Heelr launches verified cybersecurity marketplace for firms

Heelr has launched a platform that connects organisations with identity-verified cybersecurity professionals, aimed at companies seeking external security expertise.

The platform offers access to specialists for penetration testing, virtual CISO services, compliance support, security assessments and other project-based work. Every professional on the platform undergoes identity verification and credential validation before taking on paid engagements, and payment protection is built into the service.

The launch comes as companies face growing pressure to meet security and compliance requirements without maintaining full internal security teams. Businesses are increasingly turning to outside specialists for work linked to standards and regulations including ISO 27001, NIS2 and DORA, particularly when projects are time-sensitive or tied to product launches, audits or customer procurement processes.

Heelr is entering a market where cybersecurity services spending already exceeds USD $86 billion, according to figures it cited. Its approach focuses on matching buyers with verified practitioners rather than using broader freelance marketplaces or traditional procurement routes such as referrals and manual contracting.

The service is intended for business leaders, founders, operations teams and IT managers that need security support on a fractional or project basis. The platform is also open to cybersecurity consultants, independent specialists and boutique security firms seeking contract work.

A key part of the launch is Heelr's connection to Cyberr, whose existing professional community provides an initial network of practitioners. That gives the new platform a starting pool of verified professionals rather than requiring it to build supply from scratch.

Procurement gap

Heelr is seeking to address a long-standing problem in cybersecurity hiring: speed and trust. Organisations often need a specialist at short notice, whether to complete a penetration test, prepare documentation for certification, respond to customer security questionnaires or obtain senior security advice without appointing a full-time executive.

In those cases, identifying a suitable external provider can be slow. Companies may rely on personal introductions, extended email exchanges and separate payment arrangements, while still having limited visibility into whether a specialist's credentials and identity have been checked.

Laurent Halimi, Chief Executive Officer of Heelr and Cyberr, said the current process has not kept pace with wider changes in the sector.

"The cybersecurity industry has evolved dramatically over the past decade, but the way businesses procure security expertise has barely changed. Organisations often need specialized, outside expertise at challenging, time-sensitive moments, yet they're still relying on convoluted processes like referrals, email chains and manual contracting to find it. Existing freelancer platforms provide little confidence that cybersecurity professionals have the expertise they claim, or that they are even who they say they are. Heelr brings trust and simplicity to that process by making it easier for businesses of all sizes to connect with verified cybersecurity professionals when they need them most," said Laurent Halimi, Chief Executive Officer of Heelr and Cyberr.

Growing demand

The launch reflects a wider shift in how smaller companies and growth-stage businesses approach cybersecurity. As more firms build digital products earlier in their development, they encounter security reviews, customer due diligence and regulatory obligations sooner, even when they lack the resources for a dedicated in-house team.

That creates demand for flexible external support, particularly in areas where specialist expertise is needed for a limited period. Virtual CISO arrangements, targeted assessments and compliance preparation have become more common options for companies seeking to control costs while still meeting security expectations.

Heelr says its model is designed to make those engagements easier to start and manage. By combining verification checks with a payment framework built specifically for cybersecurity work, it aims to reduce friction for both buyers and service providers.

Based in Luxembourg, the company is now generally available to organisations seeking cybersecurity services. It launches with a network drawn from Cyberr's established cybersecurity community, giving it an existing roster of professionals as it enters the business-to-business market.