Penetration Testing Companies in Portugal 2025 (Reviewed)

• Market context: Portugal’s fast growing tech economy and new EU regulations NIS2, DORA are driving demand for professional penetration testing and compliance validation.
• DeepStrike leads Portugal:
  • Ranked number one for combining manual, human led testing with a modern PTaaS Pentest as a Service platform.
  • Offers continuous testing, unlimited retests, and audit ready reports for GDPR/NIS2/DORA compliance.
• Key competitors:
  • Claranet Iberia enterprise grade cybersecurity and managed services.
  • S21sec / Thales large scale SOC and red team operations.
  • Probely developer focused automated vulnerability scanning.
  • Secmentis & TeamSecure boutique firms offering custom pentests.
• Evaluation factors:
  • Expertise: OSCP, CREST, CEH certified testers.
  • Methodology: Manual vs. automated or hybrid testing.
  • Compliance support: GDPR Article 32, NIS2, DORA.
  • Pricing model: One off vs. subscription based PTaaS.
• Risk & ROI: Average data breach cost $4.9 M, underscoring the value of proactive, recurring testing.
• Key takeaway: Regular pentesting with a trusted provider like DeepStrike ensures compliance, visibility, and resilience in Portugal’s expanding digital economy.

What is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing pentesting is an authorized, simulated cyberattack on a system, network, or application to find security weaknesses before real hackers do. Unlike basic vulnerability scans, pentests often involve skilled ethical hackers using the same tools and techniques as attackers.

As NIST explains, pentesters mimic real world attacks to identify how an attacker could exploit flaws and how badly they could compromise your system. In short, pentesting shows how secure your defenses really are and what an attacker could achieve, so you can fix those issues proactively.

For Portuguese businesses, pentesting also supports regulatory compliance. For example, under EU regulations like GDPR and ISO 27001, organizations must protect sensitive data having a recent penetration test is strong evidence of due diligence.

Portugal is also updating its cybersecurity law RJC under NIS2, which will soon mandate penetration testing for many critical sectors. In finance, the new DORA rules explicitly require threat led penetration tests at least every three years. In this environment, regular pentests are not just a good idea, they're fast becoming a legal requirement for many Portuguese companies.

Why Penetration Testing Matters in 2025

With cyberattacks on the rise globally and the financial impact soaring, penetration testing is more important than ever. The global average cost of a data breach spiked to $4.88 million in 2024, driving home how expensive a security incident can be.

Portuguese organizations from fintechs in Lisbon to manufacturers in Porto face the same risks. A single breach can disrupt operations, erode customer trust, and trigger regulatory fines.

Moreover, new EU rules mean many Portuguese firms will be in scope for stringent cybersecurity audits soon. Under NIS2, up to 9,000 entities covering sectors like manufacturing and energy will be required to do things like advanced penetration testing and supplier audits.

Financial firms under DORA must perform threat led pentests on live systems every three years. In practical terms, this means board level scrutiny and potentially multimillion euro fines for failures.

In short, a solid penetration test helps Portuguese companies find hidden vulnerabilities, strengthen defenses before attackers exploit them, and meet compliance mandates. It also gives IT teams real world insights.

For example, pentests often reveal not just technical bugs like SQLi or SSRF but also gaps in detection and response. Skilled pentesters report not only what’s wrong, but also how to fix it, making them a valuable part of any security strategy.

Top Penetration Testing Companies in Portugal

Portugal’s cybersecurity market is growing, and you’ll find a mix of global consultancies, Iberian specialists, and local boutiques serving Portuguese clients. Here are the leading pentesting providers in Portugal, with what makes each stand out:

DeepStrike Modern PTaaS with Heavy Manual Expertise

DeepStrike brings its manual-first Penetration Testing-as-a-Service PTaaS model to Portugal, serving the country’s growing tech and fintech sectors. Built by ethical hackers and experienced red-teamers, DeepStrike blends hand-crafted manual pentesting with cloud-based collaboration delivering both depth and speed for today’s agile development environments.

