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September 30, 2025

Penetration Testing Companies in Italy 2025 (Reviewed)

Italy saw an 89% jump in serious cyber incidents see the top pentest providers, pricing, and how to stay compliant with PCI DSS 11.3, ISO 27001, and GDPR.

Mohammed Khalil

Mohammed Khalil

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Penetration Testing Companies Italy

Penetration testing is the process of simulating hacker attacks on an organization’s systems to uncover security weaknesses. A penetration tester manually probes networks, web applications, and other assets internal and external to exploit vulnerabilities much like a real attacker.

In contrast to a simple vulnerability scan, a penetration test involves skilled analysts who verify whether and how an identified flaw can be exploited, tracing it back to its root cause.

This hands‑on approach often called ethical hacking is key for finding complex issues that automated tools miss. Tests can be black‑box no prior info, white‑box full access, or gray‑box partial knowledge each with different costs and thoroughness.

Why does pentesting matter for Italian businesses in 2025?

Italy map infograph with 1,979 events, 573 serious incidents, and 198 ransomware attacks in 2024; most impact in manufacturing, healthcare, public services.”

First, cyber incidents in Italy are rising sharply. The Italian National Cybersecurity Agency ACN reported 1,979 cyber events in 2024 vs 1,411 in 2023, including 573 serious breaches. SMEs and public bodies bore the brunt 75% of private‑sector breaches hit small/medium firms.

Ransomware is rampant 198 major attacks in 2024 +20% YoY mostly targeting manufacturing, healthcare and public services with groups like LockBit and Black Basta active. Globally, IBM warns that breaches are growing costlier 2024 average breach cost $4.88M, +10% over prior year.

In this high‑stakes context, regular penetration testing helps organizations anticipate attacks and plug gaps. It’s also increasingly a compliance must, regulations like GDPR, NIS2, and industry standards ISO/IEC 27001, PCI DSS 11.3, SOC 2, HIPAA, FedRAMP, etc. mandate periodic security testing. For example, PCI DSS 11.3 explicitly requires internal and external network/app testing at least annually and after major changes.

Who Are the Top Pentest Firms in Italy?

Italy’s market includes both homegrown specialists and international experts. Below are some of the leading penetration testing companies servicing Italian clients:

DeepStrike Global (USA/Italy) Manual-First Pentesting with International Reach

Homepage of DeepStrike penetration testing services in Italy, black minimalist design with headline “Revolutionizing Pentesting” emphasizing real-world attack simulations.

DeepStrike Global blends U.S. expertise with European presence, making it a trusted choice for multinational firms seeking high-skill manual testing combined with the efficiency of a continuous PTaaS model. Its perfect Clutch rating underscores a reputation for precision, transparency, and client trust.

ISGroup (Italy) Veteran Cybersecurity Boutique

Homepage of ISGroup Italy, an information security provider, showing rock climbing visual with tagline “to not get hacked” and services in ethical hacking, penetration testing, and training.

ISGroup is one of Italy’s most experienced pentesting boutiques, offering enterprises a mature, research-driven partner for high-assurance testing. Their combination of ISO certifications, veteran consultants, and bespoke methodology makes them a strong choice for organizations that value trust and technical depth.

Swascan (Tinexta Cyber, Italy) Cloud-Based Security Platform for SMEs

Tinexta Cyber Italy website error page (404), showing certifications (ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 27701) and contact details for cybersecurity services.

Swascan represents Italy’s SME-friendly security solution, blending automation, manual pentesting, and compliance tools in a simple cloud-based model. With Tinexta’s support, it stands out as a credible, scalable option for mid-market firms balancing cost, compliance, and ongoing testing needs.

Pikered (Italy) AI-Driven Breach & Attack Simulation (BAS)

Homepage of Pikered, an Italian cybersecurity firm, promoting ZAIUX Evo adversarial exposure validation SaaS platform with dark green cyber-themed background.

