Key Insights
The European security testing market, valued at €25.46 billion in 2025, is experiencing robust growth, projected to expand at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23% from 2025 to 2033. This significant expansion is driven by several key factors. The increasing prevalence of cyberattacks targeting businesses across diverse sectors—including BFSI, healthcare, and government—is fueling demand for comprehensive security testing solutions. The rising adoption of cloud computing and mobile applications, alongside evolving regulatory compliance requirements like GDPR and NIS2, further necessitates rigorous security assessments. Furthermore, the shift towards DevSecOps methodologies, integrating security testing throughout the software development lifecycle, is a major growth catalyst. Leading companies like Accenture, IBM, and McAfee are actively shaping the market landscape through strategic investments in innovative testing tools and services, catering to the growing sophistication of cyber threats and the expanding needs of various end-user industries.
Market segmentation reveals strong growth across several areas. The cloud deployment model is witnessing particularly high adoption rates, driven by its scalability and cost-effectiveness. Within testing types, DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) and SAST (Static Application Security Testing) remain dominant, while the demand for IAST (Interactive Application Security Testing) and RASP (Runtime Application Self-Protection) is rapidly increasing, reflecting the need for real-time threat detection and mitigation. Geographically, the UK, Germany, and France represent significant market segments, although growth opportunities exist across other European nations as digital transformation accelerates. The competitive landscape is characterized by a mix of established players and emerging vendors, constantly innovating to meet the evolving demands of a dynamic security testing market. This combination of technological advancements and heightened security awareness ensures the market's continued expansion in the coming years.

Europe Security Testing Industry: A Comprehensive Market Report (2019-2033)
This in-depth report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Europe security testing industry, offering invaluable insights for businesses, investors, and industry professionals. With a study period spanning 2019-2033, a base year of 2025, and a forecast period of 2025-2033, this report delivers a detailed understanding of historical performance, current market dynamics, and future growth projections. The market size is estimated at xx Million in 2025 and is expected to reach xx Million by 2033, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of xx%.
Europe Security Testing Industry Market Structure & Competitive Dynamics
The European security testing market is characterized by a moderately concentrated landscape, with both established players and emerging innovators competing for market share. Key players include Accenture PLC, Cisco Systems Inc, IBM, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP, McAfee LLC, Offensive Security, Core Security Technologies, VERACODE, ControlCase LLC, Netcraft Ltd, Maveric Systems, and Paladion Networks. However, the market also exhibits a dynamic ecosystem of smaller specialized firms and startups, fostering innovation and competition.
Market concentration is further influenced by the increasing adoption of cloud-based security testing solutions and the growing demand for specialized services like mobile application security testing. Regulatory frameworks, such as GDPR and NIS2, are significantly impacting the industry, driving demand for compliance-focused security testing. The market witnesses consistent M&A activity, with deal values ranging from xx Million to xx Million in recent years, primarily driven by strategic acquisitions aimed at expanding service portfolios and geographic reach. Examples of significant M&A activities include [insert specific examples with deal values if available, otherwise use xx Million as placeholder]. End-user trends toward digital transformation and the increasing reliance on cloud technologies are further fueling market growth. Competition is primarily based on service offerings, pricing strategies, technological expertise, and geographic reach.
- Market Share: Accenture PLC and IBM hold significant market share, followed by Cisco and HPE. Smaller players compete through niche specialization.
- M&A Activity: A significant number of M&A deals occurred in the historical period, with an average deal value of approximately xx Million. This activity is expected to continue during the forecast period.
- Innovation: Ongoing innovation in areas like AI-powered security testing and automation is reshaping the competitive landscape.
- Regulatory Landscape: GDPR and NIS2 are key regulatory drivers influencing market growth and security practices.
Europe Security Testing Industry Industry Trends & Insights
The European security testing market is experiencing robust growth, driven by several key factors. The increasing prevalence of cyber threats, coupled with stringent data privacy regulations like GDPR, is compelling organizations across diverse sectors to bolster their security postures. This necessitates the adoption of comprehensive security testing solutions. The shift towards cloud computing and the expanding adoption of mobile and web applications further contribute to market expansion. Organizations are increasingly outsourcing their security testing needs to specialized vendors, creating opportunities for growth. The market is also witnessing the emergence of innovative technologies like AI and machine learning in security testing, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of vulnerability detection.
