Penetration Testing Companies in Germany 2025 (Reviewed)

Penetration Testing Companies in Germany

Germany’s cyber risk is at an all time high: the BKA logged 131,391 cybercrime cases and 950 ransomware incidents in 2024, costing the economy €178.6 billion . EU regulations NIS2, DORA TLPT, PCI DSS, BSI IT Grundschutz now make penetration testing essential for compliance and resilience.

Best Providers in Germany:

• DeepStrike Global, with German clients Full spectrum pentests + Continuous Pentesting platform compliance ready reports, unlimited re tests.
• SySS GmbH Tübingen Market leader in pentests across all sectors with strong BSI alignment.
• Cure53 Berlin Specialists in web/mobile and code audits trusted for crypto and app security.
• Secuvera GmbH Stuttgart BSI certified lab strong in TLPT, social engineering, and compliance consulting.
• Pentest24 Munich/Leipzig Mid sized, BSI certified testers broad service range for SMEs and agencies.

Costs: Expect about €1,000+ per tester day a 5 day engagement 2 testers is roughly €10k.

Whether for ISO audits, PCI DSS, or DORA TLPT, choose a provider with manual expertise, compliance focus, and proven client trust.

Why Pentesting Matters in 2025 Germany?

Penetration testing pentesting is a simulated cyberattack on networks, systems or applications to find and exploit security flaws before real hackers do. In pentesting, skilled testers mimic real world attackers to identify methods for circumventing the security features of an application, system, or network. Unlike automated scans, manual pentests can chain complex exploits and find business logic or insider vulnerabilities that tools miss.

For German organizations in 2025, pentesting is vital due to:

• Escalating Threats: Ransomware, cloud attacks, and AI driven phishing are on the rise globally. Recent reports note a surge in exploitation as initial access, now 20% of breaches. Without continuous testing, even patched networks can harbor new flaws.
• Regulatory Pressure: EU and German laws increasingly expect active testing. The NIS2 directive explicitly calls for structured security testing and considers penetration tests an essential part of compliance. DORA EU financial resilience law mandates Threat Led Penetration Testing TLPT for critical financial firms at least every 3 years. Even industry standards like PCI DSS require annual pentests for card processing systems.

In short, pentesting in Germany is not just best practice but often a compliance requirement. Companies leverage pentesting to validate defenses under frameworks like BSI IT Grundschutz and ISO 27001 even if ISO doesn’t explicitly mandate pentests, it recommends them to satisfy certain controls. Choosing a thorough, certified pentest provider ensures you uncover hidden gaps before adversaries do.

Key Frameworks and Compliance Standards

German companies must align pentesting to several leading standards:

• BSI IT Grundschutz: Germany’s IT security baseline explicitly recommends regular pentesting. For example, the firewall baseline NET.3.2 requires regular penetration tests. The BSI also offers guidance on how to implement pentests. Using Grundschutz means your pentest scope may include firewalls, virtualization environments, software testing processes, etc..
• ISO 27001: While ISO 27001 does not force a pentest, it encourages security testing. Controls A.8.8 Technical Vulnerability Management and A.8.29 Security testing in development are typically met by conducting pentests. A quality pentest report can serve as evidence during ISO audits that your ISMS is working.
• NIS2 EU Directive: The EU NIS2 law adopted 2022-2024 greatly expands cybersecurity rules for critical sectors energy, healthcare, finance, etc.. It emphasizes verifiable defenses, and organizations must conduct periodic risk assessment and incident response. Cybersecurity experts note that penetration testing is essential under NIS2 to demonstrate compliance and resilience. German operators of critical infrastructure should thus treat pentesting as part of ongoing security measures.
• DORA EU Digital Operational Resilience Act: For banks and financial firms, DORA introduces Threat Led Pentesting. Deloitte explains that financial institutions recognized as critical entities must undergo TLPT at least once every three years. TLPT means an intelligence driven red team exercise often covert that simulates real adversaries using current threat data. In practice, DORA/TLPT forces firms to hire external experts, often BSI approved labs, to rigorously test critical live systems.
• PCI DSS: The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard explicitly requires annual pentesting of all systems that touch cardholder data PCI DSS Req 11.4. Any significant change to a new app, network upgrade also triggers a retest. Many German e commerce and fintech firms subject to PCI thus schedule yearly web app and network pentests to stay compliant.

