By 2025, selecting a penetration testing company is more about safeguarding your company’s reputation, clients, and boardroom credibility than it is about checking a compliance box. CISOs also trust companies that do more than just scans and checklists when the stakes are this high. They are looking for red teams that can communicate effectively with engineers and executives, model real-world threats, and produce results that genuinely spur progress.
This list features 10 of the most recommended penetration testing companies by CISOs across SaaS, finance, healthcare, and enterprise sectors. These vendors have been tested under pressure—and earned their reputation through clarity, consistency, and results.
📞 In search of a red team that CISOs suggest for results, clarity, and realism? [Schedule a Bluefire Redteam strategy session]
What CISOs Look for in a Pen Testing Partner
Penetration testing is about more than vulnerabilities for today’s CISO; it’s also about validation, visibility, and velocity. The top vendors give executives and engineers alike context, strategy, and confidence in addition to pointing out shortcomings.
Here’s what top security leaders consistently prioritise:
Real-World Adversary Simulation
Glorified vulnerability scans are not what CISOs want. They want social engineering, lateral movement, chainable exploits, and privilege escalation to be realistically imitated.
Clarity Across Technical and Executive Audiences
Reports must make sense to both developers and board members. CISOs value vendors who provide clean, actionable findings with risk prioritisation, not just CVSS scores.
Fast Engagement, Safe Execution
No bureaucratic friction. Trusted firms operate with secure comms, clear scope, and a white team protocol to ensure no disruption mid-test.
Remediation Support and Retesting
When the report is released, the test is not finished. CISOs favour partners who provide strategic direction, validation retests, and remediation collaboration.
Trust and Discretion
Top-tier firms are tactically aggressive and reputationally airtight. NDAs, internal discretion, and proper documentation aren’t optional—they’re expected.
💡 Want to see if your current vendor meets CISO-level expectations? Bluefire offers free report audits and threat surface reviews.
Top 10 Penetration Testing Companies Trusted by CISOs
Each of these companies has gained confidence in the real security teams’ war rooms, where it matters most. They are suggested due to their technical proficiency as well as their capacity to maintain composure, clarity, and confidence under duress.
🥇 1. Bluefire Red Team
Speciality: Adversary simulation, SaaS red teaming, SOC 2 prep, Penetration Testing
Why CISOs Trust Them:
“BlueFire simulated an APT targeting our cloud stack and showed us attack paths no scanner ever could. Their clarity and speed saved us from a major gap.”
— CISO, Series C SaaS Platform
- SOC 2/ISO-ready reporting
- Full-stack cloud-native pen testing
- Executive briefings and remediation alignment
- Strong in fintech, healthtech, and fast-scaling SaaS
2. Bishop Fox
Specialty: AppSec, enterprise testing, security research
- Known for deep technical depth
- Strong enterprise trust, especially in finance and tech
- High-end services like CAST and Cosmos (continuous testing)
3. NetSPI
Specialty: PTaaS (Penetration Testing as a Service)
- Large-scale enterprise focus
- Well-developed SaaS model for ongoing testing
- Strong in healthcare and financial sectors
4. TrustedSec
Specialty: Red teaming, security program building
- Led by well-known researchers
- Boutique feel with enterprise capability
- Often cited by CISOs for honest, battle-tested insight
5. Offensive Security (OffSec)
Specialty: Security education + consulting
- Known for the OSCP cert—but also offers pen testing
- Strong with technically mature clients
- High bar for realism and adversary simulation
6. Praetorian
Specialty: Full-spectrum security, AppSec + Red Team
- Based in Austin, national reach
- Clean, developer-friendly reports
- Good for tech companies with deep DevOps stacks
7. Rhino Security Labs
Specialty: Cloud & AWS penetration testing
- Widely respected for cloud-specific testing
- Popular with security-forward SaaS orgs
- Excellent documentation
8. Cobalt.io
Specialty: Pen testing via vetted freelance network
- PTaaS model for rapid engagements
- Ideal for startups needing flexibility
- SOC 2 alignment and fast turnaround
9. NCC Group
Specialty: Enterprise security services globally
- Massive team, regulated industry expertise
- Good fit for multinational companies
- Formalized reporting and legal-ready language
10. Secureworks
Specialty: Red teaming + managed detection
- Often paired with their MDR/XDR
- Strong threat intel, full lifecycle security
How to Vet a Pen Testing Firm—CISO Style
Selecting the ideal partner for your environment still requires accuracy, even if you have a list of reliable suppliers. Before signing the SOW, seasoned CISOs assess penetration testing companies as follows:
Ask for a Sample Report
Look beyond the logo deck. A good sample report reveals:
- Exploit chaining and real-world attack simulation
- Clear remediation steps (not just severity scores)
- Both executive summary and technical detail
Request Client References
Speak directly to companies in your industry, size range, or compliance posture. Ask:
- How responsive was the vendor?
- Did their findings make it into production fixes?
- Would they work with them again?
Evaluate Communication and Collaboration
Top-tier vendors communicate like part of your team:
- Are they responsive and consultative?
- Do they offer live briefings or async options?
- Will they walk your devs through the exploit?
Clarify Remediation & Retesting Support
Don’t settle for a “report drop.” Confirm:
- How remediation follow-up works
- If they include a validation re-test
- Whether they’ll prioritize findings based on your roadmap
Protect Your Data
Ensure NDAs are in place and scope includes:
- Data handling policies
- Secure artifact transfer
- Scope clarity to prevent overreach
🔍 Want a free audit of your current or past pen test report? Bluefire Red Team offers CISO-level reviews and feedback—no strings attached.
Ready to Work With a Penetration Testing Firm CISOs Actually Recommend?
Most businesses are unaware of the significant difference between mediocre testing and meaningful security until it is too late. It’s time to proceed with confidence if you want more than just a report, if you want a partner who works like your team and thinks like the enemy.
Security executives in SaaS, finance, and healthcare trust Bluefire Red Team because we provide what others cannot:
- Real-world attack simulations, not checkbox scans
- Reports your devs can act on—and your execs can understand
- Remediation support, retesting, and strategic guidance
🎯 Don’t wait for a breach to realize what your last pen test missed.
📞 [Book a Strategy Call With Bluefire Red Team] — and experience the difference a real red team makes.