Pikered stands out in Italy for its innovative, AI-powered approach to offensive security. By blending continuous BAS with expert-led pentests, it provides organizations especially in fintech and critical infrastructure with ongoing, real-world attack simulation that goes beyond traditional one-off testing.

Telsy (TIM Group, Italy) Strategic Security Lab for Critical Infrastructure

Telsy Italy cybersecurity division homepage under TIM Group, featuring neon-style “Innovation for Security” headline and focus on communications and enterprise security.

Telsy stands apart as Italy’s strategic security lab, combining world-class pentesting expertise with national accreditation. Best suited for critical infrastructure and government organizations, it reinforces TIM’s role as a leading force in Italian cybersecurity.

Black Dog Solutions (Italy) Managed Security with Pentesting Bundled

Black Dog IT Solutions homepage highlighting IT support for Omaha, Lincoln, and nearby businesses with call-to-action for consulting and free IT buyers guide.

Black Dog Solutions is best suited for Italian organizations seeking comprehensive, managed coverage rather than isolated pentests. With strong enterprise and public sector clients, it delivers predictable, bundled security services combining MSSP operations with offensive testing and compliance expertise.

These firms represent Italy’s diverse landscape from Swascan’s SaaS‑style platform to ISGroup’s research‑driven boutique to DeepStrike’s global, developer‑friendly pentest approach. They each hold relevant credentials ISO certifications, OSCP, CREST personnel, etc. and cover core services web, mobile, cloud, network, social engineering. Pricing ranges widely, most quality pentests cost €5K-€50K+ depending on scope but transparency is improving with tiered quotes and continuous plans.

How to Choose a Penetration Testing Provider in Italy

Checklist graphic for selecting a penetration testing provider in Italy, including scope, certifications, methodology, and retesting
  1. Define Scope & Goals: List your assets, websites, APIs, apps, networks, IoT devices and compliance needs. Determine if you need just an annual check e.g., for PCI/SOC 2 or an ongoing program. Consider whether you want extra services like phishing tests.
  2. Check Expertise & Certifications: Look for firms with proven experience in your industry. Are they ISO 27001 certified or hold CREST accreditation? Pentesters with OSCP/CEH/CISSP are a good sign. Read client reviews e.g. DeepStrike has 5.0/5 on Clutch. Ensure they follow recognized standards OWASP, NIST SP 800‑115.
  3. Compare Services & Anchors: Verify they cover all required services web app testing see web application penetration testing services, mobile app pentesting see mobile app penetration testing solution, cloud/infra testing, and social engineering. Ask about black‑ vs white‑box methods see black box vs white box testing explained. If you have APIs or GraphQL, confirm API testing experience. Platforms like Swascan or Pikered offer automated/continuous continuous penetration testing if needed.
  4. Request Proposals: Contact multiple providers for quotes. Provide your scope and ask about methodology. Compare costs per asset, daily rates vs fixed price. Our guide on penetration testing RFP writing can help structure your request. Expect professional reports, CVSS risk scoring, and retest options.
  5. Evaluate Reports & Support: Look for clarity in findings and remediation guidance. Good vendors e.g. DeepStrike offers integration with issue trackers and free fix re-tests. A solid provider will also help validate fixes ensuring the issues are truly resolved.
  6. Plan Ongoing Testing: Cyber threats evolve. The most resilient organizations use continuous or periodic retesting. Ask if the company offers subscription plans or automated scanning. DeepStrike, for instance, has a Premium tier with twice‑yearly pentests and weekly scans. Considering penetration testing for startups and SMBs is especially important, since 75% of Italy’s private breaches hit smaller firms.

Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Assessment

It’s crucial to distinguish pentesting from a simple vulnerability scan. A vulnerability assessment is typically an automated scan of your systems to list known issues. A penetration test, by contrast, has experts actively exploit weaknesses. As SecurityMetrics explains, a vulnerability scan is automated, while a penetration test includes a live person actually digging into the complexities of your network. Scans alone can miss logic flaws or chained exploits. Ideally, use both, regular automated scans for baseline checks, and periodic full pentests for deep analysis. See our guide vulnerability assessment vs penetration testing for more on this.

