VAIT Experts in Cologne
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Meet FRATCH Experts in Cologne, who have recently used VAIT
Halil Oeztoprak
Last position:
Senior Cloud Operations & DevSecOps Engineer (Azure / Terraform / CI-CD) at KfW Bankengruppe
Regulated environment within a German banking group (approx. 8,500 employees, hybrid cloud strategy).
Responsible for operating, provisioning, and continuously securing business-critical platforms – including a GenAI chat application, a big data/AI platform, and data science workspaces based on Azure Virtual Desktops and VMs. Ownership of Azure DevOps projects for ShaiHulud and React2Shell, as well as BSI alerts – Security Operations improvements across the SDLC.
Deployment responsibility for the GenAI chat application, big data/AI platform (BDAI), and data science workspaces (AVD/VM-based) in the respective landing zones.
Deployment & release management: end-to-end responsibility for deploying portal and service applications across multiple Azure landing zones, including technical approvals, compliance with development team deployment guidelines, and ensuring ITIL-based change and release processes via ServiceNow.
Azure landing zones & network architecture: design, provisioning, and operation of Azure landing zones for 3-tier web applications with enhanced network segmentation, VNet peering, hub-and-spoke architectures, private endpoints, and firewall integration across separate subscriptions and tenants.
Azure DevOps governance & operations: ownership of the Azure DevOps organization, including projects, repositories, and CI/CD pipelines; implementation of governance requirements such as branch policies, approval gates, permission models, and audit-ready operating structures.
Infrastructure as Code (Terraform): design, implementation, and operation of a modular Terraform architecture for standardized cloud infrastructure deployment, including state management, provider versioning, reusability, and policy-as-code approaches.
CI/CD pipeline engineering: design, operation, and optimization of complex YAML-based CI/CD pipelines with multi-stage deployments, template standardization, self-hosted agents, integrated secret management, and automated quality and security checks.
Git migration & platform consolidation: planning and execution of repository and pipeline migration from Azure DevOps to GitLab CI/CD, including automated scripts, full Git history transfer, pipeline porting, and platform consolidation.
Container & platform operations (AKS): operation and security assessment of containerized workloads on Azure Kubernetes Service, centralization of on-premises container registries for ACR.
OpenShift (OCP) security reviews: security assessment of code baselines, build pipelines, and deployment processes for on-premises OpenShift clusters with critical applications, and derivation of specific hardening recommendations.
Shift-left security & DevSecOps transformation: introduction of a company-wide shift-left approach for early security integration in development and deployment processes, enabling developers to perform self-led security checks and sustainably reduce vulnerabilities before production (IDE integrations, pre-commit hooks, local scanners).
Software supply chain security: analysis and mitigation of supply chain risks in NPM- and Yarn-based applications through dependency audits, CI/CD pipeline hardening, token rotation, and restriction of risky build and lifecycle mechanisms.
Frontend & framework security (React / Next.js): security assessment and coordination of critical vulnerability remediation across platform applications and web frameworks, including coordination and complementary technical mitigations with all teams following BSI alerts.
Software composition analysis (SCA): introduction and operation of automated vulnerability scans for container images, pipelines/artifacts, and third-party dependencies, including SBOM exports within CI/CD pipelines.
SAST/DAST integration: design and piloting of static and dynamic application security tests in close collaboration with security architecture and development teams, for continuous improvement of code and runtime security, and establishing operational acceptance tests.
Artifact & registry consolidation: analysis and consolidation of all package and container repositories for service applications and AKS workloads, aiming for a centralized, secured registry strategy with centralized vulnerability scanning and governance.
Dependency-Track & SBOM strategy: advising the compliance board on introducing a central SBOM and vulnerability management platform to increase enterprise-wide dependency transparency and accelerate CVE response capability.
CI/CD pipeline hardening: security analysis and cleanup of the existing pipeline landscape by removing unused pipelines, improving secrets hygiene, implementing least-privilege principles, and isolating build agent environments.
Azure Web Application Firewall (WAF) optimization: analysis and tuning of existing Azure WAF rules (OWASP Top 10 Core Rule Set, DSR/SDC, custom rules) to defend against known vulnerabilities and exploit patterns, including reducing false positives and improving threat detection.
Documentation & stakeholder communication: creating and maintaining technical documentation, runbooks, and architecture overviews in Jira and Confluence, as well as active knowledge transfer between operations, development, security, and compliance stakeholders.
