“Global Penetration Testing And Ethical Hacking Services Market to reach a market value of USD 5.62 Billion by 2032 growing at a CAGR of 18%”
The Global Penetration Testing And Ethical Hacking Services Market size is expected to reach USD 5.62 billion by 2032, rising at a market growth of 18.0% CAGR during the forecast period
Penetration testing and ethical hacking have grown from early government tests in the 1960s, like "Tiger Teams" and James P. Anderson's structured method, into a global industry that is very important for cybersecurity. By the 1980s and 1990s, testing had moved into businesses due to the rise of vulnerability scanning tools and new rules for businesses to follow. The 2000s and 2010s saw the rise of professionalization, with certifications like CEH and OSCP, frameworks like OWASP, and mandatory testing in regulated fields like finance and healthcare. Over time, penetration testing went from being something that was optional to something that had to be done to meet compliance standards. It became a part of software development lifecycles and was adopted by governments, businesses, and critical infrastructure providers.
Automation, artificial intelligence, and new ways of delivering services have changed the field a lot in the past few years. Some important trends are the growth of AI-assisted reconnaissance and exploit generation, stricter rules that require constant validation, and the testing of cloud, IoT, and operational technology. To better protect themselves against real-world threats, companies are moving toward continuous, lifecycle-integrated security assessments and advanced red teaming. There are a lot of different types of companies in this market, from small boutique firms to large global ones. They stand out from each other by specializing in certain sectors, getting certifications, and offering advanced adversarial services. Even though there are problems like a lack of skilled workers and pressure on prices from automation, providers that offer high-end simulations, vertical expertise, and compliance alignment are in a good position to lead this quickly growing field.
The COVID-19 pandemic hurt the market for penetration testing and ethical hacking services because companies put business continuity ahead of cybersecurity investments. Security testing was put off or cut back because of budget problems, audits that took longer than expected, and falling revenues, especially in small and medium-sized businesses and industries like hospitality and aviation. Travel restrictions and lockdowns made it hard to do in-person assessments, so the company had to switch to remote testing. Some clients were hesitant to do this because they were worried about compliance and accuracy. The project execution was further slowed by staff cuts and limited staff availability. This led to longer cycles and lower efficiency, which together caused a significant drop in market demand and revenue. Thus, the COVID -19 pandemic had a Negative impact on the market.
The leading players in the market are competing with diverse innovative offerings to remain competitive in the market. The above illustration shows the percentage of revenue shared by some of the leading companies in the market. The leading players of the market are adopting various strategies in order to cater demand coming from the different industries. The key developmental strategies in the market are Acquisitions, and Partnerships & Collaborations.
Based on Service Model, the market is segmented into Consulting & One-off Engagements, Pen-Testing-as-a-Service (PTaaS), and Managed / Continuous Pen-Test (MSSP). The Pen-Testing-as-a-Service (PTaaS) segment held 28% revenue share in the market in 2024. Pen-Testing-as-a-Service has emerged as an increasingly popular model within the penetration testing and ethical hacking industry, reflecting the growing need for scalable, cloud-enabled, and easily accessible security testing solutions. PTaaS platforms allow organizations to conduct penetration testing through a subscription-based model, combining automation with on-demand human expertise.
Based on Type of Penetration Testing, the market is segmented into Web / End-Use Industry Penetration Testing, Network Penetration Testing, Cloud Configuration Penetration Testing, Wireless and IoT Penetration Testing, and Social Engineering Testing. The Network Penetration Testing segment witnessed 28% revenue share in the market in 2024. Network penetration testing plays a crucial role in safeguarding the infrastructure that connects various digital assets of an organization. This testing type is focused on identifying vulnerabilities within internal and external networks, including firewalls, routers, and connected devices.
Free Valuable Insights: Global Penetration Testing And Ethical Hacking Services Market size to reach USD 5.62 Billion by 2032
Region-wise, the Penetration Testing And Ethical Hacking Services Market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and LAMEA. The North America segment recorded 41% revenue share in the market in 2024.North America and Europe are the most mature markets for penetration testing and ethical hacking services because they have strong rules and the best cybersecurity companies. Demand in North America, especially in the US and Canada, is high because of strict compliance rules in industries like finance and healthcare, as well as frequent large-scale cyberattacks. The EU's Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the GDPR are two examples of frameworks that have made penetration testing a legal requirement for important industries in Europe. Both areas stress certified expertise, strong governance, and ongoing validation, which makes them global standards for the use of penetration testing.
As digital transformation and cyber risks speed up, penetration testing services are growing quickly in Asia-Pacific and LAMEA. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region, like China, India, Japan, and South Korea, are using more cloud services because they have big cloud ecosystems and stricter cybersecurity laws. Brazil, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa are all working to make their cybersecurity more resilient in LAMEA so that they can protect important infrastructure and banking systems. These areas are not as crowded as North America and Europe, but they are great places for providers to offer solutions that can grow and meet compliance standards.
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Market size value in 2025 | USD 1.76 Billion |
| Market size forecast in 2032 | USD 5.62 Billion |
| Base Year | 2024 |
| Historical Period | 2021 to 2023 |
| Forecast Period | 2025 to 2032 |
| Revenue Growth Rate | CAGR of 18.0 from 2025 to 2032 |
| Number of Pages | 660 |
| Number of Tables | 482 |
| Report coverage | Market Trends, Revenue Estimation and Forecast, Segmentation Analysis, Regional and Country Breakdown, Market Share Analysis, Porter’s 5 Forces Analysis, Company Profiling, Companies Strategic Developments, SWOT Analysis, Winning Imperatives |
| Segments covered | Deployment Mode, Service Model, Type of Penetration Testing, End-Use Industry, Region |
| Country scope |
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| Companies Included | IBM Corporation, Rapid7, Inc., CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc., Synopsys, Inc., SecureWorks Corp., Qualys, Inc., Trustwave Holdings, Inc. (The Chertoff Group), Palo Alto Networks, Inc., Veracode, Inc. (Thoma Bravo), Tenable Holdings, Inc., and NCC Group plc |
By Deployment Mode
By Service Model
By Type of Penetration Testing
By End-Use Industry
By Geography
This Market size is expected to reach USD 5.62 Billion by 2032.
The penetration testing and ethical hacking services market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18% between 2025 and 2032.
Increasing frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks are intensifying the need for stringent regulatory compliance and robust data protection measures.
IBM Corporation, Rapid7, Inc., CrowdStrike Holdings, Inc., Synopsys, Inc., SecureWorks Corp., Qualys, Inc., Trustwave Holdings, Inc. (The Chertoff Group), Palo Alto Networks, Inc., Veracode, Inc. (Thoma Bravo), Tenable Holdings, Inc., and NCC Group plc
The On-premise market captured the maximum revenue in the Global Penetration Testing And Ethical Hacking Services Market by Deployment Mode in 2024, thereby, achieving a market value of USD 3.25 billion by 2032.
The North America region dominated the Global Penetration Testing And Ethical Hacking Services Market by Region in 2024, thereby, achieving a market value of USD 2.21 billion by 2032.
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