September 22, 2025
NIS2/ISO 27001/GDPR alignment, PTaaS vs one-off tests, pricing, and vendor comparisons.
Mohammed Khalil
In Belgium’s regulated environment, pentesting is not just a checkbox, it's a necessity. New EU rules NIS2, effective Oct 2024 require critical and important services to meet strict cybersecurity standards. ISO 27001 is explicitly recognized in Belgium as a valid path to NIS2 compliance, while GDPR and sectoral rules demand proof of strong defenses. Penetration testing simulating real cyberattacks validates those defenses and uncovers hidden flaws before bad actors exploit them. Top Belgian firms help organizations align with these frameworks by conducting thorough vulnerability assessments and manual pen tests often following OWASP/OSSTMM guidelines.
Penetration testing firms in Belgium generally fall into two models. one shot project tests per scope and PTaaS Penetration Testing as a Service subscriptions. A subscription/PTaaS model offers ongoing assessments, integration into CI/CD pipelines, and dashboards for real time feedback. Leading providers now bundle services. one off compliance tests, continuous scanning, expert consulting, and retesting until issues are fixed. When comparing Belgian pentest vendors, consider.
DeepStrike stands out as a top choice for Belgian clients. It offers both One shot Basic and Continuous Premium plans. Key features include.
Clients rave about DeepStrike’s effectiveness. One Belgian tech CEO notes we've worked with several pentest vendors over the years, but none have matched DeepStrike’s capabilities. They consistently deliver results above and beyond our expectations. Another adds that DeepStrike’s knowledge, professionalism, and attention to detail set them apart. Such testimonials highlight why DeepStrike is rated the clear winner among Belgium’s pentest firms.
Orange Cyberdefense BE is the Belgian arm of Orange’s global security division. It’s CREST accredited and holds full ISO 27001 certification, demonstrating rigorous processes. Orange offers broad services beyond pentesting incident response, threat intelligence, and managed security. Their penetration testing teams are large and highly experienced, covering all layers of IT cloud, infrastructure, apps. As a well known telecom related firm, Orange works extensively with critical industries finance, public sector, etc.. The main trade off is cost. Large firms like Orange typically charge premium rates often bespoke, on demand pricing and their style may be more formal. However, customers get deep bench strength, extensive certifications CHECK, Cyber Essentials Plus, etc. and integration into Orange’s wider security platform.
Nomios is a major Belgian and broader European cybersecurity company. It offers expert led penetration testing to strengthen digital defenses, delivering detailed reports and mitigation strategies. Nomios emphasizes compliance and regulatory alignment in its reports. It is certified under multiple standards likely ISO 27001, SOC2, etc. and serves large enterprises and government clients. Nomios’s model is similar to Orange. comprehensive consultancy + pentesting, with experienced teams including network specialists and IoT experts and in house red teams. Pricing is typically proposal based. While not as transparent as DeepStrike’s fixed tiers, Nomios brings decades of local experience and can bundle testing with managed services.
Cresco is a Belgian boutique firm specializing in pentesting, red teaming, social engineering and related services. They explicitly follow OWASP and OSSTMM methodologies. Cresco’s portfolio includes. web/mobile app pentests, internal/external network tests, phishing simulations and custom security training. Their clients span finance, healthcare, government and industry. Cresco emphasizes agility and cost effectiveness, often serving mid market companies. Pricing is typically fixed per engagement, with all work done by senior consultants. For organizations that want rigorous OWASP aligned tests and a personal Belgian touch, Cresco is a solid choice.
OFEP is a Brussels based firm offering web development as well as cybersecurity services. Its pentesting arm does white box and black box tests, plus social engineering attacks, to bolster security and compliance. OFEP is comparatively small; it often works with Belgian SMEs and NGOs. They provide vulnerability scanning, internal/external tests, and can extend to PTaaS arrangements. Notably, OFEP handles real world testing including internal network tests and can assist with Belgium specific compliance e.g. data center audits. Pricing is typically on demand and competitive. OFEP’s strength is local agility and understanding of Belgian/regional regulations.
BOSSIT is a Belgian cyber firm with roots in ethical hacking. It offers the usual pentest services external, internal, web/app, wireless. A distinguishing feature is BOSSIT’s focus on ongoing support. Aftercare or Pentest as a Service, meaning they can extend a project into a continuous evaluation of your security. According to their site, BOSSIT defines scope clearly and values transparency. They stress the human factor security awareness training because human error causes 90% of breaches. Certifications. BOSSIT holds some ISO and does vulnerability scanning, but it does not appear to be CREST accredited or ISO 27001 certified. It primarily serves small to medium Belgian clients. Their teams have experienced years of pentesting and they offer quick turnaround. For budget conscious organizations wanting local contact and even PTaaS options, BOSSIT is a contender.