The industry is experiencing a significant technological shift towards automation and AI-powered security testing solutions. These advanced tools provide faster, more comprehensive testing capabilities, leading to higher efficiency and improved detection rates. This technological disruption is leading to a consolidation of the market, with larger players acquiring smaller firms with niche expertise in AI and automation. Consumer preferences are shifting towards comprehensive, cloud-based security testing services that offer flexible and scalable solutions. The growing demand for integrated security solutions that address the diverse needs of modern IT infrastructures, including on-premise, cloud, and hybrid environments, is also driving market expansion. The competitive landscape is characterized by a mix of established players and emerging companies offering innovative solutions. The CAGR is projected to be xx% over the forecast period, indicating substantial market growth. Market penetration for cloud-based solutions is expected to surpass xx% by 2033.

Dominant Markets & Segments in Europe Security Testing Industry
The United Kingdom, Germany, and France represent the largest national markets within Europe, driven by robust IT infrastructure, high levels of digital adoption, and stringent regulatory requirements. The "Rest of Europe" segment also demonstrates significant potential, although at a slightly slower growth rate.
Country:
- United Kingdom: Strong economic activity, high concentration of IT companies, and robust regulatory environment.
- Germany: Large industrial base, focus on manufacturing security, and adoption of advanced technologies.
- France: Growing digital economy, substantial government investment in cybersecurity initiatives, and increased awareness of data privacy.
Deployment: The cloud segment holds a dominant position and is expected to maintain its growth trajectory. Hybrid deployments are also gaining traction due to the increasing complexity of IT infrastructures.
Type: Application security testing holds the largest market share, driven by the rising use of web, mobile, and cloud applications. Network security testing also remains significant.
Application Type: Web application security testing dominates, owing to the wide use of web-based applications in various industries. Mobile and Cloud application security testing are also witnessing substantial growth.
Testing Type: DAST and SAST are the most prevalent testing types, with a growing demand for IAST and RASP.
Testing Tool: Web application testing tools hold a significant market share, while the adoption of code review and penetration testing tools is also rising.
End-User Industry: BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance) and the Government sectors display high adoption rates due to strict regulatory requirements and the high value of protected data.
Europe Security Testing Industry Product Innovations
The European security testing market is witnessing rapid product innovation, with a focus on automation, AI-powered vulnerability detection, and integration with DevOps pipelines. New solutions are emerging that leverage machine learning to improve accuracy and reduce false positives. This is complemented by a strong focus on integrating testing tools into existing development processes, enhancing efficiency and streamlining security practices. The increasing adoption of cloud-based and SaaS-based security testing tools is driving innovation in scalability and accessibility. Products are increasingly catering to specific application types and testing methodologies (e.g., SAST, DAST, IAST, RASP) to offer targeted solutions. This trend leads to enhanced market fit and competitive advantages.
Report Segmentation & Scope
This report segments the European security testing market by country (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Rest of Europe), deployment (on-premise, cloud, hybrid), type (network security testing, application security testing), application type (mobile, web, cloud, enterprise), testing type (SAST, DAST, IAST, RASP), testing tool (web application, code review, penetration testing, software testing, others), and end-user industry (government, BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, IT and telecom, retail, others). Each segment includes market size estimations, growth projections, and competitive analysis, providing a granular view of the market landscape.
Key Drivers of Europe Security Testing Industry Growth
The European security testing market's growth is primarily driven by the increasing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks, the stringent regulatory landscape mandating robust security measures (e.g., GDPR, NIS2), and the rising adoption of cloud-based applications and digital transformation initiatives across various sectors. Technological advancements such as AI and machine learning in security testing further accelerate growth by automating processes and enhancing accuracy.
Challenges in the Europe Security Testing Industry Sector
The industry faces challenges including the complexity of modern IT infrastructures, the scarcity of skilled cybersecurity professionals, the need for continuous adaptation to evolving threats, and the high costs associated with comprehensive security testing. Integrating security testing into agile development methodologies also poses a significant challenge for many organizations. The market also encounters challenges related to keeping pace with rapidly evolving attack vectors, managing the ever-growing number of applications to test and maintaining security testing tool efficiency.
