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Angu H.

Chennai, India

$35/hr
4.8
49 jobs

I am a Registered Penetration Tester & Ethical Hacker holding OSCP, CRTP, CEH, and CISSP certifications. I design custom tools and scripts for penetration testing and work extensively with Kali Linux. I perform comprehensive manual testing using Burp Suite, Metasploit, Nmap, SQLMap, Wireshark, and industry-standard frameworks. I safely develop, test, and modify exploits based on target environments. I currently work as a full-time security consultant specializing in penetration testing and vulnerability assessment across web applications, APIs, cloud infrastructure, and mobile platforms. I help organizations identify real, exploitable security risks through black-box, grey-box, and white-box testing methodologies. I have proven experience identifying critical and high-risk vulnerabilities across banking, telecom, insurance, government, SaaS, healthcare, and EdTech platforms. My work has led to multiple zero-day discoveries and CVE records in widely used products, including SHAREit, Upwork Time Tracker, and Avast Anti Virus. I bring 6+ years of hands-on experience as an information security professional. I have led and executed hundreds of penetration tests, VAPT engagements, red team operations, and security audits. My experience spans large enterprises with thousands of assets as well as startups seeking strong security foundations. I have deep expertise in assessing network security, cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure), API security, web application security, and mobile application penetration testing (iOS and Android) across modern technology stacks. Core Competencies: โ€ข Web & Application Security: OWASP Top 10, authentication & authorization, access control, session management, business logic flaws, IDOR/BOLA, injection vulnerabilities โ€ข API Security: GraphQL, REST, OWASP API Top 10, OAuth/OIDC, SSO/SAML, token misuse, microservices โ€ข Cloud & Infrastructure: AWS (IAM privilege escalation, EC2/EKS, Lambda, S3, VPC, CloudTrail/GuardDuty), Azure, container/Kubernetes security โ€ข Specialized: AI/LLM security, mobile app security, thick client, admin panel security โ€ข Network: Internal AD testing, external penetration testing, lateral movement Working with me, you receive: โ˜… Actionable Deliverables: Detailed penetration test reports with executive summaries, risk severity classification (Critical/High/Medium/Low), CVSS scoring, proof of concept (PoC) with screenshots and logs, clear remediation recommendations, and impact analysis โ˜… Comprehensive Manual Testing: Complete hands-on security assessment (not automated scans) with immediate notification of high-impact exploitable issues โ˜… Customized Approach: Tailored testing for compliance needs (HECVAT, HIPAA, FERPA, Amazon SP-API,GDPR ,SOC2 ,ISO27001 ,PCIDSS), third-party security reviews, or proactive security hardening โ˜… Clear Communication: Developer-friendly reports and direct collaboration with engineering teams and non-security stakeholders โ˜… Timely Delivery: Comprehensive reports delivered on time without compromising quality โ˜… Unlimited Retesting: Vulnerability retest and fix validation included โ˜… Critical Bug Discovery: Proven ability to identify attack chains often missed by automated pentests My Track Record: โœ… Top-rated in information security and IT compliance โœ… Saved clients tens of thousands by identifying critical vulnerabilities before attackers โœ… Ranked Top 50 at multiple bug bounty programs โœ… Multiple CVE discoveries and responsible disclosures โœ… Professional certifications: OSCP, CISSP, CEH, CRTP โœ… Experience across SaaS, healthcare, EdTech, e-commerce, fintech, and enterprise โœ… Supporting all time zones for immediate-start and ongoing engagements Report Deliverables Include: โ–บ Executive Summary & Attestation Letter (for compliance documentation) โ–บ Assessment Methodology & Scope โ–บ Risk Severity Classification with CVSS scores โ–บ Detailed Findings: CVSS score, technical description, proof of exploitation (screenshots, request samples, logs), reproduction steps, impact analysis, and fix-ready remediation recommendations โ–บ Retest Report: Multiple validation rounds included My Expertise: โ˜… Web Application Penetration Testing (OWASP Top 10) โ˜… API Security Testing (REST, GraphQL, OWASP API Top 10) โ˜… Cloud Security Assessment (AWS, Azure - IAM, containers, serverless) โ˜… Mobile Application Penetration Testing (iOS, Android) โ˜… AI/LLM Security Testing โ˜… Internal Active Directory and External Network Penetration Testing โ˜… Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) โ˜… Backend API and Microservices Security โ˜… Thick Client Penetration Testing โ˜… Security Audits for SaaS, Healthcare, EdTech, E-commerce โ˜… Third-Party Security Reviews and Compliance Testing โ˜… Production Environment Security Assessment โ˜… OSINT Assessment Sound like a fit? ๐ŸŸข Press '...' button and then 'Send Message' button in the top right-hand corner

