Meet The Founder
Penetration Testing Expert Jason Zaffuto
Jason Zaffuto, Founder & Lead Consultant at Artifice Security
Jason Zaffuto is a penetration testing expert and the founder of Artifice Security. With over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity, electronics, and defense operations, Jason has built a career that spans military intelligence, federal contracting, and advanced red team operations. His career began in 2000 with the U.S. Army, where he served as a Military Intelligence Systems Maintainer/Integrator (33W) specializing in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) while holding a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
After 9/11, Jason was among the first U.S. soldiers deployed to Afghanistan, supporting intelligence operations. He later served in both Afghanistan and Iraq with the 525th MI Brigade (Airborne), where he worked with elite units to track high-value targets and prevent roadside bombings. During his time at Camp Victory’s Al Faw Palace, Jason maintained the IT infrastructure supporting all military intelligence teams.
Following his honorable discharge, Jason was recruited by the National Security Agency (NSA) to support overseas HUMINT operations, including the development of specialized cellphone direction-finding equipment used by special forces units in active combat zones.
After returning stateside, Jason consulted with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a systems engineer on advanced tech projects for NASA’s Stennis Space Center.
In 2014, he joined Rapid7 as one of their first penetration testers, where he helped create and formalize their internal Red Team service and methodology, still in use by the company today.
The Launch of Artifice Security
In 2019, penetration testing expert Jason Zaffuto founded Artifice Security with a clear mission: to deliver world-class, manual penetration testing services. Under his leadership, Artifice has grown into a trusted cybersecurity firm serving clients across the U.S. and world-wide.
Jason continues to perform assessments himself, leading engagements and mentoring his team from the front.
Speaking, Research, and Recognition
As a recognized penetration testing expert, Jason regularly speaks at universities and attends cybersecurity conferences, presenting on advanced penetration testing techniques, 0-day vulnerabilities, and enterprise defense strategies. He was selected by the Department of Defense to participate in its elite “Hack the Pentagon” bug bounty program, where he ranked among the top researchers based on vulnerabilities discovered.
For IT and security certifications,
Jason holds the following:
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
- CompTIA A+
- Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE)
- CompTIA Network+
- Offensive Security Web Expert (OSWE)
- CompTIA Security+
- Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
- Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE)
- Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer with Specialization in Security (MCSE+S)
- EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)
- EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA)
- Portswigger Burpsuite Certified Practitioner
- Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)
- National Security Agency INFOSEC Evaluation Methodology (NSA IEM)
- National Security Agency INFOSEC Assessment Methodology (NSA IAM)
In his spare time, Jason and his wife Mia enjoy spending time outdoors visiting national parks and aviation..
Jason’s Socials
Blogs Written by Jason
What Is Web Application Penetration Testing? | Manual Pentesting Explained
TL;DR:Web application penetration testing is a manual, real-world simulation of how attackers...
What is the New PCI Software Security Framework?
The Payment Card Industry (PCI) is now in the process of revising its standards, transitioning...
Best Penetration Testing Companies in 2025: How to Choose the Right One
TL;DRMost "best penetration testing companies" lists you’ll find online are SEO bait. The real...