Services:

DeepStrike provides end-to-end offensive security testing, including:

• Web & API Penetration Tests OWASP-aligned
• Mobile App Security Android / iOS
• Cloud & Infrastructure Assessments AWS, Azure, GCP, hybrid
• Red Teaming & Social Engineering phishing, vishing, physical intrusion
• Continuous PTaaS Platform with real-time dashboards and unlimited retesting

Approach:

Unlike automated scanners, DeepStrike’s experts rely on manual exploitation using tools like Burp Suite, Metasploit, and custom scripts. Every engagement is delivered via the DeepStrike PTaaS dashboard, which integrates seamlessly with Slack, Jira, GitHub, and other DevSecOps tools. This hybrid model gives engineering teams instant visibility into live findings and enables verified retesting with just one click.

This approach suits fast-moving Portuguese SaaS and tech companies that release updates frequently and need security validation at the same pace.

Clients & Fit:

DeepStrike’s typical Portuguese clients include scale-ups, fintechs, and enterprises across finance, retail, and technology. Organizations in Lisbon, Porto, and Braga choose DeepStrike for its developer-centric workflows and frequent testing cadence, ensuring security keeps up with agile delivery cycles.

Certifications & Expertise:

The DeepStrike team holds OSCP, OSWE, CISSP, and CREST-level credentials and adheres to OWASP, NIST, and PTES methodologies. Reports are SOC 2 / ISO 27001-ready, clearly mapping each issue to risk ratings and actionable remediation steps.

Why Choose DeepStrike:

Many Portuguese firms need continuous assurance rather than one-off audits. DeepStrike’s PTaaS model enables exactly that, tracking live vulnerabilities, retesting fixes for free, and providing ongoing security posture improvement through a unified dashboard. In short, DeepStrike offers the thoroughness of a manual pentest with the efficiency of an integrated platform making it the ideal choice for Portugal’s fast-scaling digital economy.

Claranet Iberia Enterprise Grade Testing & Training

• Services: Comprehensive pentesting portfolio web, mobile, network, cloud, red teaming, Continuous Security Testing, plus a unique training arm NotSoSecure for hacking courses. Claranet also provides managed security services SOC/MDR.

• Approach: Claranet is a large, global IT services provider. In Portugal and Spain, they combine hands-on tests with high volume operations. They emphasize formal processes and certifications partners with CREST related training.

• Clients & Fit: Ideal for large enterprises and public institutions. Claranet’s strength is serving regulated industries, finance, government, telco where you need a proven, multi discipline provider. They offer packaged services for training staff on security too.

• Certifications/Expertise: CREST approved processes in partnership with NotSoSecure, ISO 27001 accredited practices, and many experienced consultants.

• Why Choose Them: Claranet brings scale and structure. If you want a single vendor for pentesting, security training, and managed services in Iberia, they stand out. Their clients trust them to handle large, complex engagements.

S21sec Thales Group Intel Driven, Iberian Market Leader

• Services: Advanced penetration testing, red teaming, managed detection & response MDR, threat intelligence, and SOC support.

• Approach: S21sec is a top cybersecurity firm based in Spain now part of Thales, with strong presence in Portugal. They leverage threat intel to inform tests for instance, using knowledge of local attack trends and industry specific threats.

• Clients & Fit: Focused on large, regulated organizations in Southern Europe: telecoms, banks, critical infrastructure. Portuguese enterprises needing military grade security benefit from S21sec’s expertise.

• Certifications/Expertise: High level technical teams often with security vendor backgrounds. They are known for intel augmented testing.

• Why Choose Them: If your firm needs large scale or highly specialized assessments e.g. OT networks for utilities, teleco infrastructure, S21sec delivers. They combine pentesting with extensive monitoring and data feeds, so you get context around emerging threats.

Probely Continuous Web/API Scanning and Developer Tools

• Services: Automated web and API vulnerability scanning, continuous application security monitoring, and developer focused remediation guidance.

• Approach: Probely marketed as Probe.ly is a Portuguese born SaaS startup. Instead of one time manual tests, they offer a cloud based scanner you run in CI/CD pipelines. Think of it as an always on pentest for your web apps and APIs.