German Cybercrime Stats & Trends

• Germany’s specific cybercrime data highlight why strong pentests are needed. As noted, 131,391 cybercrime cases were recorded in 2024 plus nearly 202,000 from outside sources. Ransomware alone hit 950 organizations. Meanwhile, the total economic damage to Germany rose to €178.6 billion in 2024. Bitkom reports a €30.4B jump from the prior year, largely due to more and costlier attacks.

• These figures dwarf the budgets of most IT teams, a reminder that each pentest finding saved could prevent far larger losses. According to one analysis, a typical German pentesting engagement of 2 testers for 5 days costs around €10,000, roughly €1,000 per tester day. Consider the analogy: skipping pentests is like refusing insurance cheaper today, but catastrophic if a fire breaks out.

• ENISA’s European threat reports confirm the global context: thousands of breaches and tens of thousands of vulnerabilities are logged each year. In 2024, ENISA counted 11,079 incidents covering all of Europe, with ransomware and DDoS being the most reported threats. Advanced adversaries now even use AI to craft personalized attacks.

• Forecasters warn that 2025 will see more sophisticated, AI driven malware and supply chain exploits. In practical terms, German companies must expect that attackers will outnumber their defenses and keep up with tech trends, an urgent reason to have aggressive pentesting and even bug bounty or continuous programs.

• Fraunhofer researchers note another critical trend: the majority of German firms invest in detection, but incidents still occur. In one survey, 96% of companies had security measures installed, 80% had detection systems, and 59% even bought cyber insurance yet 24% still reported a significant breach in 2 years.

This highlights that attacks will succeed without proactive hunting. A pentest is essentially a structured hunt for those lurking threats, and regulators from BSI to BaFin now expect it. The German financial authority BaFin, for example, has been practicing large scale cyber attack simulations with G7 partners and is readying guidelines around TLPT. BaFin explicitly warns firms that the missing DORA TLPT standards will arrive soon.

Top Penetration Testing Companies in Germany

DeepStrike Global, includes Germany

DeepStrike is an international Penetration Testing Company in Germany
HQ in the US, offices in UAE and elsewhere rapidly expanding into Europe, including Germany. While not German run, they actively serve German clients under local data regulations. DeepStrike is known for manual, offensive style pentesting across platforms web, mobile, cloud, APIs, IoT, etc. and offers a Continuous Pentesting platform. Impressively, DeepStrike maintains a 5.0/5.0 star rating on Clutch with clients praising its thoroughness and communication. Key strengths include:

• Comprehensive Services: Full range of pentests web, mobile, network, cloud, OT/IoT, infrastructure plus red team exercises and social engineering campaigns.
• Continuous Pentesting: In addition to traditional tests, they provide an always on platform that integrates into DevOps monitoring JS, APIs, change logs, Slack alerts, etc.. This continuous security testing model closes the gap between annual audits by automatically flagging and testing new code changes.
• Expert Team: Their testers hold top certs CISSP, OSCP, OSWE, etc.. They emphasize manual exploitation over automated scans.
• Compliance & Reporting: Reports are tailored to standards PCI DSS, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, etc.. DeepStrike even offers free unlimited re testing of fixed issues to ensure compliance, a benefit for regulated firms that need proof of remediation.

DeepStrike serves mid market to enterprise clients across sectors, making them a compelling option for organizations seeking cutting edge methodology like Threat Led Pentesting coupled with continuous integration.

SySS GmbH Siegen

SySS positions itself as the market leader in the field of penetration testing in Germany as well as Europe. Founded in 1998, SySS specializes in classic pentests and is known for comprehensive security audits. They support BSI IT Grundschutz, are a BSI IT security service provider, and often work with German federal agencies. Services include web, mobile, network, and specialized tests e.g. IoT, automotive. With decades of experience, SySS is a go to for large enterprises and government bodies.