  • Penetration Testing
  • Information Security
  • Vulnerability Assessment
  • Security Analysis
  • Network Security
  • Application Security
  • API Testing
  • Mobile App Testing
  • Web App Penetration Testing
  • Red Team Assessment
  • OWASP
  • Ethical Hacking
  • Security Assessment & Testing
  • Cybersecurity Management
Oleksandr F.

Chernivtsi, Ukraine

$35/hr
5.0
18 jobs

โญ๏ธโญโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธMost penetration testers give you ๐š๐ฎ๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐š๐ญ๐ž๐ ๐ฌ๐œ๐š๐ง๐ง๐ž๐ซ ๐ซ๐ž๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ž๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ง๐จ๐ข๐ฌ๐ž. I deliver ๐ซ๐ž๐š๐ฅ, ๐ž๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ข๐ญ๐š๐›๐ฅ๐ž ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ง๐ž๐ซ๐š๐›๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ž๐ฌ with ๐œ๐ซ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ฅ-๐œ๐ฅ๐ž๐š๐ซ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐‚๐จ๐ง๐œ๐ž๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฌ and ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ฉ-๐›๐ฒ-๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ฉ ๐ซ๐ž๐ฆ๐ž๐๐ข๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐๐š๐ง๐œ๐ž - the exact flaws attackers would use to break your system. ๐ˆโ€™๐ฆ ๐ง๐ž๐ฐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐”๐ฉ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค โญ๏ธ๐›๐ฎ๐ญ ๐š๐ฌ ๐š ๐‚๐ฒ๐›๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ๐ž๐œ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐„๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ญโญ๏ธ๐๐ž๐ง๐ž๐ญ๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐“๐ž๐ฌ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐Ÿ2+ ๐ฒ๐ž๐š๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐š๐œ๐ญ๐ข๐œ๐š๐ฅ ๐ž๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐ข๐ž๐ง๐œ๐žโญ๏ธ ๐Ÿ’ก Why Me ๐ŸŒ โœ” 660+ clients in 36 countries, 12+ years experience ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ โœ” Findings that prevent breaches & support compliance ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿ’ป โœ” Developer-friendly remediation & free retesting ๐Ÿ”„ โœ” ~80% repeat clients I am a Senior Penetration Tester & Security Consultant with more than 12 years of practical cybersecurity experience. Over this time, I have successfully delivered 660+ projects in 36 countries and built long-term partnerships with companies of all sizes - from early-stage startups to enterprise-level organizations. My clients trust me because I donโ€™t just list vulnerabilities: I make sure they are fixed, retested, and completely closed. This is why I maintain an exceptional ~80% client return rate. Iโ€™ve helped organizations in FinTech, e-Commerce, Healthcare, SaaS, Blockchain, and Government industries protect sensitive data, meet compliance requirements, and maintain customer trust. My security assessments have directly prevented breaches, helped companies secure investments, and supported successful audit certifications such as SOC2, HIPAA, and ISO27001 readiness. ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ My Core Expertise I provide a full spectrum of offensive and defensive security services: ๐Ÿ”น Web Application Penetration Testing Manual and automated testing for vulnerabilities like SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), Remote Code Execution (RCE), Insecure Direct Object Reference (IDOR), Local/Remote File Inclusion (LFI/RFI), authentication & authorization flaws, business logic vulnerabilities, and misconfigurations. ๐Ÿ”น Mobile Application Security (Android & iOS) Reverse engineering, static and dynamic analysis, testing data storage protections, API communication security, and exploitation of insecure permissions or misconfigurations. ๐Ÿ”น Cloud Security Assessments (AWS, Azure, GCP) IAM misconfigurations, insecure storage buckets, weak API protections, Kubernetes & container orchestration security, serverless architecture hardening, and compliance readiness. ๐Ÿ”น Smart Contract Security Audits (Solidity / EVM) Analysis of reentrancy issues, integer overflow/underflow, unchecked external calls, logic vulnerabilities, and economic flaws that could lead to devastating exploits. ๐Ÿ”น Infrastructure & Network Penetration Testing External and internal testing for weak services, open ports, privilege escalation, VPN & firewall bypasses, and lateral movement simulation. ๐Ÿ”น Code Review (SAST/DAST + manual) Deep review of source code to detect insecure coding practices and logic errors before they reach production. ๐Ÿ”น Incident Response & Forensics Rapid response to active breaches, malware analysis, and post-incident hardening to prevent recurrence. โœ… Results I Deliver - When you work with me, you donโ€™t just get a report - you get tangible outcomes: - Actionable PoCs โ†’ Every vulnerability is proven with working exploits, screenshots, and technical detail. - Prioritized Remediation โ†’ I rank vulnerabilities by real-world risk and business impact so your team knows what to fix first. - Executive Summaries โ†’ Easy-to-understand reports for stakeholders, investors, or compliance auditors. - Free Retesting โ†’ After you fix issues, I verify that vulnerabilities are fully patched. - Reduced Risk Exposure โ†’ My clients have prevented multi-million-dollar losses by patching critical flaws I discovered. ๐Ÿ† Track Record 1. Helped a FinTech startup secure $20M funding by fixing AWS & web flaws pre-SOC2 audit. 2. Discovered and patched critical smart contract bugs before launch. 3. Enabled a healthcare SaaS to pass HIPAA by closing PHI exposures. 4. Cut remediation time by 40% with clear PoCs & prioritized fixes. 5. Prevented severe breaches for an e-commerce platform during peak sales. โš™๏ธ How I Work 1๏ธโƒฃ Scope & NDA โ†’ goals & rules 2๏ธโƒฃ Recon โ†’ OSINT, surface mapping 3๏ธโƒฃ Exploitation โ†’ manual + automation 4๏ธโƒฃ Reporting โ†’ PoCs + executive summary 5๏ธโƒฃ Retesting โ†’ free verification 6๏ธโƒฃ Guidance โ†’ long-term security ๐Ÿงฐ Tools & Skills Burp Suite, Nmap, Metasploit, Wireshark, OWASP ZAP, custom scripts | OWASP, PTES, MITRE ATT&CK | OSCP, CEH, CompTIA Security+, CISSP-level expertise. โœจ Final Note I donโ€™t just scan - I prove, fix, and retest vulnerabilities until closure. ๐Ÿš€ Letโ€™s secure your app, cloud, or smart contract today. Send me your scope for a tailored plan within hours. ๐Ÿ’ฌ Cybersecurity Expert Cybersecurity Expert Cybersecurity

