- Threat landscape: Cyberthreats surged in 2025, making expert penetration testing essential for South African businesses.
- DeepStrike leads South Africa: Continuous PTaaS platform + manual first approach for proactive defense.
- Key competitors: Orange Cyberdefense SensePost, Nclose, Telspace Africa, Performanta, Wolfpack InfoRisk.
- Coverage: Web, mobile, API, cloud, network pentesting, plus advanced red teaming.
- Market snapshot: Each provider compared by services, pricing, certifications, and expertise.
- Why it matters: Continuous pentesting provides stronger resilience than one off audits, aligning with global compliance and threat trends.
South Africa is now one of Africa’s most digitally integrated economies and also one of its top targets. Ransomware and data breaches have escalated one report notes that South African digital banking fraud alone cost consumers over R1 billion in 2023.
As a result, organizations are investing in proactive security testing. Penetration testing ethical hacking means simulating real attacks to expose vulnerabilities before criminals do. Global demand for pentesting is soaring the worldwide market was $2.45 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $6.25 billion by 2032 and South African businesses across finance, telecom, government and more are no exception.
Choosing a top tier pentest provider can dramatically improve cyber resilience. Unlike one-time vulnerability scans, a trusted firm will use both automated tools and expert manual testing to uncover hidden gaps, provide clear reports, and help you fix issues.
Below we review South Africa’s leading pentesting companies, focusing on their core offerings, target clients, certifications, and what sets them apart. This will help you navigate terms like continuous penetration testing and red teaming, and find the best fit for your security needs.
Top Penetration Testing Companies in South Africa 2025
DeepStrike Continuous Pentesting PTaaS Platform
DeepStrike is a global penetration testing as a service PTaaS provider that offers continuous, human driven pentesting. Their penetration testing services cover web, mobile and API applications, networks, cloud and IoT environments. Uniquely, DeepStrike provides a real time dashboard PTaaS platform where clients can request new tests with every code release and track vulnerabilities and fixes live. Every assessment is 100% manual by certified experts with no reliance on automated scanning alone which clients say uncovers critical security vulnerabilities that were previously overlooked.
- Services: Deep web/mobile/API/cloud/network pentests and vulnerability assessments, plus optional red team simulations. They integrate into CI/CD pipelines for DevSecOps workflows.
- Pricing: Projects typically start around $5,000+, positioning DeepStrike for mid market and enterprise budgets.
- Clients: DeepStrike serves global enterprises especially fintech, SaaS platforms and startups as well as critical infrastructure projects. Clutch reviews note clients span finance, technology and government sectors.
- Certifications: The team holds top industry creds OSCP, OSWE, GPEN, etc. and the service produces compliance ready reports SOC2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, etc..
- Strengths: DeepStrike’s key advantage is its continuous pentesting platform. Clients benefit from unlimited retesting of fixes and a single pane of glass dashboard for all assets. Reviews highlight their in depth manual testing and actionable remediation plans. With a 5.0/5.0 rating on Clutch 27 reviews, users praise DeepStrike’s expertise, communication and thorough reporting. In short, DeepStrike excels at proactive, ongoing security testing continuous PTaaS driven by expert analysts.
Orange Cyberdefense SensePost Global/SA Leader
Orange Cyberdefense South Africa formerly SensePost is a long established security firm founded 2000 and part of the Orange Telecom group. Their Pretoria team brings 25+ years of offensive security experience to SA clients, backed by Orange’s global network of 250+ researchers and 18 Security Operations Centers.
- Services: End to end security offerings. Core services include penetration testing web, mobile, network, applications, managed vulnerability scanning, incident response and threat intelligence. Orange also delivers hands-on red teaming exercises and advanced social engineering attacks, phishing, etc. They often combine pentesting with broader advisory and managed services.
- Pricing: Custom quotes per project. No set package pricing reflects enterprise scale engagements.