Cure53 Berlin

Cure53 is a Berlin based security firm focusing on application and code security. As a German company, it conducts in depth web and mobile app penetration tests, as well as code reviews. Cure53’s site emphasizes that they perform classic black box penetration tests with no insider knowledge and also white box tests and code audits. They are highly regarded for technical expertise and have audited browsers, crypto apps, and major OSS projects. For any organization needing expert web or mobile app audits, Cure53 is a strong choice.

Secuvera GmbH Stuttgart

Secuvera is an independent German cybersecurity services firm since 1988 certified by BSI. According to industry sources, Secuvera GmbH is an independent IT security service provider since 1988. Recognized as a BSI testing lab since 1992 and certified as a BSI IT security service provider for penetration tests since 2013. Their services cover network/infrastructure pentests, web and mobile testing, social engineering phishing, call tests, and Threat Led Pentesting TLPT for finance. They also offer code reviews and compliance consulting. With BSI endorsements and a broad portfolio, Secuvera is trusted for highly regulated sectors.

Pentest24 Munich/Leipzig

Pentest24® is a mid-sized German pentesting specialist founded 2004 with offices in Munich and Leipzig. They emphasize BSI standards and certified penetration testers for clients across Germany. Pentest24 offers a wide array of services: internal/external network pentests, web app and mobile pentests, Wi Fi testing, and social engineering. They also provide consulting on security policies and go digital funding support. Recognized as an IT security consultant for SMBs and authorities, Pentest24 balances on site support with modern tooling. Industry reports note Pentest24 as one of Germany’s notable pentest vendors.

Penetration Testing Methodology and Services Offered

Penetration tests can be scoped in many ways. Common service offerings include:

• Web Application Testing: Examining your websites and web APIs for OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities injection, XSS, auth bypass, etc.. DeepStrike’s web app pentest, for example, uses manual logic based checks alongside automated scans.
• Mobile App Testing: Pentesting Android/iOS apps, including client side code and backend APIs. This catches insecure data storage, broken crypto, or unauthorized APIs.
• Network/Infrastructure Testing: External and internal network pentests IP, VPN, firewall checks. These simulate an outsider attacking your perimeter and/or an insider moving laterally once inside.
• Cloud Security Assessments: Testing AWS/Azure/GCP configurations IAM, storage, services for misconfigurations. Cloud specific tools and manual checks help validate secure setups.
• Wireless/Pentesting Hardware & IoT: Testing corporate Wi Fi WPA, guest networks, rogue APs, Bluetooth/RFID devices, or IoT endpoints. Specialized equipment and methods are used.
• Red Team Exercises: Full scope, covert assessments where a pentest team emulates advanced adversaries often over days/weeks. This can include physical breach attempts, social engineering, and advanced exploit chains. DORA/TLPT and TIBER EU frameworks fall under this category.
• Social Engineering: Phishing campaigns email, SMS, phishing phone calls, or physical tailgating to test human defenses. A crucial service for measuring staff awareness.

Major German pentesters like Secuvera list these exact services, from network and web apps to Threat Led Pentesting and social engineering. Most firms follow recognized methodologies OSSTMM, PTES, NIST 800 115 with Black , Gray , and White Box variants. NIST defines pentesting simply as mimicking real world attacks to identify methods for circumventing security features.

Audit Methods:

• Black Box: Testers start with no inside info, emulating an external hacker.
• Gray Box: Testers have limited knowledge e.g. user creds, simulating an insider or compromised account. This is often deemed most realistic in today’s assumed breach world.
• White Box: Testers get full access source code, diagrams, uncovering deep vulnerabilities in design and code. Useful for very thorough audits or regulatory needs.

Each approach has trade offs: black box is time consuming to recon, whereas white box requires reviewing extensive code. A mature provider will tailor the approach to your needs and blend techniques.

Example Services from Providers: SySS, Cure53, Secuvera and others all advertise testing for web, APIs, mobile, AD/LDAP, WLAN, social engineering, DDoS, and red teaming. DeepStrike, for instance, highlights manual web and mobile app tests, cloud infrastructure tests, and full red team engagements.

Pentest24 touts its consultants as BSI certified and covers internal/external network, web, mobile, Wi Fi, and even IoT assessments. In short, expect pentest firms to handle all common vectors and to customize based on your industry e.g. OT/SCADA tests for manufacturing, smartphone hardware tests for medical IoT, etc..