  • Penetration Testing
  • Database Security
  • Security Testing
  • Source Code Scanning
  • System Security
  • Web Application Firewall
  • Web App Penetration Testing
  • Network Penetration Testing
  • Network Security
  • Cybersecurity Management
  • Cybersecurity Monitoring
  • Information Security
  • ISO 27001
  • Cloud Security
  • Website Security
  • Application Security
  • Vulnerability Assessment
  • Ethical Hacking
  • Mobile App Testing
  • API Testing
Michael H.

Baltimore, Maryland

$125/hr
5.0
112 jobs

Stop relying on automated scans. I find the vulnerabilities they miss. Iโ€™m a senior penetration tester and vulnerability researcher with deep experience across enterprise networks, web apps / APIs and cloud platforms. Most testers just run automated tools and hand you a generic report. I simulate how an attacker actually thinks, perform thorough testing, and deliver professional, tailored reporting suitable not just for your own remediation efforts but also for audit / compliance. Benefits of manual testing: - Chaining multiple low/medium findings to show more significant impact - Breaking multi-tenant isolation - Bypassing auth controls (JWT, OAuth, misconfigurations) - Identifying cost-amplification / abuse vectors (e.g., billing attacks in serverless environments) - ZERO false positives (and wasted time trying to remediate non-issues) - REAL severity scoring (not just CVSS or ratings with no connection to actual impact/risk for your systems and data) What I Deliver - Manual, attacker-style testing (not just scans) - Clear, prioritized findings with real business impact - Proof-of-concept exploits where it matters - Practical remediation guidance your devs can use immediately - Optional retesting to verify fixes Common Engagements - SaaS / multi-tenant application security testing - API and authentication testing (JWT, OAuth, session flaws) - Cloud security reviews (GCP, AWS, Azure, O365) - DevOps security reviews (Gitlab/hub, BitBucket, etc.) - Pre-SOC2 / investor readiness assessments - High-intensity black-box pentests Why Clients Hire Me - I go beyond the scanโ€”I find what others miss - I understand both offense and architecture - I communicate clearly with both engineers and leadership - Iโ€™ve worked on MANY real-world, high-impact systems I also help organizations: - Investigate breaches - Contain active threats - Recover compromised systems (Note: I do not assist with social media account recovery.)

