertise: AWS/Azure penetration testing, Terraform misconfiguration reviews, CI/CD pipeline analysis, CSPM tools, SaaS companies.
Freelance penetration tester / ethical hacker specializing in OT/ICS and embedded security. Areas of expertise: SCADA systems, Modbus/DNP3 protocols, firmware analysis, critical infrastructure, IEC 62443, hardware testing.
At consultingheads, you’ll receive suitable freelance penetration tester/ethical hacker profiles within 24–36 hours of your request. Our network includes vetted security experts with proven pentesting experience across various industries and technology stacks. This way, you won’t waste any time and can start your testing project without a long lead time.
After you submit your request, we work with you to analyze the test scope, the target environment, and compliance requirements to create a precise requirements profile. Based on this, we select suitable freelance penetration testers / ethical hackers from our network who are a good fit for your project in terms of methodology, technical expertise, and industry experience. You’ll receive a curated shortlist of profiles from which you can choose directly—without having to conduct time-consuming research on your own.
For each profile, we assess technical depth based on specific project references, tools used (e.g., Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, BloodHound), and relevant certifications such as OSCP, CEH, or GPEN. In addition, we consider whether the tester has experience with your specific infrastructure—whether cloud, on-premises, OT, or hybrid environments. Only profiles that have a proven track record of successfully completing comparable penetration testing projects will be recommended to you.
The success of a penetration test can be clearly measured by the quality and completeness of the findings report: Are all agreed-upon scope areas covered, are vulnerabilities CVSS-rated, and are the remediation recommendations actionable? Furthermore, quality is demonstrated by whether the tester provides proof-of-concept exploits and communicates results clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. A structured kick-off with defined milestones ensures transparency regarding progress and interim results from the very beginning.
A structured kick-off meeting with your security and IT team clarifies the scope, testing methodology, escalation procedures, and legal framework (Rules of Engagement). The freelance penetration tester/ethical hacker is granted access to the necessary system information and points of contact to efficiently begin the test. Once the test is complete, a debriefing meeting is held to discuss findings, risk assessments, and recommended actions with your team.
At consultingheads, the daily rate for a freelance penetration tester / ethical hacker is typically between €850 and €1,300 per day, depending on specialization, certification level, and project complexity. Profiles with rare specializations such as OT/ICS penetration testing, red teaming, or cloud security may fall at the upper end of the range. For a precise estimate, please contact us directly—we’ll find the right profile within your budget.
Most penetration tests—especially web, API, and cloud tests—can be conducted entirely remotely without compromising the depth of testing. For on-site network penetration tests, physical security tests, or OT environments, a hybrid or on-site deployment makes sense and is flexibly covered by our profiles. During the matching process, we determine which deployment model is best suited for your scope and infrastructure.
Our freelance penetration testers / ethical hackers provide structured reports that are presented in a way that is understandable to technical teams as well as to management and compliance officers. A final debriefing meeting, along with the handover of all raw data, proof-of-concept exploits, and remediation plans, ensures that your internal team is equipped to take action. Upon request, our professionals can also assist during the remediation phase to ensure that identified vulnerabilities are permanently addressed.
