Hacking has become a known terminology in today’s digital world. Looking into history, hacking didn’t commence as a negative activity but unfortunately turned into one, credit goes to hackers of the unethical and felonious kind. But as they say “Every poison needs an antidote” and that’s where the role of “Ethical Hacker” comes into the play.
Although the term “Ethical Hacker” sound gimmicky in a real sense the certified ethical hacker credential holds a significant value in the present-day world.
To help you understand better, we’ve elaborated the term Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) in different phases where;
we’ve discussed “What is CEH”, “What They really do”, “Roles and Responsibilities of a CEH”
What Is Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
In simple terms, a certified ethical hacker is an ethical hacker who holds a computer certification that implies proficiency in network security and depolarizing malicious hacking attacks.
According to Wikipedia “Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is a qualification obtained by demonstrating knowledge of assessing the security of computer systems by looking for weaknesses and vulnerabilities in target systems, using the same knowledge and tools as a malicious hacker, but in a lawful and legitimate manner to assess the security posture of a target system”
Basically CEH credential is a vendor-neutral certification for people who wish to learn to identify and to prevent malicious hackers by using the same insight and modality the criminals use. The credential is sponsored by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council), a member-supported professional organization, based in New Mexico.
What does a CEH really do
CEHs are primarily engaged in preventing unauthorized intruders from penetrating computer systems they work with. To make sure the correct implementation of detecting strategy, the CEH remains up to date on fresh software and hardware and the latest security threats that include Viruses, Trojans, and other malware attacks.
The Role of Ethical Hacker automatically becomes crucial as they are directly involved in structuring various scripts that will simulate network security breaches, to testify the existing and proposed network system. Further, these breaches or attempted breaches are reported in detail and analyzed to create a proper risk evaluation.
Those who are engaged in corporate jobs must be familiar with the business operations and infrastructure of the company in order to establish that significant or damaging information is not accessed by the attackers.
Apart from technical expertise, they are also required to consult and follow-up with clients; therefore firm interpersonal communication and customer service skills are required.
Roles and Responsibilities of CEH
- Wireless and Network security assessment
- Application and penetration testing
- Harnessing numerous specs that include SQL injection, cross-site scripting, parameter manipulation, session hijacking.
- Internal and External vulnerability assessment
- Developing tools to improve security testing and monitoring
- Provide guidance to staff and personnel on optimum practices for network security
- Framing security policies for practice by the personnel
- Remains up to date with recent developments in IT security and expertise with Industry trends and IT environment
- Analyze different prevention and detection strategies that will address vulnerabilities and risks.
- Security assessment of various system aspects that include an operating system, firewalls, routers, servers, etc.
Why You Should Become an Ethical Hacker
Here comes the main question that why one should opt for the profession of an Ethical Hacker? As we all know that IT Security is one of the rapidly growing realms in the IT sector and if we look at the job from the purview of United States then according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects job growth at a rate of almost 30 percent by 2026. Apart from that, the median annual wage for IT security analysts, as of 2017, was around $95000 according to the BLS.
Nowadays numerous IT security jobs demand a CEH credential which gives a surplus advantage to those candidates who possesses some CEH credentials in their resume. Considering the job outlook and requirement of CEH credentials shows that ethical hacking is the sought-after profession of the present time.
Types of CEH Certifications
1. Certified Ethical Hacking Certification
The CEH is considered to be the most popular and expansive of all available certification options. This certification is designed in such a way that the one who is holding the certification can effectively spot the vulnerabilities and weaknesses in the target system and utilize the identical knowledge and tools as a malicious hacker in a legit way to evaluate the security position of a target system.
You can get the CEH credential by taking the CEH test. When it comes to eligibility, any experienced IT professional can sit for the exam by submitting the proof of at least two years of cybersecurity experience. If you don’t have any experience then you can go for instructor-led training, video lectures, and self-study. These options are accessible online, and organizations have the option of contracting EC-Council trainers to conduct on-site training.
2. Global Information Assurance Certification Penetration Tester
The Global Information Assurance Certification program is managed by the SANS Institute, one of the popular and veteran organizations that provide cybersecurity education. The certification is mainly concerned with recognizing and preventing password hashes, advanced password attacks, target scanning, vulnerability scanning, and penetration testing.
GIAC courses are held online but it is recommended that learners should opt SEC560 course on network penetration testing and ethical hacking from SANS institute as they offer a perfect amalgamation of theory and hands-on training.
3. Offensive Security Certified Professional
The Offensive Security Certified Professional is relatively newer certification among all mentioned credentials but it has already gained an ample amount of reputation for its technical complexity and sustainability. The program is offered by the for-profit organization Offensive Security. The certification is mainly designed to provide skill on how to attain, commute, and apply public exploit code.
In short, the program is aimed to check student’s practical, accurate, clear understanding of the penetration testing process through a tenacious twenty-four-hour (24) certification exam. Once 24 hours exam is completed, the Offensive Security certification committee must obtain a comprehensive penetration test report for review. Further, the members at committee will review and evaluate the findings in the report and determine whether to grant the certification.
You can also go for other certifications that include;
CREST
Foundstone Ultimate Hacking
Certified Penetration Testing Consultant
Certified Penetration Testing Engineer
Conclusion
Considering the numerous factors discussed above we can assume that the role of a certified ethical hacker is quite significant in present-day IT industry. And looking at the rapidly increasing rate of a costly data breach in recent time, the demand for certified hackers are growing exponentially in both private as well as government bodies. Therefore, If you are into the cybersecurity field then it is recommended to opt for CEH certification to boost your growth opportunities in the IT security industry.
