The Premier Offensive Security Network

The Pentest Vendor Marketplace Find Pre-Vetted Providers in 1 Week

Lion Security is the premier offensive cybersecurity marketplace designed for cybersecurity teams and leaders. We reduce pentest procurement time by 75% and save organizations $5,000-$20,000 per engagement through expert scoping, pricing transparency, and white-glove vendor matching.

Try: "I need a web app pentest for SOC2 compliance" OR "I'd like to talk with a solutions engineer."
25+Hand-Selected Vendors
Trustedby Financial, Technology, Healthcare, Government CISOs
Expert-LedFrom scoping to signature
100%Every Vendor Pre-Vetted and Guaranteed

What is Lion Security?

Lion Security is an offensive cybersecurity research and advisory firm that operates the first pentest procurement marketplace. We help security teams, CISOs, and IT leaders select, compare, and manage penetration testing providers through a transparent, platform-based approach.

Instead of spending 6-10 weeks researching providers, running RFPs, and comparing proposals manually, companies use our platform to get matched with vetted providers, receive normalized proposals, and make data-driven vendor decisions in 1-2 weeks. Every provider is pre-vetted for technical certifications, methodology quality, references, and pricing transparency.

The Right Vendor for Your Program

Every vendor is pre-vetted for methodology, certifications, customer references, and pricing transparency. Here are a few accepting new clients this quarter:

P
5.0(42)

Phantom Red Team

Boutique Firm

Red TeamingPhysical SecPhishing
Z
4.9(128)

ZeroDay Labs

Enterprise Auditor

Web AppAPI SecCloud (AWS)
C
4.8(19)

CyberOps Elite

Freelance Collective

Smart ContractsMobile AppIoT
Case Study

How a SaaS Company Found Their Ideal Pentest Vendor in 2 Weeks

The Challenge

Annual SOC 2 pentest renewal. Previous vendor raised prices 30%. Security team spent 6 weeks evaluating 4 new vendors without success.

The Solution

Used Lion Security to selectively issue RFPs to 3 pre-vetted vendors matching their exact tech stack. Received normalized proposals in 7 days.

The Result

Selected a highly-qualified new vendor at 22% below budget. Entire process took 14 days instead of 6 weeks. Saved 40+ hours of team time.

How Pentest Vendor Procurement Works

We've streamlined the complex process of finding, vetting, and hiring elite offensive security experts. Typical procurement takes 6 weeks—we do it in 1 to 2.

01

Define Scope

Through our AI-assisted scoping tool and human advisory, you easily specify your targets, compliance mandates (SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS), and desired testing methodology.

02

Match & Evaluate

Our algorithmic matching engine pairs you with 3-5 pre-vetted penetration testing vendors. You receive normalized proposals so you can compare methodology and pricing side-by-side.

03

Direct Contracting

Skip the redlines. Execute a standardized Master Service Agreement (MSA) and Statement of Work (SOW) directly through our unified platform.

04

Actionable Results

We track provider delivery to ensure SLAs are met. Upon completion, you receive comprehensive, human-validated technical reports via our encrypted platform, accompanied by a retest phase.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a pentest and a vulnerability assessment?

A vulnerability assessment uses automated scanning tools to identify known issues (CVEs) quickly and inexpensively. A penetration test (pentest) involves manual testing by security experts who attempt real-world exploitation, validate vulnerabilities, and chain exploits. Pentests find deep logic flaws and authorization bypasses that automated scanners miss, which is often required for compliance frameworks like SOC 2 and PCI-DSS.

How much does a penetration test cost?

Pricing varies significantly based on scope, complexity, and provider tier. Typical web application pentests range from $15,000 to $30,000 for a small scope, while medium scopes reach $55,000. External network pentests generally range from $5,000 to $25,000. Factors that influence cost include the number of targets, the testing methodology (black/gray/white box), tester seniority, and compliance requirements. Lion Security normalizes these quotes so you can benchmark costs accurately.

What's the difference between authenticated and unauthenticated testing?

Unauthenticated testing operates without user credentials, simulating an external attacker's perspective and focusing on public-facing vulnerabilities or login bypasses. Authenticated testing provides testers with valid credentials (often spanning multiple roles like 'user' or 'admin') to simulate what an attacker could do with a compromised account or as a malicious insider. Most comprehensive engagements, heavily recommended for web apps, utilize a gray box approach combining both.

How long does a typical pentest take?

A standard web application or internal network penetration test typically takes 1 to 3 weeks of active testing, followed by 3-5 business days for report generation. Once the report is delivered, the customer enters a remediation phase, ending with a 1-2 week retest to validate fixes. The entire timeline from project kickoff to the final executive report usually spans 2 to 6 weeks depending on scope.

What's a retest and why does it matter?

A retest, or remediation validation, occurs when the penetration testing provider verifies that you have successfully fixed the vulnerabilities identified in their initial report. It is critical for compliance standards (like SOC 2) which require proof of remediation. A retest confirms that your developers patched the issues correctly, providing an audit trail for board members, regulators, and customers.