  • Penetration Testing
  • Security Analysis
  • Security Engineering
  • Web Application Security
  • Ethical Hacking
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional
  • Security Assessment & Testing
  • OWASP
  • White Box Testing
  • Network Security
  • Security Infrastructure
  • Vulnerability Assessment
  • Web App Penetration Testing
  • Network Penetration Testing
  • Incident Management
Steffin S.

Kozhikode, India

$30/hr
4.8
202 jobs

๐Ÿ”ข As a seasoned Penetration Tester, I have a proven track record of conducting and leading successful security audits, web application penetration tests, and red team engagements for a diverse range of clients. My experience ranges from working with multinational corporations with large-scale infrastructures to smaller companies seeking enhanced security measures for competitive advantage. As a security engineer, my day-to-day responsibilities revolve around leveraging my expertise in penetration testing, cyber security, and vulnerability assessment to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities. Through these experiences, I have comprehensively understood the prevailing technology stacks employed worldwide, allowing me to discern their security weaknesses with precision. ๐ŸšซNo hacking service - I do not provide any hacking services, and I will not engage in any activities that involve gaining unauthorized access to any accounts, systems, or social media platforms. Requests for such services will be declined. Working with me, you will: โ˜… Customized approach: I understand that every client's needs are unique, and I tailor my approach to meet your specific requirements. This ensures that you get the most comprehensive and effective security testing possible. โ˜… Timely delivery: I understand that time is of the essence when it comes to security testing, and I always deliver my reports on time, without compromising on quality. โ˜… Complete manual testing for your application and immediate notification if any high-impact issues are found. โ˜… Unlimited retesting for the fixed issues and unlimited revisions โ˜… Able to find critical bug classes that are often missed by automated pentests. ๐Ÿ”ข My stats are: โœ… Top-rated in information security and IT compliance categories โœ… Saved tens of thousands of dollars for clients by identifying critical vulnerabilities โœ… Ranked in the Top 50 at multiple bug bounty programs โœ… Supporting all time zones โœ… Long-term engagements โœ… Professional certifications (OSCP, CREST CPSA, OSEP, OSWP) Sound like a fit? ๐ŸŸข Press '...' button and then โ€˜Send Messageโ€™ button in the top right-hand corner Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessment Tools: Manual Testing: Burpsuite Professional, Nuclei, Ffuf, Nmap, Postman (API testing), Metasploit Framework, SQLmap, OWASP ZAP Automated Testing: Acunetix, Nessus, Netsparker, etc. Penetration testing service: 1. Penetration Testing Engagement: thorough manual and automated testing of all functionalities, including internal penetration tests and network infrastructure testing. Professional enterprise-grade software is used, such as BurpSuite Professional, Acunetix, and Nessus. 2. Professional Report and Statistics: A detailed report explaining the exploitation and discovery method of each vulnerability discovered, including proof-of-concept screenshots, full requests and responses, CVSS v3.0 standardized risk score, and impact. 3. Remediation Advice and Guidance: Remediation advice was provided for all security issues discovered, including guidance on how to fix the issues and warnings associated with the impact and risk of these vulnerabilities. 4. Asset Discovery: Active and passive methods are used to assess the digital footprint on the internet, including subdomain enumeration and service/port discovery. 5. Free Retest: Retest all vulnerabilities present in the report included in the price to ensure implemented security controls and/or fixes are working as intended. 6. OSINT Reconnaissance: Gather all valuable data about the company on the internet, including any breached email addresses and related passwords. 7. Briefing and debriefing: Calls or meetings are available to discuss the scope of work, the focus of the penetration testing engagement, including all subdomains, black-box or white-box engagement, account requirements, preferred hours for load testing, and any other guidance required. Calls or meetings are available after the penetration test is completed to discuss the engagement results, the main issues and concerns regarding the company's security, and any further clarification regarding any vulnerability and the associated impact or risk. โœ… The deliverable will be a professional penetration testing and vulnerability assessment report, which includes: โ–บ Executive Summary โ–บ Assessment Methodology โ–บ Types of Tests โ–บ Risk Level Classifications โ–บ Result Summary โ–บ Table of Findings โ–บ Detailed Findings: Each finding in the report will contain a CVSS score, issue description, proof of concept, remediation, and reference sections. โ–บ Retest for issues (The vulnerabilities will be retested after they're fixed; multiple retests can be done to ensure the issues are remediated.) My Expertise: โ˜… Web Application Security Testing โ˜… API security testing โ˜… Penetration Testing โ˜… Internal Active Directory and External Network Pentest โ˜… Vulnerability Assessment. โ˜… Thick Client Pentest (Windows Desktop App Testing) โ˜… OSINT Assessement