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
Tobias Polke
Last position:
IT Consultant & Support at International asset management company
- Consulting on regulatory requirements in IT governance, IT security, KAIT, KAMaRisk & KAGB, ITIL, COBIT
- Development of emergency manuals and a BCM concept according to KAIT requirements, based on the BSI IT-Grundschutz standard 200-4
- Preparation of documents for the PwC audit
- Redesign of access management and risk management according to KAIT
- Administration, user management and setup of RE-VC
- Vendor management
- Establishment of filing structure and naming convention
- Change management including communication plan
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)
Christian Gebhardt
Last position:
Deputy Chief Information Security Officer at Gothaer Solutions GmbH
- Deputy lead of the 10-member information security management team in a highly regulated environment (DORA, VAIT, BAIT)
- Direct reporting lines to the CIO of the Gothaer Group and the management board of Gothaer Solutions
- Regular member of the Group Risk Committee and the Compliance Committee
- Managing and coordinating information security processes within the company and with IT service providers
- Leading task forces for handling information security incidents
- Contributing to IT emergency and business continuity management
Klaus-Dieter Krause
Last position:
Executive Partner at iAP-Independent Audit Professionals GmbH
Discover over 15,000 top freelancers
Statistics of experts using VAIT
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
23 years (Germany: 25 years)
Position duration
3.3 years (Germany: 2.7 years)
Positions per freelancer
23 (Germany: 17)
Top business areas
Information Technology, Project Management, Audit
Top industries
Banking and Finance, Healthcare, Energy
Certification focus areas
Information Technology, Audit, Operations
Bachelor's degree or higher
67% (Germany: 82%)
Master's degree or higher
67% (Germany: 46%)
Doctorate
33% (Germany: 14%)
Certifications per freelancer
13 (Germany: 7)
Most common languages
German, English, Spanish
Speak two or more languages
100% (Germany: 96%)
Based on our profile pool as of 30 Aug 2026.
Daily rate distribution
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 VAIT
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
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
VAIT in practice
VAIT stands for Versicherungsaufsichtliche Anforderungen an die IT. It sets the IT expectations insurers and related firms must meet under BaFin supervision. Strong specialists turn these requirements into clear controls, evidence, and daily routines.
Typical deliverables
- IT governance and responsibility models
- Security and access control concepts
- Outsourcing and third-party reviews
- Incident and continuity procedures
- Audit evidence and gap analyses
Where experts help
Companies bring in VAIT specialists when internal teams need support for audits, remediation, or a new control framework. The work often sits between IT, risk, compliance, and internal audit. In Cologne, this is especially useful for insurers, brokers, and financial groups with local teams and distributed stakeholders.
Skills that matter
Strong professionals know BaFin language, control design, and how to map technical measures to regulatory text. They can work with IAM, logging, backup, network segregation, and vendor oversight without losing the compliance thread. They write clearly because evidence and documentation are part of the job.
Related standards
VAIT is often reviewed alongside DORA, MaGo, and broader information security policies. A good specialist knows where VAIT ends and where adjacent rules start. That helps avoid duplicate controls and keeps remediation focused on real gaps.
Remote or on site
Many VAIT tasks can be done remotely, especially document reviews, interviews, and gap assessments. On site work helps when teams need workshops, control walkthroughs, or direct access to legacy systems and records. Cologne-based collaboration can also make it easier to align with German-speaking stakeholders and auditors.
Frequently asked questions
Need clarity? These are the questions we hear most often about VAIT.
VAIT defines the IT requirements insurers and similar supervised firms must meet under BaFin oversight. It is used to structure governance, security, outsourcing, and incident handling in a way that stands up to review. Companies usually bring in a specialist when they need those controls translated into concrete policies and evidence.
VAIT is a German supervisory framework focused on IT expectations for insurers, while DORA is a broader EU regulation for digital operational resilience. They overlap in areas like risk management, third-party control, and incident handling, but they are not the same thing. A good expert can show where one framework covers the other and where separate work is still needed.
VAIT support is useful when an internal team is short on regulatory depth, needs help before an audit, or has to close findings quickly. It also helps during outsourcing reviews, security program updates, or major system changes. Outside specialists are often brought in for short, focused engagements with clear deliverables.
A strong VAIT specialist combines regulatory understanding with practical IT control work. Look for experience in access management, logging, backup, incident response, third-party oversight, and documentation. They should also be able to discuss findings with compliance and technical teams without creating confusion.
Much of VAIT work can be handled remotely, especially document reviews, interviews, and drafting control mappings. On-site time is helpful for workshops, walkthroughs, and discussions with local stakeholders in Cologne or elsewhere in Germany. Many projects use a mixed approach.
Ask which BaFin-related projects they have supported, how they approach gap analysis, and how they turn findings into usable remediation steps. For VAIT, it is also worth asking how they handle evidence collection and coordination with risk, compliance, and IT teams. Clear answers are usually a good sign of practical experience.
A good VAIT deliverable is specific, traceable, and usable by the team that has to implement it. It should link each finding to a clear requirement, show the impact, and suggest a realistic next step. If it reads like a generic checklist, it is usually not strong enough.
VAIT work is stronger when the specialist also understands information security management, outsourcing governance, and audit preparation. Experience with ISO 27001, IAM, incident management, and vendor risk can be very useful. For insurers, familiarity with supervisory language and internal control frameworks matters as well.
The average hourly rate of freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used VAIT in their recent projects is 130 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 1,038 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used VAIT in their recent projects, 67% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 67% hold at least a Master's degree, and 33% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used VAIT in their recent projects have 23 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 3.3 years.
The most common languages among freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used VAIT in their recent projects are German (100%), English (100%), and Spanish (17%).
The most common industries among freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used VAIT in their recent projects are Banking and Finance (83%), Healthcare (83%), and Energy (67%).
The most common business areas among freelancers in Cologne, Germany who have used VAIT in their recent projects are Information Technology (100%), Project Management (100%), and Audit (83%).
Main locations of FRATCH Experts, who have recently used VAIT
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 
Dusseldorf Request a free demo
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
