Almost every security professional thinks about it at some point: should I go independent? The rate is tempting, so is the freedom. But freelancing isn't the best choice for everyone — and neither is permanent employment. An honest trade-off.
What freelancing brings you
A higher income per hour worked, variety in environments, and the feeling of being in the driver's seat. You build broad experience in a short time: different organizations, different maturity levels, different problems. For anyone who wants to learn fast, that's worth gold.
What freelancing costs you
Certainty, to start with: things can go quiet between two assignments, and pension and disability cover are yours to arrange. But the least visible downside is substantive: as a freelancer you're hired for what you can already do. Room to learn something new on the company's time is rare. And you rarely finish what you build — you often leave just when the real work begins.
When permanent is smarter
Do you want to reshape a security function, build a team, or grow into a leadership role? Then you need time — and mandate. You get those in permanent employment. If you're at the start of your security career, permanent is usually the wiser choice too: you don't have a track record to rent out yet, and every euro you invest in learning now pays itself back double later.
The honest rule of thumb
Choose freelance if you have a proven specialism that organizations need temporarily. Choose permanent if you want to build, learn, or grow. And if you're torn? Then the doubt itself is usually the answer: not just yet.
We do both — permanent recruitment and interim placement — so we have no stake in either answer. Feel free to call to talk through your situation; honest advice is free.