Key Penetration Testing Services

Top pentest firms offer a range of assessments:

Cost Considerations in Italy

Bar chart of typical pentest costs in Italy with notes on drivers and a caution that sub-€3K offers are usually automated scans.

Penetration testing cost varies widely by scope. DeepStrike’s data shows professional pentests typically run €5K-€50K, with large enterprise projects exceeding €100K. Simple scans or small apps can start around €5K, while complex multi‑site engagements go higher.

Key cost drivers include the number of hosts/applications, test depth black vs white box and tester expertise. For context, typical benchmarks globally are web app tests €4K-€25K, network tests €4K-€35K, mobile €6K-€30K per platform.

Italian providers often quote in Euros and may adjust for VAT. Some offer package pricing or retainer models. Always get a formal quote and compare daily rate vs fixed price models.

Note very low cost pentests < €3K are usually automated scans only. Expert human led pentests with senior testers e.g. OSCP‑certified warrants a higher investment, but can uncover flaws that save millions in breach costs.

Compliance and Penetration Testing

Compliance flow showing how pentesting supports GDPR/NIS2, ISO 27001, and PCI DSS 11.3 evidence requirements

Penetration testing isn’t just best practice, it's often required. In Italy, companies in the finance, healthcare, e‑commerce and public sectors must meet EU/National rules. For example:

Even if not mandatory, pentesting often overlaps these frameworks. Providers in Italy will tailor reports to compliance e.g. highlighting evidence of meeting GDPR/NIS controls. Essentially, a quality pentest helps tick the boxes for regulations from GDPR to DORA to Italian privacy law.

Case Studies & Attack Examples

To illustrate the stakes, consider real incidents For example, a major account takeover occurred at a company details anonymized when attackers phished an admin user. A scenario a good pentest could have preempted see our account takeover case study.

Or take SSRF real‑world SSRF attack examples show how poorly configured APIs let hackers pivot into internal systems. We’ve also seen OAuth misconfigurations allow session hijacks to learn about OAuth security best practices. These cases underline that vulnerabilities often span tech stacks, something the top pentesters DeepStrike, Swascan, etc. hunt for.

On statistics globally, some shocking figures emerge. A recent IBM study found stolen credentials were the top initial breach vector 16%, and that breaches now take 280+ days to contain.

In Italy, malware and phishing remain huge threats, email is still a major entry point. The ACN reported 53,000 security alerts in 2024 a 157% increase, signaling how much faster attacks are evolving. Having a skilled pentesting team helps organizations stay one step ahead of these trends.

Common Mistakes and Myths

Step by Step: Running a Pentest Engagement

Timeline of a penetration testing engagement from planning through remediation and retest
  1. Plan: Define objectives e.g., PCI audit vs risk reduction and scope which systems, internal/external, etc.. Involve stakeholders and select a testing window.
  2. Choose Company: Evaluate proposals. Verify the penetration testing RFP guide to ensure you ask the right questions methodologies, team experience, deliverables.
  3. Kickoff: Meet the testers. Share necessary information business context, IP ranges, APIs. Decide on black/white/grey box approach.
  4. Testing Phase: The provider conducts reconnaissance, scanning, and exploitation. They communicate regularly, some use Slack/Jira dashboards and follow frameworks like OWASP WSTG.
  5. Reporting: After tests, receive a detailed report of findings with CVSS severity scores, screenshots and proof of concept exploits. Reports should include remediation steps.
  6. Remediation & Retest: Fix the issues patch, config changes, code fixes. Engage the testers for a free or low cost retest of high severity findings to verify closure.
  7. Learn & Plan Next: Incorporate lessons learned e.g. update security training, code reviews, or continuous scanning. Schedule the next pentest cycle.

