As organizations increase their reliability on technology, the risk of cyber security is set to rise in the future. Companies are considering hiring ethical hackers to protect their IT infrastructure. Certified ethical hacker jobs are in high demand, and the field is increasingly becoming competitive due to consistent technological advancement.
There are numerous certifications available to help you develop ethical hacker skills. The certification acts as a validation for your employers, thus qualifying you for the desired role. Aspiring cybersecurity professionals and individuals looking for a career switch will find ethical hacking a lucrative career choice.
Let’s explore further what is an Ethical hacker, the ethical hacker skills, typical certified ethical hacker jobs, and CEH certification requirements.
What is an Ethical Hacker?
A certified ethical hacker is an information security expert penetrating the organization’s IT systems, Web applications, or other computing resources with complete authorization from the management leaders. The prime goal of ethical hacking is to identify vulnerabilities and potential threats in the target computer systems or network and evaluate the security protocols. A certified ethical hacker is also often called a white hat hacker.
A CEH certification trains you in the nuances of ethical hacking and equips you with the essential skills required to succeed as an ethical hacker. White hat hackers have a robust understanding of computer networks, programming, and cryptography. White hat hackers simulate real-world attacks using the same methods as criminal hackers but with legal permission from business owners and without any malicious intent.
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Required Ethical Hacker skills
To be successful in ethical hacking, you should have a versatile set of hard and soft skills. Along with the ability to think like a hacker, you should be able to communicate with other team members effectively. The core ethical hacker skills are elaborated on below:
Computer networking
You must possess a strong understanding of networking concepts, DNS servers, Routing protocols, and IP addresses to anticipate hacking techniques in advance. You should know how these concepts are put together so that you can think about potential ways criminal hackers might use to exploit them.
Programming skills
As an ethical hacker, you are responsible for using your knowledge of coding and programming to find system vulnerabilities. The most commonly used programming languages include Python, Java, and PHP. The essential aspect is that you should know how a specific coding language works to find weaknesses in them.
Database skills
You should have a strong hold over databases and how they work to be able to find security vulnerabilities. Databases often contain sensitive information such as company financial records and customer information. Ethical hackers must be proficient in working with MySQL, MongoDB, and Postgre SQL. It enables them to access the information conveniently without raising any red flags.
Cryptography
Cryptography is among the essential ethical hacker skills extensively used in ethical hacking careers. It involves the practice of secure communication in the presence of third-party agents. You should know how to use different data encryption and decryption tools to ensure digital communications are free from data breaches like eavesdropping.
Linux
Linux is an operating system widely used in the IT profession and offers a wide range of tools and features to secure a system. If you want to build a long-term career in ethical hacking, learning Linux skills is essential to your job. It allows you to access the inner mechanism of an operating system and identify potential vulnerabilities. You can also create custom scripts and programs that can assist in automating various tasks.
Social Engineering skills
Ethical hackers must be well-versed in social networking and communication strategies to gather information about target companies through conversations with senior people, close observation, and research. An ethical hacking course dives deeper and trains you with specific strategies and communication tips to help you exploit security system weaknesses.
Most sought-after Certified Ethical Hacker jobs
The increasing digital transformation across businesses and emerging technologies like IoT, Blockchain, and fintech software have multiplied the demand for ethical hackers. The average salary of a certified ethical hacker is $1,12,000 per year in the United States.
The specific role will depend on your experience and the nature of the organization you choose to work for. The common certified ethical hacker job roles include:
- Information Security Analyst
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Security Engineer
- Security Architect
- Penetration tester
- Security Analyst
- Certified Ethical Hacker
- Security Consultant
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Information Security Manager
Requirements for CEH certification
CEH certification is a globally recognized credential that demonstrates the ability of cybersecurity professionals to identify, assess and mitigate security risks. It equips you with the knowledge of hacking methodologies and how to use those techniques ethically and safely, which benefits the organization.
One path to attain the Certified Ethical Hacker certification is to take a training course or bootcamp from the EC council or any other reputed educational platform. These courses are designed for all skill levels and do not necessarily require previous cybersecurity experience.
However, if you have 2-3 years of experience in the information security field, you can directly prefer to take the certification exam. You must submit valid proof of your previous experience in the InfoSec job role and possess an in-depth knowledge of ethical hacking skills and techniques. Valid certification in ethical hacking increases your odds of landing a lucrative job in your preferred company.
Conclusion
Numerous companies and IT giants are looking out for skilled CEHs who can help them crack the vulnerabilities in their security systems and develop measures to strengthen their valuable security systems from potential breaches. Professionals open to a career switch can explore the CEH certification requirements to enter this promising field. A career in ethical hacking and cybersecurity has never been more crucial than they are now. A certification will equip you with the necessary ethical hacker skills that will help you build a flourishing career in this emerging field.
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