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Penetration Testing Experts in Cologne

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Hire experts who assess web apps, APIs, cloud setups, and internal networks with structured pentests, clear exploit evidence, and practical remediation steps. Get fast, precise matching with vetted, available freelancers.

Meet FRATCH Experts in Cologne, who have recently used Penetration Testing

Verified expert

Serdar Colak

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Consultant

Cologne
Serdar Colak

Last position:

Consultant at Freelance

  • ISO 27001 implementation & audit readiness
  • NIS2 & DORA compliance support
  • Interim / fractional CISO services
  • IT risk & controls (ITGC, SOX, COBIT, BAIT)
  • M&A and IT due diligence for startups/ventures
  • Business continuity management (BCM, ISO 22301)
  • Cybersecurity framework development (NIST, ISO, BSI)
  • GRC tool advisory (Archer, ServiceNow)
Verified expert

Valeri Milke

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Associate Partner - Information Security Consulting

Bonn
Valeri Milke

Last position:

Associate Partner - Information Security Consulting at Insentis GmbH

  • Improvement of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) based on ISO 27001, NIS2, DORA, B3S, TISAX and BSI IT Baseline Protection
  • Conducting comprehensive gap analyses to identify gaps and derive action plans according to the above standards and regulations; management and KPIs
  • Data Loss Prevention strategy and implementation using MS Purview
  • Vulnerability and patch management, security monitoring
  • Risk analysis and threat modeling using the STRIDE methodology
  • Development of vendor risk assessments, implementation of risk classifications, conducting supplier assessments and implementing technical monitoring solutions (e.g. Security ScoreCard)
  • Securing cloud environments (AWS and Azure); expertise in CSPM/CNAPP (Wiz), cloud migration, secure CI/CD pipelines, container security and best practices in AWS, Azure and Office 365
  • Application security: penetration testing, DevSecOps, OWASP, pre-commit hooks, key and secret management, IDE plugins, static source code analysis, dependency checks, container scanning, vulnerability management, CIS benchmarks and compliance
  • Security assessment and hardening according to CIS benchmarks and cloud conformity in AWS, Office 365 and Azure
Verified expert

Pierre Gronau

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Ansible Automation, Windows Third Level Support

Cologne
Pierre Gronau

Last position:

Ansible Automation, Windows Third Level Support at DB InfraGO AG

  • PRISMA project
  • Ansible automation
  • Windows third level support for Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows 2013, Windows 2016, Windows 2019
Verified expert

Nikolaus Betzler

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ICT Risk Management and Information Security

Langenfeld
Nikolaus Betzler

Last position:

ICT Risk Management and Information Security at B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG

  • Independently develop policies, guidelines, and frameworks for ICT risk management and information security
  • Advise business units on ICT risk management and information security
  • Further develop the ICT risk management framework that governs the identification, assessment, and control of ICT risks
  • Evaluate the Information Security Management System (ISMS) and adjust it for new challenges
  • Conduct risk analyses to identify and assess potential ICT risks and information security risks for the Metzler Group
  • Advise on defining and implementing measures to reduce risks and improve the resilience of ICT systems
  • Advise on ensuring compliance with relevant internal and external regulatory requirements (MaRisk, DORA, BAIT, BSI IT baseline protection, ISMS, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, ISO 27005, BCM ISO 22301)
  • Advise on internal and cross-functional projects (SAP DORA compliance, Target2, Section 8a BSI Act)
Verified expert

Jacqueline Haefke

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Düsseldorf
Jacqueline Haefke

Last position:

Kitchen Appliance Manufacturer

  • Setting up and enhancing an international subscription management system

  • Migrating and decommissioning a Hybris-SAP system and integrating Zuora

  • Implementing numerous interfaces to various systems (external and internal)

  • Setting up and improving monitoring with Grafana, Prometheus, and Databricks

  • Introducing logging with Loki

  • Implementing business requirements using jQuery, Thymeleaf, Spring Boot, Java, Go, and Python

  • Adjusting and extending the GitLab CI pipelines

  • Setting up and extending infrastructure as code with Terraform and ArgoCD on AWS

  • Setting up and running E2E and performance tests

  • Expanding the Databricks business intelligence solution to provide various KPIs

  • Responsibilities: Architecture, DevOps, development, unit tests, coaching employees and apprentices, E2E, smoke, and integration tests, agile methods consulting (Kanban, Scrum)

  • Technologies and methods: Java, Go, Kotlin, Node.js, Spring Boot, SOAP/REST, Quarkus, Thymeleaf, Vaadin, Slack, Jira, Confluence, IntelliJ, GitLab, SQS, Kafka, AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform, Maven, Gradle, GitLab CI, Databricks

Verified expert

Valon Jashari

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Master's degree in Telecommunications

Köln
Valon Jashari

Last position:

Cybersecurity and Data Scientist Engineer at Freelancer

  • Cyber Security (IT, OT, Ethical Hacking & Pen Testing)
  • Data Science (Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Data Engineer and Data Analytics)

Discover over 15,000 top freelancers

Statistics of experts using Penetration Testing

Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.