Leading Players in the Europe Security Testing Industry Market
- Offensive Security
- Accenture PLC
- Core Security Technologies
- VERACODE
- ControlCase LLC
- McAfee LLC
- Netcraft Ltd
- Maveric Systems
- Paladion Networks
- Cisco Systems Inc
- IBM
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
Key Developments in Europe Security Testing Industry Sector
- January 2022: GrammaTech launched a new version of its CodeSentry software supply chain security platform, enhancing SBOM generation and risk detection in third-party software.
- January 2022: NTT Security AppSec Solutions Inc. introduced a new solution for dynamic application security testing across the development lifecycle.
Strategic Europe Security Testing Industry Market Outlook
The future of the European security testing market looks promising, with sustained growth expected throughout the forecast period. Continued investment in cybersecurity, increased regulatory scrutiny, and the ever-evolving threat landscape will drive demand for advanced security testing solutions. Opportunities exist for vendors who can offer innovative, AI-powered tools integrated into DevOps pipelines and provide comprehensive, cloud-based solutions catering to diverse customer needs. The focus on improving testing efficiency, reducing false positives, and providing clearer reporting will further shape market dynamics.
Europe Security Testing Industry Segmentation
-
1. Deployment
- 1.1. On Premise
- 1.2. Cloud
- 1.3. Hybrid
-
2. Type
-
2.1. Network Security Testing
- 2.1.1. VPN Testing
- 2.1.2. Firewall Testing
- 2.1.3. Other Service Types
-
2.2. Application Security Testing
-
2.2.1. Application Type
- 2.2.1.1. Mobile Application Security Testing
- 2.2.1.2. Web Application Security Testing
- 2.2.1.3. Cloud Application Security Testing
- 2.2.1.4. Enterprise Application Security Testing
-
2.2.2. Testing Type
- 2.2.2.1. SAST
- 2.2.2.2. DAST
- 2.2.2.3. IAST
- 2.2.2.4. RASP
-
2.2.1. Application Type
-
2.1. Network Security Testing
-
3. Testing Tool
- 3.1. Web Application Testing Tool
- 3.2. Code Review Tool
- 3.3. Penetration Testing Tool
- 3.4. Software Testing Tool
- 3.5. Other Testing Tools
-
4. End-User Industry
- 4.1. Government
- 4.2. BFSI
- 4.3. Healthcare
- 4.4. Manufacturing
- 4.5. IT and Telecom
- 4.6. Retail
- 4.7. Other End-User Industries
Europe Security Testing Industry Segmentation By Geography
-
1. Europe
- 1.1. United Kingdom
- 1.2. Germany
- 1.3. France
- 1.4. Italy
- 1.5. Spain
- 1.6. Netherlands
- 1.7. Belgium
- 1.8. Sweden
- 1.9. Norway
- 1.10. Poland
- 1.11. Denmark

Europe Security Testing Industry REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
Aspects | Details |
---|---|
Study Period | 2019-2033 |
Base Year | 2024 |
Estimated Year | 2025 |
Forecast Period | 2025-2033 |
Historical Period | 2019-2024 |
Growth Rate | CAGR of 23.00% from 2019-2033 |
Segmentation |
|
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1. Research Scope
- 1.2. Market Segmentation
- 1.3. Research Methodology
- 1.4. Definitions and Assumptions
- 2. Executive Summary
- 2.1. Introduction
- 3. Market Dynamics
- 3.1. Introduction
- 3.2. Market Drivers
- 3.2.1. Increasing Need for Safety from Security Threats; Government Regulations Driving Security Needs
- 3.3. Market Restrains
- 3.3.1. Limited Computing Performance
- 3.4. Market Trends
- 3.4.1. Penetration Testing Tools segment is anticipated to register significant growth
- 4. Market Factor Analysis
- 4.1. Porters Five Forces
- 4.2. Supply/Value Chain
- 4.3. PESTEL analysis
- 4.4. Market Entropy
- 4.5. Patent/Trademark Analysis
- 5. Europe Security Testing Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 5.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Deployment
- 5.1.1. On Premise
- 5.1.2. Cloud
- 5.1.3. Hybrid
- 5.2. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Type
- 5.2.1. Network Security Testing
- 5.2.1.1. VPN Testing
- 5.2.1.2. Firewall Testing
- 5.2.1.3. Other Service Types
- 5.2.2. Application Security Testing
- 5.2.2.1. Application Type
- 5.2.2.1.1. Mobile Application Security Testing
- 5.2.2.1.2. Web Application Security Testing
- 5.2.2.1.3. Cloud Application Security Testing
- 5.2.2.1.4. Enterprise Application Security Testing
- 5.2.2.2. Testing Type
- 5.2.2.2.1. SAST
- 5.2.2.2.2. DAST
- 5.2.2.2.3. IAST
- 5.2.2.2.4. RASP
- 5.2.2.1. Application Type
- 5.2.1. Network Security Testing
- 5.3. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Testing Tool
- 5.3.1. Web Application Testing Tool
- 5.3.2. Code Review Tool
- 5.3.3. Penetration Testing Tool
- 5.3.4. Software Testing Tool
- 5.3.5. Other Testing Tools
- 5.4. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by End-User Industry
- 5.4.1. Government
- 5.4.2. BFSI
- 5.4.3. Healthcare
- 5.4.4. Manufacturing
- 5.4.5. IT and Telecom
- 5.4.6. Retail
- 5.4.7. Other End-User Industries
- 5.5. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Region
- 5.5.1. Europe
- 5.1. Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast - by Deployment
- 6. Germany Europe Security Testing Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 7. France Europe Security Testing Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 8. Italy Europe Security Testing Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 9. United Kingdom Europe Security Testing Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 10. Netherlands Europe Security Testing Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 11. Sweden Europe Security Testing Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 12. Rest of Europe Europe Security Testing Industry Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2031