With all these strengths, DeepStrike is positioned as Belgium’s clear PTaaS leader. It combines human expertise and continuous scanning in a single offering, backed by enthusiastic references. This makes it our top recommendation for Belgian organizations seeking thorough, transparent, and compliance focused penetration testing.
Partner with DeepStrike to proactively hack yourself before the hackers do. We offer tailored penetration testing services for Belgian companies of all sizes whether you need a one time compliance audit or a year round security program. Our manual first approach, fixed pricing plans, and 24/7 dashboard mean you get immediate insights and rapid mitigation. Don’t wait for a breach. Contact DeepStrike for a quote or free consultation today, and ensure your NIS2/ISO 27001 requirements are fully met.
About the Author: Mohammed Khalil is a cybersecurity expert with 10+ years’ experience in penetration testing and compliance. He currently leads DeepStrike’s technical team, helping European organizations strengthen their security and achieve NIS2 and ISO 27001 readiness.
Penetration testing pentesting is the practice of simulating cyberattacks on an organization’s systems to find vulnerabilities before malicious actors do. In Belgium, strong pentesting programs help meet requirements of EU/Belgian laws. For example, NIS2 effective late 2024 mandates risk management and periodic testing; ISO 27001 often accepted for NIS2 compliance requires regular security assessments. Pentests also support GDPR by demonstrating appropriate technical measures for data protection. In short, pentesting improves security maturity, reduces breach risks, and aligns with regulatory audits.
Costs vary widely by scope. A small external pentest few hosts might start in the low thousands of euros, while complex multi week tests can run tens of thousands. Industry guides suggest day rates around €1,200-€1,800 for a skilled tester. DeepStrike, for example, offers transparent tiered plans Basic vs Premium so you know costs up front. Always verify what’s included e.g. retesting and how the scope is defined. Beware of quotes that seem very low €500/day they may be low quality scans, not true pentests.
Besides DeepStrike, notable Belgian firms include Orange Cyberdefense Belgium a CREST approved, ISO 27001 certified global leader, Nomios an established European security provider, Cresco Cybersecurity a local firm following OWASP/OSSTMM standards, OFEP a Brussels based pentest and consulting specialist, and BOSSIT ethical hackers offering continuous support. Each has its own strengths. Orange/Nomios have large teams and full compliance portfolios; local firms like Cresco/OFEP/BOSSIT offer agility and personalized service. Choose based on your size, industry, and needed certifications.
The NIS2 directive and ISO 27001 framework both require organizations to identify and remediate security risks. Pentesting provides evidence of this risk management. In Belgium, ISO 27001 certification has long been accepted as a way to satisfy NIS and NIS2 requirements. Regular pentests ensure new vulnerabilities are caught, shrinking the window of exploitability to days and facilitate ongoing compliance reviews. A thorough pentest report can document controls for audits covering OWASP/NIST controls mapped to your systems. In practice, a pentest is one key component of an ISO 27001 aligned security program, which Belgium encourages for NIS2.
CREST is a non profit that accredits security firms; CREST approved companies meet rigorous standards for technical capability, ethics, and reporting. If a firm like Orange Cyberdefense BE is CREST approved, you have assurance that its testers passed hard exams and follow best practices. ISO 27001 certification for a testing firm means it has mature internal security processes protecting your data during the test. Using CREST certified and ISO‑certified pentesters as many top Belgian and EU firms do ensures high quality, credibility, and often easier buy-in with regulators.
PTaaS is a subscription model for ongoing security testing, as opposed to a one off engagement. With PTaaS, the provider continuously tests your systems often integrated into your CI/CD pipeline and provides a live dashboard of findings. DeepStrike’s Premium plan is an example. It includes automated weekly scans, continuous testing of new code, and semi annual full pentests. This contrasts with traditional pentests that are periodic snapshots. The advantage is faster feedback and new issues are caught quickly and more predictable budgeting subscription fee vs large upfront cost. For dynamic environments active dev teams, PTaaS ensures no new release goes untested.
Look for a provider that matches your needs. Check their experience with your industry, certifications CREST, ISO 27001, and methodology do they perform manual testing vs just automated scans. Verify pricing transparency good vendors like DeepStrike publish their pricing structures, whereas opaque quotes can hide extra fees. Ask about reporting and retesting DeepStrike includes unlimited retests. Check if they understand NIS2/ISO requirements in Belgium. Finally, read customer reviews or testimonials. If a pentest proposal seems cheap, ensure it isn’t a simple vulnerability scan per SecForce. Anything under €500/day is suspiciously cheap. In short. vet the scope, ask for references, and ensure they align with compliance standards e.g. mention of OWASP, NIST or GDPR in their process.