Experience

20 years (Germany: 17 years)

Position duration

1.8 years (Germany: 1.9 years)

Positions per freelancer

21 (Germany: 13)

Top business areas

Information Technology, Quality Assurance, Project Management

Top industries

Information Technology, Banking and Finance, Insurance

Certification focus areas

Information Technology, Audit, Product Development

Bachelor's degree or higher

100% (Germany: 96%)

Master's degree or higher

50% (Germany: 60%)

Certifications per freelancer

4 (Germany: 5)

Most common languages

German, English, Portuguese

Speak two or more languages

100% (Germany: 99%)

Based on our profile pool as of 30 Aug 2026.

Daily rate distribution

0 1 2 3 4
<€880 €960-​1040 €1120+

The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this technology in Cologne are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range.

Average rates of experts in Cologne using Penetration Testing

Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.

1000
750
500
250
Rate comparison chart
Daily rate avg. 941 €
Germany avg. 844 €

The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.

1000
750
500
250
Rate comparison chart
Median rate 980 €
Germany median 800 €

The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.

Calculated based on our freelancers’ daily rates as of 30 Aug 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.

About the technology

What it covers

Penetration testing is controlled security testing that looks for weaknesses before attackers do. It is also called pentesting, pen testing, or ethical hacking. Strong professionals work against real targets, then explain what can be reached, why it matters, and how to fix it.

Typical work

  • Web application testing
  • API and mobile app checks
  • Cloud and network assessments
  • Wireless and internal security reviews
  • Retest support after fixes

The output is usually a clear report with evidence, risk details, and remediation guidance.

Tools and methods

Good specialists combine manual testing with trusted tools. Common parts of the stack include Burp Suite, Nmap, Metasploit, Nessus, OWASP testing methods, and scripting for custom checks. The real value comes from judgment, not tool output alone.

When companies need help

Companies bring in freelance penetration testing experts before a release, after major changes, or when internal teams need an independent review. In Cologne, this often fits software vendors, online retailers, logistics firms, and regulated businesses that need fast, focused testing without adding permanent staff.

What strong experts do

Strong professionals plan scope carefully, test safely, and explain findings in plain language. They separate real risk from noise, show how an issue can be reached, and give fixes that development teams can act on quickly. They also know when to stop, retest, and document clearly.

How to choose

Look for specialists who can test the specific target, not just list tools. Ask for sample findings, retest habits, and how they handle credentials, staging systems, and production safety. For remote work, clear access and communication matter; for on-site work in Cologne, coordination with security and IT teams helps when sensitive systems are involved.

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Frequently asked questions

Key details about Penetration Testing, drawn from the questions we get asked most.

Penetration testing is used to find exploitable weaknesses in systems before they are abused. It helps teams validate web apps, APIs, cloud services, internal networks, and wireless setups under realistic attack paths. The result should be a clear view of what is actually reachable, not just what looks risky on paper.

Pentesting is not the same as a vulnerability scan. A scanner flags possible issues, while a tester checks which ones are truly exploitable and what damage they could cause. Companies usually need both, but the test gives far better context for remediation.

A strong penetration testing specialist should know web, network, and system behavior well enough to chain issues together. Useful adjacent skills include secure coding awareness, Linux, scripting, authentication flows, and cloud basics. Clear reporting matters just as much as technical depth.

Penetration Testing works best when the specialist gets scope, target URLs or IP ranges, test windows, access details, and any safety limits up front. For web apps, business flows and critical roles help a lot. The better the context, the more useful the findings and the less time is lost on false leads.

Penetration Testing can often be done remotely if the target is reachable and the access setup is clear. On-site work in Cologne is useful for internal network testing, sensitive environments, or teams that want close coordination during the assessment. Many projects mix both, depending on the scope.

Ethical hacking usually focuses on finding and proving specific weaknesses in agreed targets. Red teaming goes further by simulating a broader adversary goal and often includes stealth, persistence, and detection testing. If you need a clear fix list, penetration testing is usually the better fit.

A good penetration testing report explains each finding in plain language, shows evidence, and ranks the real business impact. It should include reproduction steps, affected assets, and practical remediation guidance. The best reports also make retesting easy after the fixes are in place.

Penetration Testing is common in software, e-commerce, logistics, finance, and any company that runs customer-facing systems or sensitive internal networks. In Cologne, mixed environments are common, so specialists often need to handle web, cloud, and internal infrastructure in one engagement. That makes practical breadth important.

The average hourly rate of freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects is 118 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 941 € based on an 8-hour working day.

Of the freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects, 100% hold at least a Bachelor's degree and 50% hold at least a Master's degree.

On average, freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects have 20 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 1.8 years.

The most common languages among freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects are German (100%), English (86%), and Portuguese (14%).

The most common industries among freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects are Information Technology (100%), Banking and Finance (71%), and Insurance (57%).

The most common business areas among freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used Penetration Testing in their recent projects are Information Technology (100%), Quality Assurance (86%), and Project Management (71%).

Main locations of FRATCH Experts, who have recently used Penetration Testing

Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.

Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg

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Philipp Thomaschewski

FRATCH CEO

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