• Clients & Fit: Best for development teams and SMBs/startups in Portugal or Europe who need quick feedback. If you have frequent releases, Probely’s developer integrations GitHub, GitLab, Jira and continuous scans help catch new issues in real time.

• Certifications/Expertise: While not focused on manual expert services, Probely’s tools cover OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities and more. Many Portuguese dev teams use it as a complement to manual pentesting.

• Why Choose Them: Probely is great if automation and speed matter. It’s not a replacement for human led pentesting, but it’s very useful between audits. Organizations often use Probely’s CI scans along with periodic DeepStrike style manual tests for depth.

Local Portuguese Consultancies Hands On Testing and Local Expertise

• Services: These smaller firms for example, Secmentis, TeamSecure, CyberX, Integrity, Char49 offer a range of pen testing services: external/internal network tests, web/mobile app pentests, Wi Fi audits, OT/IoT testing, and social engineering phishing, physical tests.

• Approach: They typically deliver project based pentests on a fixed quote basis. Many are bilingual and attuned to Portuguese business culture and compliance including regional standards.

• Clients & Fit: Often work with Portuguese SMEs, public sector, and local branches of multinationals. If you need in person support or local language reporting, these consultancies fit well.

• Certifications/Expertise: Teams often hold CEH, CISSP, OSCP, CISA, or less commonly CREST. They are hands-on with tools like Nmap, Metasploit, Kali Linux, etc.

• Why Choose Them: They offer pragmatic service and usually more budget friendly pricing for smaller scopes. Using a local pentester can mean quicker onsite testing and easier collaboration if needed. Some will even handle Portuguese procurement RFPs directly. Just ensure they have the right technical chops check for examples of past work or industry experience.

Comparison of Top Providers

How to Choose the Right Provider

Selecting a penetration testing company is about fit and trust as much as technical ability. Here are key factors and common pitfalls to consider:

• Scope & Methodology:
  • Ensure the provider tests the assets you care about e.g. web apps, cloud, APIs, network. Ask if they use a blend of manual techniques and tools.
  • Beware of firms that rely only on automated scanning real attackers chain vulnerabilities together, so depth matters.
  • Also check if they offer the testing box you need: External vs Internal, Black box vs White box, Red Team etc. See black box vs white box testing explained for differences.
• Certifications & Experience:
  • Look for certifications like OSCP, CREST, CISSP on their staff these indicate hands-on expertise. For example, CREST accredited testers follow stringent quality standards.
  • In Portugal, OSCP/OSCE certifications are common proof of skill.
  • Also, consider industry experience: have they tested systems like yours before? If you’re in finance or health, mention GDPR/NIS2 or PCI/DORA requirements.
• Compliance & Reporting:
  • If you have compliance needs GDPR, ISO 27001, NIS2, choose a firm familiar with those regimes.
  • They should provide clear, actionable reports you can share with auditors or managers.
  • DeepStrike, for instance, prides its reports on being compliance ready. Ask for sample reports or excerpts.
• Delivery Model & Communication: Discuss how they deliver results.
  • Do you get interim reports or a final packet? How is retesting handled? DeepStrike’s PTaaS model, for example, gives you a live dashboard and allows free retesting until issues are fixed this speeds up remediations.
  • If you prefer traditional engagement, ensure they schedule a debrief meeting. Good communication in your language and timezone is crucial.
• Pricing & Value:
  • Pen tests are often custom quoted. Beware of going only by lowest cost. Cheaper scans may miss critical issues. Instead, evaluate cost vs. coverage.
  • Some firms like DeepStrike offer subscription models that can be more cost effective if you need regular testing.
  • Always clarify: what is included in the price? e.g. retests, number of hosts or scans.
• Local vs Global:
  • Local providers can offer on site testing and local language reporting, plus knowledge of Portuguese regulations like the upcoming CNCS guidelines.
  • Global firms bring broad experience and larger teams.
  • A hybrid approach can work too: many companies use a local boutique for an internal test and supplement with a global firm for specialized expertise.
• Common Myths:
  • Don’t assume one pentest is enough, continuous deployment means new code means new risks.
  • Also, pentesting is not a silver bullet; it should be part of a layered strategy including code review, monitoring, and employee training.
  • Finally, a report full of false positives is useless the best testers verify issues. Choose partners known for high quality, actionable findings.