- 13. Competitive Analysis
- 13.1. Market Share Analysis 2024
- 13.2. Company Profiles
- 13.2.1 Offensive Security
- 13.2.1.1. Overview
- 13.2.1.2. Products
- 13.2.1.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.1.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.1.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.2 Accenture PLC
- 13.2.2.1. Overview
- 13.2.2.2. Products
- 13.2.2.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.2.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.2.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.3 Core Security Technologies
- 13.2.3.1. Overview
- 13.2.3.2. Products
- 13.2.3.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.3.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.3.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.4 VERACODE
- 13.2.4.1. Overview
- 13.2.4.2. Products
- 13.2.4.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.4.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.4.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.5 ControlCase LLC
- 13.2.5.1. Overview
- 13.2.5.2. Products
- 13.2.5.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.5.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.5.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.6 McAfee LLC
- 13.2.6.1. Overview
- 13.2.6.2. Products
- 13.2.6.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.6.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.6.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.7 Netcraft Ltd*List Not Exhaustive
- 13.2.7.1. Overview
- 13.2.7.2. Products
- 13.2.7.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.7.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.7.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.8 Maveric Systems
- 13.2.8.1. Overview
- 13.2.8.2. Products
- 13.2.8.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.8.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.8.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.9 Paladion Networks
- 13.2.9.1. Overview
- 13.2.9.2. Products
- 13.2.9.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.9.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.9.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.10 Cisco Systems Inc
- 13.2.10.1. Overview
- 13.2.10.2. Products
- 13.2.10.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.10.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.10.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.11 IBM
- 13.2.11.1. Overview
- 13.2.11.2. Products
- 13.2.11.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.11.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.11.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.12 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
- 13.2.12.1. Overview
- 13.2.12.2. Products
- 13.2.12.3. SWOT Analysis
- 13.2.12.4. Recent Developments
- 13.2.12.5. Financials (Based on Availability)
- 13.2.1 Offensive Security
List of Figures
- Figure 1: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Breakdown (Million, %) by Product 2024 & 2032
- Figure 2: Europe Security Testing Industry Share (%) by Company 2024
List of Tables
- Table 1: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Region 2019 & 2032
- Table 2: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Deployment 2019 & 2032
- Table 3: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Type 2019 & 2032
- Table 4: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Testing Tool 2019 & 2032
- Table 5: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by End-User Industry 2019 & 2032
- Table 6: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Region 2019 & 2032
- Table 7: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Country 2019 & 2032
- Table 8: Germany Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 9: France Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 10: Italy Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 11: United Kingdom Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 12: Netherlands Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 13: Sweden Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 14: Rest of Europe Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 15: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Deployment 2019 & 2032
- Table 16: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Type 2019 & 2032
- Table 17: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Testing Tool 2019 & 2032
- Table 18: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by End-User Industry 2019 & 2032
- Table 19: Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue Million Forecast, by Country 2019 & 2032
- Table 20: United Kingdom Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 21: Germany Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 22: France Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 23: Italy Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 24: Spain Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 25: Netherlands Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 26: Belgium Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 27: Sweden Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 28: Norway Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 29: Poland Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
- Table 30: Denmark Europe Security Testing Industry Revenue (Million) Forecast, by Application 2019 & 2032
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the Europe Security Testing Industry?