  • Penetration Testing
  • Information Security
  • Network Security
  • Security Assessment & Testing
  • Security Testing
  • Vulnerability Assessment
  • System Security
  • Application Security
  • Web App Penetration Testing
  • Website Security
  • Web Application Security
  • Black Box Testing
  • Network Penetration Testing
  • OWASP
  • Risk Assessment
Volodymyr Z.

Kyiv, Ukraine

$35/hr
4.9
75 jobs

Iโ€™m an eWPTX-certified Cybersecurity Consultant with a Bachelorโ€™s degree in Cybersecurity and over 8 years of hands-on experience in application security, helping organisations identify vulnerabilities across web applications, mobile apps, APIs, and cloud environments. I help companies identify real vulnerabilities in their systems and understand how they can be exploited, not just theoretically, but in practice. My focus is on manual, attacker-driven testing aligned with OWASP Top 10 and beyond, with clear, actionable outcomes for your team. Iโ€™ve worked with SaaS platforms, multi-tenant systems, and applications handling sensitive data, including projects aligned with HIPAA and FDA requirements. What I can help you with: - Web and API penetration testing - Mobile application testing (iOS, Android) - Network penetration testing - Cloud and backend security assessments My approach: - Manual testing, not just automated scans - Focus on real attack paths and impact - Clear communication throughout the process What you get: - Professional report with severity (CVSS), evidence, and reproduction steps - Practical remediation guidance your developers can use - Executive summary for non-technical stakeholders Technologies and platforms I have experience with (including, but not limited to): - Frontend: React, Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS - Backend: Node.js, Express, FastAPI, Laravel (PHP) - Databases: PostgreSQL, Supabase, Firebase, MongoDB - Cloud & BaaS: AWS, Supabase, Firebase, Vercel, Cloudflare - APIs: REST, GraphQL, PostgREST - Auth & Security: JWT, OAuth, RBAC, Row Level Security (RLS) - Payments: Stripe (Checkout, webhooks, subscriptions) - Mobile: Android, iOS (dynamic analysis with Frida, Objection) - DevOps & Infra: Docker, CI/CD pipelines, GitHub Actions - AI integrations: RAG-based systems, prompt injection testing, data leakage analysis Iโ€™m easy to work with, responsive, and focused on delivering results that actually improve your security.

  • Penetration Testing
  • Software Testing
  • Software QA
  • Web Testing
  • Functional Testing
  • Mobile App Testing
  • QA Engineering
  • Automated Testing
  • Test Case Design
  • Vulnerability Assessment
  • Application Security
  • Usability Testing
  • Manual Testing
  • Information Security Consultation
Muhammad S.

