Organizations today are increasingly becoming dependent on data. Be it building advanced models that make business processes efficient or powering data-driven decisions, the role of data and the surrounding infrastructure is becoming increasingly important.
As this reliance on data and technology is increasing, the threats surrounding these assets are also increasing and evolving. Penetration testers or ethical hackers are the skilled professionals businesses are turning to to identify vulnerabilities and weak points before real hackers exploit them.
Ethical hacking is indeed one of the most popular and in-demand cybersecurity jobs. If you are looking to advance in your cybersecurity career in this role, then read along to find out what they do, what skills are needed, and how to become one.
What do Penetration Testers Do?
These skilled cybersecurity specialists, also known as white hat hackers, help their organizations simulate real-world cyberattacks within their systems, applications, networks, and other assets. The goal is not to exploit but to identify weak points before real hackers do.
Their main responsibilities include:
- Assessing the security of firewalls, security protocols, and access controls
- Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing on web apps and servers
- Checking data storage systems for potential leaks and breaches
- Recommending practical strategies to strengthen defenses
These professionals, though they breach an organization’s security, operate legally and ethically. They need to adopt the mindset of malicious hackers (also called black hat hackers). This perspective helps them think creatively, like hackers, about possible attack methods such as phishing campaigns, brute-force attempts, malware injections, etc.
Their ability to identify vulnerabilities and rectify them promptly makes them valuable in the industry. By finding vulnerabilities early, they help organizations avoid costly breaches, regulatory fines, and prevent losing customer trust.
According to Indeed, the average salary of Penetration Testers in the US is $125,692 per annum.
Essential Skills Needed for a Penetration Tester
Penetration testing isn’t just about technical cybersecurity skills but a blend of technical, creative, problem-solving, and communication skills. To succeed in this job role, professionals must master:
- Technical expertise:
This includes a strong understanding of operating systems, programming languages like Python, Java, and C++, cryptography, network and application security, etc.
- Creative thinking:
Penetration testers must be highly creative to think like a cybercriminal and know how they can exploit a system in conventional ways.
- Communication skills:
You must also know how to effectively write clear reports and explain your findings or convey your recommendations to non-technical executives to strengthen security and prevent threats.
- Adaptability
Hackers continuously use new tools and tactics for data breaches. So, you must also adapt to new cybersecurity tools and technologies to stay ahead of the curve.
Many testers enter the field after gaining experience in IT roles such as software development, network administration, or system security. This hands-on background provides a strong foundation for identifying system weaknesses.
Steps to Becoming a Penetration Tester
Becoming a penetration tester requires proper educational qualifications, skills, cybersecurity certifications, and practical experience. You can follow the following path to advance in this cybersecurity job role.
- Build a strong educational foundation
Most professionals in this role have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, IT, or cybersecurity. These degrees provide a solid foundation of networking, cryptography, and security principles.
- Gain practical experience
Gain the essential cybersecurity skills needed by penetration testers and apply them in practical exercises to gain demonstrable experience. A penetration tester isn’t an entry-level job role, so you can draw your career path through roles like:
- IT auditor
- Cybercrime analyst
- Security specialist
You will get experience through your own projects, capture the flag competition, and networking with professionals.
- Earn relevant certifications
Experience and skills backed by relevant cybersecurity certifications can enhance your credibility and employability to a great extent. They help validate your experience, cybersecurity skills, and knowledge, and get a job faster. Some of the most popular certifications for ethical hackers are:
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) by EC Council
- CompTIA PenTest+
- Certified Cybersecurity Consultant (CCC™) by USCSI®
- GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN), etc.
Earning these certifications can add huge weight to your resume and demonstrate to employers your commitment to excelling in this field.
- Networking and job hunting
The final phase is networking with other established cybersecurity professionals through LinkedIn, cybersecurity events, forums, etc. Growing a network means higher job opportunities. Also, you must stay active in professional communities, keep up with cybersecurity trends, and showcase your skills in a portfolio to make a difference.
Leverage all popular job boards, hunt for relevant cybersecurity job opportunities, customize your cover letter and resume, and keep applying. With continuous effort, you can land the desired job faster.
Final thoughts!
Penetration testing is a continuously evolving as well as rewarding career path for those who love solving puzzles and want to stay ahead of highly intelligent cybercriminals. However, the journey towards success requires a proper combination of education, experience, certifications, and continuous learning. Ultimately, the payoff is significant, both in terms of job satisfaction and financial rewards.
As cyber threats are evolving day by day, the role of ethical hackers is becoming increasingly important. So, if you are ready, the world awaits you. Combine technical expertise with creative problem-solving and unleash your potential in protecting the digital world.
