DevOps, Cloud & Security
Hire Penetration Testers to Find Security Flaws
Penetration testers try to break into your applications and systems the way an attacker would, then show you what they found and how to fix it.
The role
What penetration testers do
A penetration tester agrees a scope and rules, tests web apps, APIs, networks or cloud environments for exploitable weaknesses, and writes a report with evidence, severity and fixes. A retest after fixes confirms the problems are closed.
Typical deliverables
- A scoped test plan and rules of engagement
- Web, API or network penetration testing
- A report with evidence and severity ratings
- Remediation guidance
- A retest after fixes
Tools you will see
- Burp Suite
- OWASP ZAP
- Nmap
- Metasploit
- OWASP Testing Guide
Choosing
How to choose penetration testers
What to look for
- Sample reports with clear evidence and practical fixes.
- Manual testing, not just automated scanner output.
- Written rules of engagement before testing starts.
- Certifications such as OSCP combined with real experience.
Questions to ask
- 1What is in scope, and what will you not test?
- 2How much of your testing is manual?
- 3Can you share a redacted sample report?
- 4Is a retest included?
Planning
Before you post the job
Authorisation
Only test systems you own or have written permission to test, including third-party hosting terms.
What drives cost
Number of applications and endpoints, user roles, testing depth and retesting.
Hiring on Open Lance
- Posting a job and reviewing proposals are free.
- Each milestone is funded into escrow before work starts and paid when you approve it.
- Hire fixed-price, hourly, as a monthly Dedicated Hire, or buy a packaged Drop-In.
- Client fees are shown before you pay and added on top of the work.
FAQ
Questions about hiring penetration testers
How is this different from a vulnerability scan?
Scans find known issues automatically. Penetration tests use human judgement to find and chain real weaknesses.
Will testing break our site?
It can affect systems, so agree timing and test against staging where possible.
How often should we test?
Commonly after major changes and at least yearly, or as customers and auditors require.
Related
Related skills
Post a job for penetration testers
Describe the work and compare proposals. You only fund the first milestone once you have chosen someone.