Australia’s leading penetration testing companies include Intrix Cyber Security, Gridware, CyberCX, Sekuro, InfoTrust and The Missing Link, alongside other established providers. The right choice depends on your scope, sector and compliance needs. Prioritise CREST accreditation, manual exploitation-led testing over automated scanning, clear reporting for technical and executive readers, and retesting to confirm fixes.
Why Choosing the Right Provider Matters
Australian organisations are under real pressure to prove their defences work. The Australian Signals Directorate reports a cybercrime incident every few minutes, APRA continues to enforce CPS 234 across financial services, and the OAIC Notifiable Data Breaches scheme means a serious breach can become a reporting event. In that environment, a penetration test is not simply a tick-box exercise. It is a way to identify attack paths before attackers find them.
The catch is that quality varies widely. Some providers deliver deep manual testing by qualified testers with clear, actionable reporting. Others may rely heavily on automated scanning and provide limited context around the findings. This roundup is designed to help organisations understand the differences, using criteria that are stated openly.
How We Assessed These Companies
Eight criteria were applied consistently. Different criteria could produce a different ranking, which is why the methodology matters.
- CREST accreditation. The baseline credential expected by many government, enterprise and regulated-sector buyers. CREST accreditation provides independent assessment of testing methodology, quality assurance and tester competence.
- Australian presence and jurisdiction. Australian-based testers and onshore handling of sensitive findings can matter for APRA-regulated organisations, government supply chains, IRAP-aligned work and privacy obligations.
- Manual, exploitation-led testing. Hands-on testing by qualified testers is different from simply running an automated vulnerability scanner. A quality penetration test should investigate whether weaknesses can actually be exploited and how they can be chained together.
- Reporting quality. Findings should be prioritised according to genuine business risk and presented in a way that both technical teams and executives can understand.
- Retesting. Remediation retesting allows an organisation to confirm that identified vulnerabilities have actually been addressed.
- Sector and compliance experience. Experience with requirements such as the Essential Eight, APRA CPS 234, PCI DSS, ISO 27001 and IRAP can be important when testing supports assurance or compliance activities.
- Engagement fit and turnaround. Providers should be able to support the organisation’s scope, timeframe and commercial requirements.
- Australian ownership. Ownership can be relevant for organisations that require Australian control over sensitive information or prefer an Australian-owned provider.
Accreditations and ownership can change, so organisations should confirm a provider’s current status directly before engagement.
At a Glance
| Rank | Provider | Headquarters | Australian Owned | Primary Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intrix Cyber Security | Multiple AU cities | Yes | Penetration testing, advanced AI and LLM penetration testing | Accredited testing with clear reporting, tracked remediation and local support |
| 2 | Gridware | Multiple AU cities | Yes | Web and network penetration testing | Small and mid-sized organisations wanting a local specialist |
| 3 | CyberCX | Multiple AU cities | Yes, sovereign | Large-scale offensive security | Large enterprise and government programmes |
| 4 | Sekuro | Sydney | Yes | Offensive security, GRC and cloud services | Mid-market to enterprise organisations |
| 5 | InfoTrust | Sydney | Yes | Managed security and penetration testing | Organisations wanting testing within a managed security relationship |
| 6 | The Missing Link | Sydney | Yes | Managed IT and security with testing | Organisations wanting testing alongside managed services |
| 7 | Siege Cyber | NSW | Yes | Compliance-aligned penetration testing | Focused testing tied to a compliance need |
| 8 | Borderless CS | Multiple AU cities | Yes | CREST ANZ and international high-assurance testing | Buyers requiring formal CREST accreditation |
| 9 | StickmanCyber | Sydney | Yes | Testing within managed security and compliance | Testing bundled with ongoing security |
| 10 | Tesserent, part of Thales | Melbourne, national | No, part of Thales Group | Broad cyber security portfolio | Enterprise and public sector programmes |
The Top 10 Penetration Testing Companies in Australia
1. Intrix Cyber Security
Headquarters: Multiple Australian cities
Accreditations: CREST, ISO 27001 certified
Australian owned: Yes
Intrix is an Australian-owned penetration testing company delivering manual, exploitation-led testing across web applications, external and internal networks, cloud, APIs and mobile. Its services also include advanced AI penetration testing and LLM penetration testing, alongside red teaming and attack simulation services.
With CREST accreditation, ISO 27001 certification and Australian-based testers across multiple cities, Intrix combines technical testing with reporting designed for both security teams and executives.