- Clients: Large enterprises, government and telecoms. Orange Cyberdefense counts numerous Fortune level clients in finance, telecom, mining and public sector. Their senior team, originally SensePost, has decades of experience with critical infrastructure and big banks in South Africa.
- Certifications: SensePost consultants hold advanced creds CREST membership through Orange, Offensive Security certificates like OSCP/OSWE, etc.. The Orange division itself meets ISO/IEC 27001, PCI ASV and other international standards.
- Strengths: Scale and reputation. Orange offers global threat intelligence and research led insight not found in smaller firms. Their team’s long tenure in hacking often finding 0 day exploits is a major plus. Clients get a one stop shop pentesting integrated with managed detection MDR, SOC as a service and incident response. In summary, Orange Cyberdefense brings unmatched expertise and enterprise resources, ideal for organizations needing a full security partner.
Nclose South African Pentest Specialist
Nclose is a Cape Town–based cybersecurity and pen testing specialist, founded in 2006. It emphasizes local expertise and compliance support.
- Services: Comprehensive VAPT portfolio external and internal network tests, web application assessments OWASP Top 10, ASVS etc., wireless security audits, firewall configuration reviews, and cloud security reviews AWS/Azure. They also offer standard vulnerability scans and social engineering tests on demand.
- Pricing: Custom project quotes no public pricing. They focus on multi year engagements with large clients.
- Clients: Long term partnerships in finance, hospitality and retail. Case studies cite a major South African bank 12+ years and Sun International hospitality giant. Nclose typically serves large corporate and regulated entities that require ISO 27001, HIPAA, or SOC2 compliance.
- Certifications: All pentesters are in house and hold industry credits ECSA, OSCP, CISSP, etc.. Notably, Nclose is ISO 27001 certified and Level 2 B BBEE rated.
- Strengths: Nclose’s value lies in its 100% South African team and strong compliance focus. By keeping all testing local, clients benefit from on the ground service. Reviews highlight Nclose’s deep knowledge of local industry requirements. While their model is more traditional fixed pentests then remediation, their long term client retention speaks to consistency and trust.
Telspace Africa Veteran Ethical Hacking Firm
Telspace Africa formerly Telspace Systems is a Johannesburg based infosec consultancy, operating since 2002. It has built a reputation on technical depth and a Hackers for Hire culture.
- Services: Broad security services. Core offerings include penetration testing networks, web/mobile apps, continuous red teaming exercises, their MVS Managed Vulnerability Service, social engineering phishing, and 24/7 vulnerability scanning. They also provide cybersecurity advisory, remediation consulting, and public training courses.
- Pricing: Typically custom quotes or subscription for ongoing services e.g. continuous scanning, MVS.
- Clients: Leading South African banks, government agencies and large corporations. Specific names aren’t public, but Telspace staff are frequent security conference speakers, indicating high profile engagements. They hold Level 2 B BBEE status.
- Certifications: Consultants generally hold OSCP, GPEN and vendor certs. The firm itself emphasizes experience and B-BBEE formal accreditations beyond that are not publicized.
- Strengths: Longevity and research pedigree. Telspace claims dozens of security research discoveries, zero days disclosed responsibly and offers mature red team/social engineering services. Their reports are noted as vendor independent straightforward technical findings. Unlike newer PTaaS platforms, Telspace follows a traditional testing cadence, but with deep expertise. For organizations valuing a hands-on, research driven approach and government affiliated ones requiring B BBEE, Telspace is a proven choice.
Performanta Managed Security & Pentesting
Performanta is an international cybersecurity firm with a major SA presence. While best known for managed detection and response XDR/SOC, they also offer pen testing as part of a broad Identify security portfolio.
- Services: End to end security solutions Identity and access management IAM, vulnerability management, penetration testing, threat hunting, and their proprietary SafeXDR platform for SIEM/XDR. Their site lists Penetration Testing Service under security assessments. They also provide SOC as a Service, incident response, and compliance advisory ISO/NIST.
- Pricing: Enterprise contracts custom, geared to large organizations.