Karachi, Pakistan

$25/hr
5.0
87 jobs

๐Ÿ” Helping Startups & Enterprises Eliminate Critical Security Risksโ€”Before Hackers Exploit Them Iโ€™m a Certified Penetration Tester with 7+ years of offensive security experience. I specialize in securing web apps, mobile apps, APIs, and cloud infrastructure to help you prevent breaches, stay compliant, and protect your users. ๐Ÿงฐ My Security Expertise: Web App Pentesting โ€“ OWASP Top 10, SQLi, XSS, CSRF, SSRF, logic flaws Mobile App Security โ€“ iOS/Android reverse engineering, insecure storage, API exposures API & Cloud Security โ€“ REST, SOAP, GraphQL; AWS/Azure/GCP misconfigurations Manual Testing & Reporting โ€“ Clear, developer-friendly bug reports (JIRA, Trello, Agile teams) ๐Ÿ† Success Stories: โš ๏ธ Identified 50+ critical vulnerabilities in a fintech app, preventing a $500K breach ๐Ÿ”’ Secured 100+ applications used by 500K+ users, reducing risk by 80% post-audit ๐Ÿ“„ Delivered 100+ penetration testing reports with prioritized, actionable fixes ๐Ÿ“œ Certifications: ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ OSCP โ€“ Offensive Security Certified Professional ๐Ÿ•ต๏ธ CEH โ€“ Certified Ethical Hacker ๐Ÿ” CompTIA Security+ ๐Ÿ’ก Why Clients Choose Me: โœ… Actionable Reporting โ€“ Prioritized issues + clear developer guidance โšก Fast Turnaround โ€“ Critical bugs reported within 24 hours ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Confidential & Compliant โ€“ Full NDA, encrypted communications, secure tool usage ๐ŸŒ Trusted by โ€“ YC-backed startups, Fortune 500s, global security firms ๐Ÿš€ Ready to Secure Your App? Click โ€œInvite to Jobโ€ and get: โœ… A free 15-min consultation โœ… A sample penetration testing report โœ… Critical issues reported in just 24 hours

  • Penetration Testing
  • Cloud Security
  • Vulnerability Assessment
  • Internet Security
  • Security Analysis
  • Security Engineering
  • Security Assessment & Testing
  • Information Security Audit
  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework
  • Web App Penetration Testing
  • Network Penetration Testing
  • Red Team Assessment
  • Cybersecurity Monitoring
  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional

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Don't just take our word for it

How to Hire Top Penetration Testers

What is a penetration tester?

Penetration testing is the practice of performing a software attack on a computer system or network for the purpose of discovering weaknesses, exploits, and vulnerabilities. A penetration tester will help keep your security one step ahead of those looking for an easy way into your network.

How do you hire a penetration tester?

You can source penetration tester talent on Upwork by following these three steps:

  • Write a project description. Youโ€™ll want to determine your scope of work and the skills and requirements you are looking for in a penetration tester.
  • Post it on Upwork. Once youโ€™ve written a project description, post it to Upwork. Simply follow the prompts to help you input the information you collected to scope out your project.
  • Shortlist and interview penetration testers. Once the proposals start coming in, create a shortlist of the professionals you want to interview. 

Of these three steps, your project description is where you will determine your scope of work and the specific type of penetration tester you need to complete your project. 

How much does it cost to hire a penetration tester?

Rates can vary due to many factors, including expertise and experience, location, and market conditions.

  • An experienced penetration tester may command higher fees but also work faster, have more-specialized areas of expertise, and deliver higher-quality work.
  • A contractor who is still in the process of building a client base may price their penetration tester services more competitively. 

Which one is right for you will depend on the specifics of your project. 

How do you write a penetration tester job post?

Your job post is your chance to describe your project scope, budget, and talent needs. Although you donโ€™t need a full job description as you would when hiring an employee, aim to provide enough detail for a contractor to know if theyโ€™re the right fit for the project.

Job post title

Create a simple title that describes exactly what youโ€™re looking for. The idea is to target the keywords that your ideal candidate is likely to type into a job search bar to find your project. Here are some sample penetration tester job post titles:

  • Need hackers to test our network security system
  • Penetration testers needed to help us find system vulnerabilities
  • Remote penetration testers wanted to recommend backdoor to new software

Project description

An effective penetration tester job post should include: 

  • Scope of work: From designing tests to conducting physical assessment of equipment, list all the deliverables youโ€™ll need. 
  • Project length: Your job post should indicate whether this is a smaller or larger project. 
  • Background: If you prefer experience with certain industries, software, or environments, mention this here. 
  • Budget: Set a budget and note your preference for hourly rates vs. fixed-price contracts.

Penetration tester job responsibilities

Here are some examples of penetration tester job responsibilities:

  • Develop tests designed to break into security-protected applications and networks
  • Conduct physical assessments of entire network servers and systems 
  • Document key findings, write reports and deliver findings to executive team

Penetration testers job requirements and qualifications

Be sure to include any requirements and qualifications youโ€™re looking for in a penetration tester. Here are some examples:

  • Masters degree in computer science or similar field required 
  • Minimum four years experience in security vulnerability testing
  • Extensive knowledge of two or more programming languages