How To Build a Career in Penetration Testing – A Detailed Guide

Introduction

The ever-evolving, interconnected digital landscape is making businesses more vulnerable to cyberattacks. The crisis has led to a rising demand for certified penetration testers who can protect them from menacing cyber attacks. These professionals proactively test the organisations to find existing security loopholes before hackers and suggest recommendations to fix them. They protect businesses from data breaches and strengthen their network securities. With a projected CAGR of 13.27% from 2022 to 2027, the penetration testing market has witnessed steady growth (source: marketsandmarkets.com). It is estimated that this market will expand to USD 2.7 billion by 2027. The rising investments and demand for skilled professionals in this domain have opened huge pen tester jobs for interested and skilled candidates. The post below offers a compact guide on how to build a career in penetration testing. A career in penetration testing not only offers stability but also presents constant challenges and opportunities for growth. Whether you are a technology enthusiast or someone seeking a dynamic and rewarding career, penetration testing holds immense potential.

What Is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing, or pen testing, is a cybersecurity specialisation where you run authorised simulated attacks on an organisation’s network, devices, servers, and web-based applications. These tests help strengthen the weak areas within the network before an attack happens. A certified penetration tester acts like a hacker to access the system and uncover hidden vulnerabilities. These professionals identify and exploit security vulnerabilities existing within an organisation’s system network. They are also responsible for presenting and preparing vulnerability report and communicating it to clients.

Building a Career in Penetration Testing

A penetration tester must have a solid grasp of computer networking, operatbing systems, and web applications. They also need to be familiar with attackers' tools and techniques. Here is a detailed report on the different skills required by pen-testers:

• Knowledge Of Computer Networks
  Aspiring pentesters should begin with Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) models as well as computer network architecture. The knowledge of computer networks helps penetration testers to prevent hackers from trying to sniff personal data from a computer network. Also, pentesters also have to learn network topology maps to run diagnostics on the network.
• Know the Network Components
  A pentester should be aware of the network and hardware components as well as setting up a network for an organisation. They should be able to work with network access controls (NAC) set up and know how to get around them.
• Ability To Script Or Write Code
  Programming languages are an integral part of the Pentesting curriculum, especially Python, Ruby, or JavaScript. These skills help them automate tasks, create custom tools, and identify code vulnerabilities.
• Familiarity with Pentesting Tools
  Penetration testing tools are undoubtedly the key element of Pentesting. Thus, pentesters should master all the popular Pentesting Tools such as John the Ripper, Hashcat, Nmap, Wireshark, and more.
• Soft Skills
  Pentesters might encounter complex challenges while conveying recommendations or reports to clients. The two most vital skills that are crucial here are problem-solving and analytical prowess. Analyzing situations from an attacker's perspective is crucial for identifying potential attack vectors.
• Relevant Certifications in Pentesting
  Penetration testing courses or certifications help demonstrate your prowess and knowledge in this domain. Here are some of the industry-leading pen testing certifications:
  • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
    
    Level: Entry-Level
    Offered by: EC-Council
    Valid for: 3 years
    The EC-Council-accredited CEH Certification validates a cyber security professional’s ability to look for vulnerabilities within a system. A CEH-certified professional uses the same tools and skills as hackers to look for hidden issues but in an authorised and lawful manner. The CEH v13 exam covers aroud 125 questions which candidates have to complete within a span of 4 hours.
  • Penetration Testing For Security Engineer
    
    Level: Mid-level
    Offered by: Dataspace Academy
    Valid for: Valid for life
    This hands-on penetration testing certification by Dataspace Academy introduces you to the fundamentals of penetration testing - covering topics like network penetration testing, cloud penetration testing, and Android penetration testing. The course involves capstone projects to help aspirants develop hands-on skills for real-world audit projects.
  • Advance Penetration Testing Program
    
    Level: Expert
    Offered by: Dataspace Academy
    Valid for: Valid for life
    Rated among the top-rated penetration testing certifications online and offline, this course covers advanced Pentesting methodologies such as API Pentesting. It encompasses a wide range of topics, ensuring you have a comprehensive skill set to tackle various security challenges.
  • Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
    
    Level: Expert
    Offered by: Offensive Security (OffSec)
    Valid for: 4 years
    The OSCP certification is highly esteemed and among the most challenging to achieve. This globally-recognised Certificate verifies a candidate’s existing skillset and ensures that they are capable of securing the network correctly. Dataspace Academy has a dedicated OSCP training program that is systematically designed with the most frequently-asked concepts to help you crack the Certification.

Career Path for Pentesting Experts

Cybersecurity is a nonlinear career, meaning its career path deviates from a predefined trajectory and allows for flexibility, exploration, and non-conventional transitions between different roles or stages. Here is a penetration testing career graph:

1. Junior Penetration Tester
Experience: 0-2 years
A junior penetration tester assists a senior certified penetration tester in conducting security assessments for the organisation or client. They have to learn and develop skills to identify vulnerability and exploitation. Often the junior pentester conducts basic penetration testing activities under the supervision of a senior. Also, they participate in security assessments and prepare reports.
2. Penetration Tester
Experience: 2-5 years
A penetration tester conducts comprehensive vulnerability assessments on various systems, applications, and networks to identify security weaknesses. Also, they exploit vulnerabilities in the network and systems to gain unauthorised access and assess potential risks. Their task also involves preparing detailed reports to outline findings and recommendations.
3. Senior Penetration Tester
Experience: 5-8 years
Leads and manages penetration testing projects, and develops advanced methodologies and techniques for penetration testing. These experienced professionals conduct complex security assessments on critical systems, as well as mentor junior penetration testers. Part of their responsibility also involves collaboration with stakeholders to define security requirements.
4. Penetration Testing Engineer
Experience: 8-10+ years
A certified penetration testing engineer oversees the team of penetration testers. They plan and coordinate penetration testing projects, assign tasks to the team, and ensure the timely delivery of project milestones. Also according to requirements, they conduct quality assurance reviews of penetration testing reports.
5. Penetration Testing Manager
Experience: 10+ years
A penetration testing manager handles and directs a team of junior pen-testers. They define and implement penetration testing methodologies and standards, and develop and manage the penetration testing program. Besides, Pentesting Managers collaborate with other departments to integrate security measures. They are also entrusted with the responsibility to establish relationships with external vendors and security partners.
6. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
Experience: 12+ years
A CISO oversees the entire organisation's information security program and sets the strategic direction for cybersecurity initiatives. These senior professionals oversee Pentesting projects end-to-end to ensure an accurate and compliant operation. They also develop policies, procedures, and guidelines for security testing. Further, a CISO monitors for emerging threats and implements appropriate countermeasures.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity, especially penetration testing, is a highly popular and in-demand career option. As technology advances and threats become more sophisticated, the demand for skilled pentesters continues to grow. Currently, the job market is flooded with cybersecurity-based roles and it is a great opportunity to build your career in this domain. Are you interested in building a career in this domain? Then DataSpace Academy is there to help you. We offer dedicated courses that provide in-depth training on penetration testing tools and techniques along with placement assistance to build your career further. So, take the first step today, and unlock a world of exciting opportunities in the ever-evolving field of pentesting.