- Clients: Over 500 global clients, including banks, healthcare, utilities and governments. They highlight dozens of ex CISOs/CIOs on staff, reflecting a focus on large enterprise governance.
- Certifications: Performanta is a Microsoft partner and displays logos for ISO, NIST compliance, and CREST on their site. They meet common regulatory requirements and claim various industry badges.
- Strengths: Global scale and managed services portfolio. With 150+ security professionals worldwide, Performanta can support 24/7 monitoring, XDR, and large-scale cybersecurity projects. Their SafeXDR platform and advisory staff give them an edge for clients seeking a single vendor for SIEM, SOC and pentesting. In contrast to boutique pentesters, Performanta blends consulting, tech and testing appealing to organizations that want integrated services.
Wolfpack InfoRisk Consulting & Community
Wolfpack InfoRisk is a Durban based cybersecurity advisory firm est. 2011 that combines GRC consulting with offensive security.
- Services: Cybersecurity consulting GRC, risk, privacy, penetration testing, cloud security assessments, incident response, and security training. Under its Cyber Resilience offering, pentesting and incident management are explicitly listed. They also run community workshops and awareness programs.
- Pricing: Project based or retainer engagements.
- Clients: Varied Wolfpack says it’s a trusted partner to organizations of all sizes across key sectors. They have completed 650+ projects including government and corporate clients in South Africa and beyond.
- Certifications: Level 1 B BBEE status highest rating. Staff hold CISSP, CIPP and other professional certifications. They also guide clients through ISO 27001 certification efforts citing client successes.
- Strengths: Holistic approach. Wolfpack blends offensive testing with GRC expertise and training. Their unique value is this mix you get classic pentesting plus broader risk assessments and community support. This appeals to clients wanting a cyber self defence strategy rather than just a technical audit. They’ve seen fast growth 650 projects since 2011 and emphasize customer education. In summary, Wolfpack is a good fit for organizations that need both technical assessments and consulting guidance under one roof.
Key Factors for Choosing a Pentest Provider
When evaluating pentesting companies in South Africa, consider:
- Expertise & Certifications: Seek providers with globally recognized credentials OSCP, OSWE, CREST, etc.. A certified team indicates real world hacking skills.
- Service Coverage: Ensure they offer the types of tests you need web app, mobile app, API, cloud, and both internal and external network penetration testing. For example, internal tests simulate threats from inside your firewall, while external tests target internet facing systems.
- Methodology: Prefer firms that combine automation with manual testing. Automated scans can cover known issues, but manual pentesters reveal complex logic flaws and multi step attacks.
- Continuous vs One Time: Some providers like DeepStrike offer ongoing pentesting as part of DevOps pipelines. If your environment changes rapidly, a continuous penetration testing platform may be valuable otherwise, periodic testing might suffice.
- Reporting & Retesting: Check if reports are clear and compliance ready ISO 27001, SOC2, NIST, etc.. Ask if the firm retests fixed issues at no extra cost, some offer unlimited retesting to verify your fixes.
- Industry & Local Knowledge: A vendor familiar with your sector finance, healthcare, retail, etc. will better understand relevant regulations POPIA, PCI DSS, etc.. Local presence can aid responsiveness and regional insight.
- Reputation & Reviews: Look for references and reviews. For instance, DeepStrike has a 5.0/5.0 Clutch rating for thorough reporting. Positive feedback on project management, communication and issue discovery is a good sign.
Each of the companies above excels on some of these factors. Use the comparison above to prioritize what matters most for your organization.
Penetration Testing vs Vulnerability Assessment
A penetration test is an active, hands on attack simulation, whereas a vulnerability assessment VA is more automated scanning. Pentesters will exploit vulnerabilities to demonstrate potential breaches, while a VA simply reports weakness.
Many South African firms offer both as a combined service. For a deeper dive, see our guide on vulnerability assessment vs penetration testing. Generally, any mature security program should include both automated scans for broad coverage, plus expert led pentesting for depth.
