VAIT Experts in Cologne
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Meet FRATCH Experts in Cologne, who have recently used VAIT
Pierre G.
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
Halil O.
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.
Tobias P.
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 B.
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 G.
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 K.
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: 18)
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: 83%)
Master's degree or higher
67% (Germany: 45%)
Doctorate
33% (Germany: 10%)
Certifications per freelancer
13 (Germany: 7)
Most common languages
German, English, Spanish
Speak two or more languages
100% (Germany: 98%)
Based on our profile pool as of 19 Sep 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 19 Sep 2026. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
VAIT experts industry focus
See which industries our matched freelancers work in most often — every figure is calculated live from the freelancers on FRATCH.
- Banking and Finance (83%)
- Healthcare (83%)
- Energy (67%)
- Insurance (67%)
- Information Technology (67%)
- Manufacturing (67%)
- Government and Administration (67%)
- Transportation (50%)
Please note that freelancers can work across multiple industries, so percentages overlap.
About the technology
VAIT basics
VAIT stands for Versicherungsaufsichtliche Anforderungen an die IT. It sets the IT expectations that apply to insurers under BaFin supervision. Companies use it to structure governance, outsourcing, access control, change management, and incident handling.
Typical work
- Review IT controls against VAIT requirements
- Map responsibilities, approvals, and reporting paths
- Support risk analysis for critical systems and vendors
- Prepare evidence for internal and external reviews
Where specialists help
Freelance VAIT specialists are useful when a team needs a gap assessment, a control redesign, or support before an audit or supervisory review. They also help when insurance IT, security, and compliance teams need the same language for policies and documentation. In Cologne, this often matters for insurers, brokers, and service providers that work closely with regulated groups.
Ecosystem and skills
Strong professionals know VAIT together with ISO 27001, IT governance, identity and access management, third-party oversight, and incident response. They should understand how controls are documented, tested, and traced back to business processes. Clear writing matters, because VAIT work often ends in policies, control catalogs, and audit-ready evidence.
What good delivery looks like
A good engagement does not stop at a checklist. It turns VAIT requirements into practical controls, assigns owners, and closes the gaps that create repeat findings. The best experts can work with legal, security, operations, and internal audit without making the process heavier than needed.
Common project needs
Companies usually bring in VAIT specialists for one of three reasons: they need a new control framework, they need to clean up outsourcing governance, or they need support after a review raised questions. The work often includes workshops, document reviews, and remote collaboration with short on-site sessions when sensitive stakeholders need to align quickly.
Frequently asked questions
Need clarity? These are the questions we hear most often about VAIT.
VAIT covers the IT requirements that insurers must manage under BaFin supervision. In practice, that means governance, access rights, change control, outsourcing oversight, incident handling, and proof that controls are actually working. It is not just a policy set; it affects daily IT and risk decisions.
VAIT is related to ISO 27001, but it is not the same thing. ISO 27001 is a broad information security standard, while VAIT is written for the supervisory needs of insurance companies in Germany. Many teams use both: ISO 27001 for the security management system and VAIT for the regulatory fit.
VAIT specialists are often brought in when a company needs a gap analysis, audit preparation, or help with outsourcing and control documentation. They are also useful after an internal review has found unclear ownership or weak evidence. The best time to involve one is before the findings become urgent.
A strong VAIT expert usually also understands IT risk, information security, vendor management, and audit work. Knowledge of internal control systems, policy design, and supervisory communication is valuable too. In many projects, the real challenge is translating technical detail into clear compliance evidence.
VAIT work usually needs someone who has already seen regulated IT environments, not just a general compliance profile. The exact depth depends on the task: a document review needs less than a full control redesign or outsourcing remediation. For complex insurance environments, practical supervisory experience matters more than theory.
VAIT work can often be done remotely, especially for document reviews, interviews, and policy updates. On-site time in Cologne or nearby is useful when teams need workshops, stakeholder alignment, or access to sensitive material that is easier to review in person. Many projects use a mix of both.
A strong VAIT professional explains requirements in plain language and links them to actual IT controls. Look for clear examples of audits, gap closure, and cooperation with security, legal, and operations teams. If they only talk about the rule text and not about implementation, that is a warning sign.
People may search for VAIT itself, the full name Versicherungsaufsichtliche Anforderungen an die IT, or references to BaFin VAIT. All of these point to the same regulatory context for insurance IT in Germany. When you screen profiles, check whether the person has worked with the insurance supervisory framework, not just generic compliance.
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 Countries:
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