By following a clear process and choosing a qualified partner, organizations can significantly improve their security posture.

Italian businesses face increasingly aggressive cyber threats with a record 89% jump in serious attacks in 2024. To stay secure and compliant, partnering with a skilled penetration testing company is essential. Whether you choose a global expert like DeepStrike rated 5★ on Clutch or a local specialist ISGroup, Swascan/Tinexta, Pikered, Telsy, BDS, the goal is the same, find and fix vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them. Rigorous pentesting helps meet GDPR/NIS2/PCI requirements, reduce breach risk, and ultimately save money by avoiding data theft or downtime.

Dark CTA inviting readers to schedule a penetration test with DeepStrike

Ready to Strengthen Your Defenses? The cyber threats of 2025 demand more than awareness, they require preparation. If you want to validate your security posture, uncover hidden risks, and build a resilient defense strategy, DeepStrike is here to help. Our team of practitioners provides clear, actionable guidance to protect your business. Explore our penetration testing services to see how we can uncover vulnerabilities before attackers do. Drop us a line we’re always ready to dive in.

About the Author

Mohammed Khalil is a Cybersecurity Architect at DeepStrike, specializing in advanced penetration testing and offensive security operations. With certifications including CISSP, OSCP, and OSWE, he has led numerous red team engagements for Fortune 500 companies, focusing on cloud security, application vulnerabilities, and adversary emulation. His work involves dissecting complex attack chains and developing resilient defense strategies for clients in the finance, healthcare, and technology sectors.

FAQs

A pentest company conducts controlled cyberattacks on your systems websites, networks, apps to find and exploit security holes before real hackers do. They deliver a report of vulnerabilities and help you fix them. This proactive testing goes beyond automated scanning, adding human expertise to validate risks.

Costs vary by scope and complexity. Expect professional tests for a single web app or small network to start around €5K, with larger or multi‑domain tests reaching €50K or more. Mobile apps and cloud assets have similar ranges. Key factors are the number of IPs/pages, technologies, and testing depth. Complex white‑box tests or multi‑site engagements drive costs up. Smaller companies should budget tens of thousands, but the ROI can be huge given that a single breach can cost millions.

A vulnerability assessment is an automated scan that lists known weaknesses in your systems. A penetration test is a live attack simulation performed by skilled testers who actually exploit weaknesses to see how deep they can go. In short, a vuln scan shows potential holes, a penetration test proves whether those holes can be breached and what an attacker could do. Both are important scans for routine checks, pentests for in depth assurance.

At minimum, once a year, or after any major change new apps, network upgrades, mergers, etc.. Best practice and many regulations call for annual testing. If you add significant infrastructure or face new threats, schedule a new test. For high risk environments, continuous testing or biannual tests are ideal.

Look for companies with strong credentials. ISO/IEC 27001 certification is a plus and ISGroup is ISO 27001 certified. Check if testers have respected certs like OSCP, OSWE, CEH, CISSP. Accreditation like CREST less common in Italy or ANSI testing labs can also indicate quality. Reputable firms follow standards such as OWASP Top 10 and NIST SP 800‑115 in their methodology.

A typical penetration test focuses on specific systems or applications, a point in time attack. A red team engagement is broader, it simulates an advanced persistent threat over weeks, using social engineering, physical intrusion, and sophisticated attack chains to test the organization’s overall defense. For example, a red team might try phishing staff, then exploiting a simulated malware drop, whereas a pentest might just check your perimeter network and website. Both have value, pentests are more scoped and technical, red teams are holistic. For more on offensive security roles, see red team vs blue team explained.

No. Automated tools can find simple bugs, but they miss complex logic flaws. Human testers provide real‑world attack simulations. Clutch reviewers emphasize that DeepStrike’s manual testing found critical vulnerabilities that were previously overlooked. Use automation for routine scans, but always pair it with expert manual analysis for real assurance.

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