Penetration testing is no longer optional in South Africa with threats like ransomware and data leaks on the rise, even one vulnerability can be catastrophic. The firms reviewed here represent the best pentesting options in 2025: DeepStrike’s innovative PTaaS approach, Orange’s global scale, Nclose’s local expertise, and others’ specialized offerings. Each has a proven track record, so consider which strengths align with your needs.
Ready to Strengthen Your Defenses? The cyberthreats of 2025 demand more than just awareness, they require readiness. If you want to rigorously test your security posture, find hidden risks, and build a resilient defense strategy, DeepStrike is here to help. Our expert team offers clear, actionable guidance to protect your business. Explore our Penetration Testing Services to see how we can uncover vulnerabilities before attackers do and reach out, 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. 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.
Penetration testing pentesting is a proactive security audit where experts simulate real world cyberattacks on your systems to find vulnerabilities before attackers do. It can cover web/mobile apps, networks, APIs, cloud services, and even physical/social engineering. Unlike basic scans, pentesting involves creative, manual techniques to compromise systems, then provides detailed reports and mitigation advice. For South African businesses in 2025, pentests help meet regulatory requirements like ISO 27001 or PCI DSS and strengthen defenses against threats like ransomware and data theft.
In 2025, South African organizations face rapidly growing cyber threats. Reports show rising ransomware and large data leaks targeting SA companies. At the same time, consumers lost over R1 billion to digital banking fraud in 2023. Pentesting is crucial to uncover hidden weaknesses in this climate. It validates that your defenses, firewalls, auth, code, etc. actually work, and it helps you stay compliant with laws like POPIA. By identifying vulnerabilities early, companies avoid costly breaches and build public trust.
Costs vary by scope and provider. Many enterprise grade engagements start in the $5,000+ range. Factors include the size of the network, number of apps, and depth of testing black box vs full access. South African firms often tailor prices per project. For example, DeepStrike’s typical engagements start around $5K, while boutique consultancies may price smaller tests lower. Remember to consider the value a thorough pentest can save far more than it costs by preventing breaches.
- What services do top South African pentesting companies offer?
Leading firms provide a full suite of penetration testing services:
- Web/Mobile App Testing: Checks for OWASP Top 10 and logic flaws.
- API/Cloud Testing: Examines APIs and cloud configs AWS, Azure for misconfigurations.
- Internal/External Network Testing: Probes corporate networks from outside and inside.
- Wireless and IoT Testing: Audits Wi Fi security and Internet of Things devices.
- Social Engineering: Tests employees via phishing or physical entry.
- Red Teaming: Simulates advanced attacks often combining all of the above.
For example, DeepStrike and Orange Cyberdefense conduct extensive web, mobile and network pentests, while Wolfpack and Telspace also emphasize cloud and phishing tests. Most provide vulnerability scanning and compliance reporting, too. For more detail, see our posts on web application penetration testing services and mobile app pentesting solutions.
- How do I choose the right pentesting company for my business?
Start by defining your goals, regulatory compliance, specific threats, etc.. Then compare providers on expertise and fit look for experienced, certified testers OSCP, CREST, GIAC and proven methodologies. Ensure they offer the type of testing you need e.g. internal vs external networks, difference between internal and external penetration tests. Consider whether you need continuous testing PTaaS or a one time audit. Check their track record and client reviews for instance, DeepStrike’s clients highlight their expert manual testing and clear reports. Finally, make sure their pricing and reporting cadence match your budget and schedule.
- What is the difference between penetration testing and vulnerability assessment?
A vulnerability assessment VA uses automated tools to scan for known weaknesses, producing a list of issues. Pentesting goes further by actively exploiting those weaknesses and looking for complex attack paths. In other words, VAs identify what is wrong, while pentests show how it could be exploited. Both are important. Many companies start with a VA and then hire pentesters to demonstrate real world risk. In South Africa, most pentesting companies offer both together. You can read more in our vulnerability assessment vs penetration testing guide.