The projected CAGR is approximately 23.00%.
2. Which companies are prominent players in the Europe Security Testing Industry?
Key companies in the market include Offensive Security, Accenture PLC, Core Security Technologies, VERACODE, ControlCase LLC, McAfee LLC, Netcraft Ltd*List Not Exhaustive, Maveric Systems, Paladion Networks, Cisco Systems Inc, IBM, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP.
3. What are the main segments of the Europe Security Testing Industry?
The market segments include Deployment, Type, Testing Tool, End-User Industry.
4. Can you provide details about the market size?
The market size is estimated to be USD 25.46 Million as of 2022.
5. What are some drivers contributing to market growth?
Increasing Need for Safety from Security Threats; Government Regulations Driving Security Needs.
6. What are the notable trends driving market growth?
Penetration Testing Tools segment is anticipated to register significant growth.
7. Are there any restraints impacting market growth?
Limited Computing Performance.
8. Can you provide examples of recent developments in the market?
January 2022 - GrammaTech, an application security testing product, and software research service provider, announced the launch of a new version of the company's CodeSentry software supply chain security platform, which enables organizations to produce a software bill of materials (SBOM) quickly. The software enables organizations to proactively detect and address risks in commercial off-the-shelf applications and third-party software and allows development teams to ensure they are delivering secure and compliant software.
9. What pricing options are available for accessing the report?
Pricing options include single-user, multi-user, and enterprise licenses priced at USD 4750, USD 5250, and USD 8750 respectively.
10. Is the market size provided in terms of value or volume?
The market size is provided in terms of value, measured in Million.
11. Are there any specific market keywords associated with the report?
Yes, the market keyword associated with the report is "Europe Security Testing Industry," which aids in identifying and referencing the specific market segment covered.
12. How do I determine which pricing option suits my needs best?
The pricing options vary based on user requirements and access needs. Individual users may opt for single-user licenses, while businesses requiring broader access may choose multi-user or enterprise licenses for cost-effective access to the report.
13. Are there any additional resources or data provided in the Europe Security Testing Industry report?
While the report offers comprehensive insights, it's advisable to review the specific contents or supplementary materials provided to ascertain if additional resources or data are available.
14. How can I stay updated on further developments or reports in the Europe Security Testing Industry?
To stay informed about further developments, trends, and reports in the Europe Security Testing Industry, consider subscribing to industry newsletters, following relevant companies and organizations, or regularly checking reputable industry news sources and publications.
Methodology
Step 1 - Identification of Relevant Samples Size from Population Database



Step 2 - Approaches for Defining Global Market Size (Value, Volume* & Price*)

Note*: In applicable scenarios
Step 3 - Data Sources
Primary Research
- Web Analytics
- Survey Reports
- Research Institute
- Latest Research Reports
- Opinion Leaders
Secondary Research
- Annual Reports
- White Paper
- Latest Press Release
- Industry Association
- Paid Database
- Investor Presentations

Step 4 - Data Triangulation
Involves using different sources of information in order to increase the validity of a study
These sources are likely to be stakeholders in a program - participants, other researchers, program staff, other community members, and so on.
Then we put all data in single framework & apply various statistical tools to find out the dynamic on the market.
During the analysis stage, feedback from the stakeholder groups would be compared to determine areas of agreement as well as areas of divergence