Why Intrix stands out: Intrix is one of the Australian providers positioning advanced AI and LLM penetration testing as a core capability rather than simply an add-on. Its findings can also be managed through a tracked remediation workflow, helping teams move from identifying vulnerabilities to addressing them.
Key strengths include:
- Advanced AI and LLM penetration testing
- CREST accreditation and ISO 27001 certification
- Australian-based testers
- Manual, exploitation-led testing
- Tracked remediation workflow
- Reporting for technical teams and executives
- Australian ownership and onshore handling
- Testing aligned with requirements such as the Essential Eight, APRA CPS 234, PCI DSS and ISO 27001
Best for: Australian organisations looking for accredited penetration testing, including AI and LLM testing, with tracked remediation, clear reporting and local support.
For organisations looking to assess their environment, explore Intrix’s penetration testing services.
2. Gridware
Headquarters: Multiple Australian cities
Australian owned: Yes
Gridware is an Australian provider with a clear penetration testing focus, working with organisations across a range of sectors on web and network engagements.
Key strengths include:
- Local specialist with a penetration testing focus
- Experience supporting small and mid-sized Australian organisations
- Practical, engagement-led delivery
Best for: Small and mid-sized organisations wanting a local specialist for web and network testing.
3. CyberCX
Headquarters: Multiple Australian cities
Australian owned: Yes, sovereign
CyberCX is one of Australia’s largest cyber security organisations, with a national footprint and broad capabilities across offensive security, advisory, security operations and incident response.
Key strengths include:
- Large Australian security organisation
- Strong government, defence and enterprise presence
- Broad cyber security portfolio
- Offensive security alongside SOC, incident response and GRC services
Best for: Large enterprise and government buyers that need scale and a broad service portfolio.
4. Sekuro
Headquarters: Sydney
Australian owned: Yes
Sekuro is a Sydney-headquartered consultancy whose offensive security capabilities include penetration testing and red teaming within a wider portfolio covering governance, risk, cloud and managed services.
Key strengths include:
- Australian-based offensive security team
- GRC and cloud capabilities
- Broader cyber transformation services
- Engagement across the Australian security community
Best for: Mid-market and enterprise organisations wanting penetration testing as part of a wider security programme.
5. InfoTrust
Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
Australian owned: Yes
InfoTrust is an Australian-owned cyber security company offering penetration testing alongside managed security and advisory services.
Key strengths include:
- Testing within a managed security relationship
- Broader security services
- Australian ownership and operations
Best for: Organisations wanting penetration testing as part of an ongoing managed security relationship.
6. The Missing Link
Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
Australian owned: Yes
The Missing Link is a long-established Australian IT and cyber security provider that offers penetration testing within its wider managed IT and security portfolio.
Key strengths include:
- Penetration testing alongside managed IT and security
- Long-established Australian presence
- Broad IT and security capability
Best for: Organisations wanting penetration testing alongside ongoing managed IT and security services.
7. Siege Cyber
Headquarters: NSW, Australia
Australian owned: Yes
Siege Cyber is an Australian penetration testing specialist working across enterprise and mid-market clients, with compliance-aligned testing and a focused engagement model.
Key strengths include:
- Compliance-aligned testing
- Specialist delivery
- Enterprise and mid-market experience
Best for: Businesses looking for focused testing tied to a particular compliance or assurance requirement.
8. Borderless CS
Headquarters: Multiple Australian cities
Accreditations: CREST ANZ and CREST International
Australian owned: Yes
Borderless CS is an Australian provider with CREST ANZ and CREST International accreditation, focusing on high-assurance testing for regulated sectors.
Key strengths include:
- CREST ANZ accreditation
- CREST International accreditation
- Manual, high-assurance testing
- Focus on regulated industries
Best for: Enterprise and government buyers where formal CREST accreditation is an important procurement requirement.
9. StickmanCyber
Headquarters: Sydney
Australian owned: Yes
StickmanCyber is a Sydney-based cyber security provider offering penetration testing within a broader portfolio of managed security and compliance services.
Key strengths include:
- Testing bundled with managed security
- Compliance-focused delivery
- Ongoing security support
Best for: Organisations that want penetration testing alongside managed security.
10. Tesserent, part of Thales
Headquarters: Melbourne, national
Australian owned: No, part of the Thales Group
Tesserent is an established Australian cyber security provider offering penetration testing within a wider security portfolio.
