Eurofins
Speciality: Web Application Testing
Eurofins is a private biotechnology research company with 7,686 employees, $7.4B annual revenue, and EUR 8.8B market cap; headquartered in Luxembourg, Luxembourg. It operates a global network of over 1,000 independent companies and 900 laboratories across 62 countries, offering extensive testing services including food, environment, pharma, and CRO. Recently acquired SYNLAB España and provides penetration testing services via Eurofins Digital Testing, specializing in remote, local, web, API, and mobile assessments.
ISO 17025
Origin
ISO/IEC 17025 was developed jointly by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), with its first edition published in 1999 and a significant revision released in 2005, followed by the current version in 2017. The standard was created to establish general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories across all industries. Its purpose is to provide a globally recognized framework that demonstrates a laboratory's ability to produce technically valid and reliable results through consistent processes, qualified personnel, and proper quality management systems.
Importance in Penetration Testing
In the penetration testing and cybersecurity industry, ISO 17025 accreditation demonstrates that a testing organization operates with technical competence and follows rigorous quality assurance procedures. While not cybersecurity-specific, the standard's emphasis on methodological consistency, equipment validation, staff qualification, and result accuracy translates well to penetration testing environments where clients need assurance that security assessments are conducted systematically and findings are reliable. Penetration testing companies pursue ISO 17025 accreditation to differentiate themselves in the market, meet procurement requirements from government and enterprise clients who value third-party validation of laboratory competence, and demonstrate their commitment to delivering reproducible, defensible security testing results through documented and audited processes.
ISO 27001: Information Security Management Certification
Origin
ISO 27001 was developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and was first published in 2005. It evolved from the British Standard BS 7799-2, which was created in the late 1990s. The standard was developed in response to the growing need for organizations to systematically manage and protect sensitive information in an increasingly digital business environment. ISO 27001 has since been revised, with major updates released in 2013 and 2022 to address evolving cybersecurity threats and best practices.
Industry Value and Importance
ISO 27001 is globally recognized as the leading standard for information security management systems (ISMS) and is valued for providing a systematic, risk-based approach to protecting sensitive data. Organizations that achieve ISO 27001 certification demonstrate to clients, partners, and regulators that they have implemented comprehensive security controls and are committed to maintaining confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. The certification is particularly important for organizations handling sensitive data, as it helps meet regulatory compliance requirements, reduces security incidents, builds customer trust, and often provides a competitive advantage in procurement processes where information security assurance is required.
CREST Cybersecurity Certification
Origin
CREST (Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers) was established in 2006 in the United Kingdom by a group of cybersecurity professionals and industry representatives. It was created to address the growing need for standardized, recognized qualifications in penetration testing and cybersecurity services. The organization emerged from concerns about the quality and professionalism of security testing services, aiming to provide a framework that would certify both individual practitioners and the companies that employ them.
Industry Value
CREST certifications are highly valued in the cybersecurity industry because they demonstrate a practitioner's technical competence and adherence to professional ethical standards. Many government agencies, financial institutions, and large corporations specifically require CREST-certified professionals when procuring penetration testing or security assessment services. The certification provides assurance to employers and clients that certified individuals have been independently verified to possess the necessary skills and knowledge, and that they follow established codes of conduct. This makes CREST credentials particularly important for cybersecurity professionals working in regulated industries or seeking to work with organizations that have stringent security requirements.
SOC 2 Certification Overview
Origin
SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) was developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) in 2011 as part of their Service Organization Control reporting framework. It was created to address the growing need for standardized security evaluations as businesses increasingly moved to cloud-based services and outsourced IT operations. The AICPA developed SOC 2 to provide a framework that service providers could use to demonstrate their commitment to protecting customer data across five "Trust Service Criteria": security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
Industry Value
SOC 2 certification has become a critical trust signal in the technology and service provider industry, particularly for SaaS companies, cloud hosting providers, and data centers. Organizations value SOC 2 compliance because it provides third-party validation that a vendor has implemented appropriate controls to protect sensitive data, reducing the risk and liability associated with outsourcing. For service providers, achieving SOC 2 compliance is often a competitive necessity, as many enterprise customers and partners require it before entering into business relationships. The certification helps streamline vendor security assessments, as clients can rely on the audited report rather than conducting their own lengthy security reviews.
- University of Leeds
- Lactalis Group
- Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Sherwin-Williams