Penetration Testing Cost in Germany: Pricing Examples and Factors

penetration testing cost varies widely based on scope, depth, and provider expertise. In Germany, daily rates for qualified pentesters typically start around €1,000 per day. For example, Cloud Cape, a German security firm notes that a 5 day comprehensive test would be at least €5,000. Larger or specialized projects e.g. multi application audits, TLPT, or FedRAMP level cloud tests can easily run into tens of thousands of euros.

Examples: A small web app test might cost in the mid four figures. A medium sized enterprise network test external + internal often falls in the high five figures. Global benchmarks USD suggest most pentests today range from $5k-$30k. In Germany, expect a 1 week on site network pentest 10 man days around €8,000-€15,000 as a rough ballpark.

Key cost factors:

• Scope & Complexity: The number of IPs, hosts, apps and the complexity of the environment. More targets = more testing time.
• Depth Methodology: Black box recon takes more effort and higher cost than white box code review. Customized or regulatory driven tests e.g. TLPT cost more.
• Tester Expertise: Highly certified consultants OSCP, CISSP, etc. command higher rates often €200-€400+/hr.
• Compliance Add Ons: If you need audit ready documentation for ISO, SOC2, PCI, etc., expect a premium. For instance, testing for PCI compliance can be 2-3× pricier than a standard web pentest.
• Retesting & Support: Some firms include a retest after fixes others charge extra. DeepStrike, notably, offers free unlimited re testing of fixed issues, a value add that can affect overall ROI.

Transparent vendors will provide sample reports, itemized quotes, and flexible engagement models fixed price projects, multiyear retainer, or Continuous pentest subscriptions. Beware pen tests advertised for <€3,000 those may just be automated scans, not thorough manual audits.

How to Choose the Right Penetration Testing Partner

Selecting a pentest vendor in Germany requires checking several critical factors:

• Relevant Certifications: Look for testers with hands on certs OSCP, OSCE, OSWE, GPEN, CREST, etc. and corporate certifications e.g. ISO 9001 for quality, ISO 27001 for the firm’s own ISMS. For DORA/TLPT and other laws, ensure testers meet any mandated qualifications. BSI or EN ISO 17025 accreditation testing lab status is a bonus. Many German firms highlight memberships in TeleTrusT, Bitkom, and OWASP chapters. DeepStrike’s team, for example, includes CISSP, OSCP, and OSWE holders.
• Methodologies and Tools: Verify that the vendor uses recognized pentest frameworks PTES, OSSTMM, OWASP. Check they emphasize manual testing over scripts: DeepStrike’s philosophy is to hack you before real hackers do, relying on expert human testers. Similarly, SySS and Cure53 tout extensive manual code reviews. Ask for details on test phases planning, recon, exploitation, reporting and deliverables.
• Compliance Alignment: Ensure the team knows your regulatory environment. If you need ISO 27001 certification, the provider should map findings to ISO controls. For NIS2 or critical infrastructure, they should understand national laws. DeepStrike, for instance, explicitly maps findings to standards like PCI DSS, ISO 27001, SOC 2 in reports. Similarly, Pentest24 and Secuvera emphasize BSI and PCI compliance. If you operate in finance under DORA, look for TLPT experience Secuvera and others advertise Threat Led Pentesting services.
• Sample Reports & References: A top pentester provides a sanitized example report on request. Look for clear risk ratings, proof of concept evidence, and remediation guidance. The report should include an executive summary and detailed findings. Confirm the vendor offers a retest of fixed issues DeepStrike’s unlimited retesting is an exemplar feature.
• Support and Communication: Good vendors collaborate with your team. Do they assign a dedicated account manager or Slack channel for quick Q&A as DeepStrike does? How is scheduling handled e.g. out of hours testing to avoid downtime? These practicalities affect project smoothness.
• Reputation and Reviews: Check independent ratings e.g. Clutch, Cybersecurity forums. DeepStrike and Blaze Security, for example, are noted for 5.0 ratings on Clutch. Also ask peers for references, especially local German clients who can vouch for the firm’s experience with German ICT setups.

Finally, balance cost with expertise. The cheapest quote may lack depth, while the priciest isn’t always best. The best vendor is one that meets your compliance needs, has up to date skills, and delivers actionable results efficiently.