Key strengths include:
- Broad cyber security capability
- Large provider footprint
- Public sector experience
- Testing within a wider service portfolio
Best for: Enterprise and public sector buyers looking for penetration testing from a large provider.
Organisations with specific data sovereignty requirements should confirm current ownership and data-handling arrangements before engagement.
What About Firms Not on This List?
Several global firms also deliver penetration testing in Australia, including IBM X-Force Red, Trustwave, Accenture Security, Rapid7 and NCC Group, as well as the Big Four consultancies.
This list focuses on providers for whom Australian penetration testing is a primary, identifiable offering, either because they are Australian-headquartered or because they market penetration testing as a specific Australian service.
Global firms can be suitable for very large programmes. Australian specialists can be a closer fit for mid-market and compliance-driven engagements, particularly where local delivery and onshore handling of sensitive findings are important.
How to Choose the Right Penetration Testing Company
The best provider depends on your actual requirements rather than simply the size of the brand.
Start by asking whether the engagement is genuinely manual and exploitation-led. An automated vulnerability scan can identify known weaknesses, but a penetration test should go further by validating exploitability and considering how vulnerabilities can be chained.
Next, request a sample report. Look for findings that clearly explain the vulnerability, evidence, business impact, severity and recommended remediation. The report should be useful to both the technical team responsible for fixing the issue and executives responsible for understanding the wider risk.
You should also confirm exactly what is included in the engagement. Ask about:
- Scope
- Testing methodology
- Assumptions
- Exclusions
- Testing duration
- Reporting
- Remediation guidance
- Retesting
- Tester qualifications
- CREST accreditation
- Data handling and jurisdiction
The cheapest quote is not necessarily the best value if it removes authenticated testing, business logic analysis, manual exploitation or remediation retesting.
For regulated organisations, also consider whether the provider has experience supporting your specific obligations, such as APRA CPS 234, PCI DSS, ISO 27001 or the Essential Eight.
If you want to assess your environment with an experienced Australian penetration testing team, explore Intrix’s penetration testing services or its red teaming and attack simulation services.
Frequently Asked Questions
How was this list compiled?
We assessed providers against eight criteria: CREST accreditation, Australian presence and jurisdiction, manual exploitation-led testing, reporting quality, retesting, sector and compliance experience, engagement fit and Australian ownership. The criteria are stated openly so organisations can understand how the ranking was developed and apply their own priorities when making a decision.
Why does CREST accreditation matter for penetration testing?
CREST accreditation provides independent assessment of a provider’s testing methodology, quality assurance and tester competence. It is also an important procurement consideration for many enterprise, government and regulated organisations. Organisations should still confirm a provider’s current accreditation status directly before engaging them.
What about global firms like IBM, Trustwave or the Big Four?
Global firms including IBM X-Force Red, Trustwave, Accenture Security, Rapid7 and the Big Four deliver penetration testing in Australia. They can suit large, complex programmes. Australian specialists may be a closer fit for mid-market and compliance-focused engagements where local delivery and jurisdiction are priorities.
How much does penetration testing cost in Australia?
Penetration testing costs vary according to scope, test type and depth. A small web application assessment will generally cost considerably less than a large multi-target engagement. When comparing quotes, review the written scope, assumptions, exclusions, testing methodology and whether remediation retesting is included rather than comparing price alone.
Which provider is best for ISO 27001 or SOC 2 evidence?
A suitable provider should be able to produce clear, independent testing evidence that supports your assurance requirements. CREST accreditation can be an important consideration, but the right provider also depends on the scope, environment, reporting requirements and whether you need a specialist application test or a broader enterprise engagement.
Which provider is best for APRA CPS 234?
APRA-regulated organisations should look for appropriately skilled and independent testing capability, relevant financial-services experience, clear reporting and suitable data-handling arrangements. Australian-based and CREST-accredited providers can be particularly relevant where onshore handling of sensitive findings is important.
Why choose an Australian-owned penetration testing company?
Australian ownership can be important where organisations have government, regulatory, sovereignty or sensitive-data requirements. It can provide greater clarity around where sensitive findings are handled and who ultimately controls the provider. Organisations should still confirm the provider’s current ownership, testing location and data-handling arrangements before engagement.
How often should Australian businesses run a penetration test?
Many organisations perform penetration testing annually and after significant changes such as a major application release, infrastructure change, cloud migration or new public-facing service. Higher-risk environments may require more frequent testing. The appropriate frequency should be based on risk, the rate of change and applicable regulatory or contractual requirements.