• Practical Checklist:
  • Before starting, define your scope and goals, gather credentials if doing authenticated tests, and set timelines.
  • Once you receive findings, prioritize fixes by risk often the testers will help.
  • Then consider scheduling a follow up or quarterly scans regular testing catches the unknown unknowns in evolving apps.

Penetration testing is no longer optional it’s a critical part of any security strategy in 2025. Portuguese businesses face sophisticated cyber threats and strict regulations; the right pentest partner helps you uncover hidden risks, stay compliant GDPR, NIS2, DORA, and build customer trust.

Ready to strengthen your defenses? The experts at DeepStrike can tailor a testing plan to your needs whether it’s a one off audit or a continuous PTaaS program.

penetration testing services from DeepStrike blend deep manual expertise with live reporting and retesting, so your team can move fast and fix issues confidently. Drop us a line or book a consultation today, and let’s make your systems resilient before attackers do.

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 finance, healthcare, and technology sectors.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between internal and external penetration testing?
  • External pentests focus on your public facing systems websites, VPNs, firewalls to see what an attacker from outside the network can breach.
  • Internal pentests start inside the network simulating a breached employee or lateral attacker to find vulnerabilities behind the firewall.
  • Both are important: external tests check your perimeter defenses, while internal tests catch things insiders could exploit.
  • Learn more in our guide on internal vs external pentesting.

• How much does a pentest cost in Portugal?
  • Costs vary widely based on scope. A basic web app pentest for a small site might be a few thousand euros, while a large enterprise wide assessment could be €20K+.
  • Many Portuguese providers including DeepStrike quote per project.
  • Some use subscription models PTaaS where you pay a monthly/annual fee for ongoing testing and retesting.
  • Factors include: number of hosts or pages, complexity, and any regulatory reporting needed. For ballpark pricing and models, see penetration testing pricing models.

• Should my company have CREST or OSCP certified testers?
  • Certifications like OSCP, CREST, CEH indicate a tester has demonstrated key skills. CREST is a professional body that accredits both companies and testers; having CREST certified assessors means the company follows strict standards.
  • OSCP/OSCE offered by Offensive Security require passing hands-on hacking exams.
  • In Portugal, look for providers mentioning these on their site or LinkedIn. That said, practical experience and strong references can matter even more than certificates alone.

• Do I need penetration testing for GDPR/NIS2/DORA?
  • While GDPR doesn’t explicitly mandate pentests, authorities expect adequate security measures for personal data.
  • Regular pentesting is a strong evidence of compliance. Under the new NIS2 rules in Portugal, certain critical sectors will require advanced testing and audits.
  • And for finance, the EU’s DORA regulation specifically mandates threat led pentests every few years.
  • Even outside these, pentests help you identify compliance gaps e.g. weak encryption or logging before an inspector does.

• What’s the difference between black box and white box testing?
  • In black box testing, the pentesters have no prior knowledge of your system they attack like external hackers with just a URL or IP. It’s useful for assessing real world external risks.
  • In white box testing, they have full access source code, architecture diagrams, credentials to perform a deep audit, which can find issues more exhaustively.
  • Many projects use a grey box approach limited credentials for efficiency.
  • Each has pros and cons: black box simulates real attacks, white box is thorough. A good pentesting plan often includes both angles.

• How often should penetration testing be done?
  • Best practice: at least once a year, and anytime you launch a major new system or after significant changes.
  • However, with continuous deployment, many companies test every release with automated scans and do full manual audits semi-annually or quarterly. Regulated entities often have fixed schedules e.g. annually.
  • The key is regularity cybersecurity isn’t a one off project, it’s an ongoing process.

• What internal resources do I need for a pentest?
  • The main requirement is time and collaboration. Pentests should be planned with your IT/dev team: provide scope details URLs, IPs, test accounts, decide on business hours for disruptive tests, and assign contacts for clarification.
  • After the test, be ready to review the report, ask clarifying questions, and implement fixes.
  • Finally, work with your tester to retest vulnerabilities when possible.