FAQs

How much does a penetration test cost in Germany?

Pricing depends on scope. Small web app tests start in the few thousand euro range, mid sized network tests often run €10k-€30k, and enterprise audits can exceed €50k. German firms typically charge €1,000 per tester day. So a 5 day audit of two testers might be €10,000. Compliance factors e.g. PCI, DORA add a premium. Expect clear quotes breaking down targets and tester experience.

What is the difference between a penetration test and a red team?

A penetration test is a goal focused check of defined assets e.g. a web app or network segment. Testers try to exploit vulnerabilities to prove risk, answering What could an attacker do with these weaknesses?. A red team engagement is broader and longer: it simulates a full scale, sustained attack by a skilled adversary. Red teams use advanced TTPs aligned to MITRE ATT&CK to test your people/process/technology, answering Can our defenses detect and stop a real cyberattack?. In short, pentests validate security controls on a slice of infrastructure, while red teaming evaluates detection and response across the organization.

What certifications should a pentesting company have?

Look for individual tester certs like OSCP offensive security, OSWE/OSCE, GPEN, CREST, or CISSP. Company level accreditations ISO 27001, ISO 9001 indicate process maturity. For special cases, BSI or EN ISO 17025 lab accreditation is excellent. Membership in security groups OWASP chapters, TeleTrusT is a plus. Ask if the firm meets any sector specific criteria e.g. IoT security standards for automotive.

Is penetration testing required for ISO 27001 compliance?

Not strictly. ISO 27001 does not explicitly mandate a pentest in its text. However, it strongly recommends security testing as evidence of technical controls. Pentests help fulfill controls like A.8.8 and A.8.29 by verifying your systems and software. In practice, auditors often expect that critical assets have been tested especially in regulated industries. So while you can certify without a formal pentest, it’s usually advisable to conduct one to demonstrate your ISMS is working properly.

What’s included in a penetration testing report?

A professional pentest report typically contains:

• Executive Summary: High level findings and risk posture, non technical language.
• Scope & Methodology: Description of assets tested, test duration, and techniques black/white box, tools used.
• Detailed Findings: For each vulnerability: description, technical evidence screenshots, payloads, risk rating, and impact. Often with proof of concept steps to reproduce the issue.
• Risk Assessment: A classification of vulnerabilities low/medium/high/critical based on CVSS or custom criteria.
• Remediation Guidance: Practical steps to fix each issue, prioritized by severity.
• Appendices: Full logs of testing e.g. port scan outputs, threat model details, and any compliance cross references for ISO/SOC2/PIR etc. Some firms include an attestation letter or certificate for auditors.

The report should be clear enough for developers to act on and managers/auditors to understand. Good providers like DeepStrike even offer customizable reports or executive slides as needed.

Can pentesting help with NIS2 or PCI DSS compliance?

Absolutely. NIS2 requires appropriate security measures and periodic risk assessments, pentesting is a recognized way to validate your defenses under NIS2. A documented pentest showing identified/fixed gaps strengthens your compliance case. PCI DSS explicitly requires regular pentests annual and post change for any system in the cardholder data environment. Completing and supplying a pentest report with remediation is mandatory under PCI. Many pentesters will map their findings to these frameworks in their reporting e.g. DeepStrike highlights PCI and ISO controls in reports, helping you tick the boxes for compliance audits.

Penetration testing is no longer optional in Germany, it's a critical part of cybersecurity and compliance. By simulating attacks on your systems, you can find and fix weaknesses before adversaries exploit them. Whether you choose a local German expert or a global firm with German operations, ensure they understand the BSI standards, EU regulations NIS2, DORA, and industry mandates relevant to you.

Ready to Strengthen Your Defenses? DeepStrike is ready to partner with you. Our team of certified experts OSCP, OSWE, CISSP delivers manual, real world pentests and continuous security testing. We tailor our approach to your industry and compliance needs, and provide clear reports plus unlimited retesting of fixes. Contact DeepStrike today to assess your security posture, get a customized proposal, and stay ahead of the threats.

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 red team engagements for Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Khalil frequently advises on cyber resilience and compliance for financial services and cloud native startups.