Being labeled a hacker might have some people looking at you unsure of your intentions and they may wonder what you are capable of. The exciting aspect of ethical hacking is you get yo practice what is borderline illegal for the sake of ethical purpose. If you currently hold an entry-level cybersecurity job or are looking to jumpstart your career and want to create a roadmap for a very rewarding career in Ethical Hacking, here is a roadmap that gives you an idea of expectations from entry-level to expert and education opportunities that help reach the ethical hacker profession.
1. Start a career in technology
For most who are interested in technology, you have already explored options to get your foot in the door at an entry-level position. For those looking to make a leap into a new career, this might be challenging but definitely achievable. Start by getting a basic understanding of networking and operating systems. From there, figure out an entry-level career that most interest you and work on the requirements to apply and successfully interview for the position. The best part about this is that there are a variety of jobs available and not enough specialist to fill them. Taking the time to do the research and learn about the position and the required knowledge will help you get in the door. Everything else you will learn on the job.
2. Find online resources and start expanding you knowledge
Now that you have a solid starting point in your career, your next focus is to master your skills and continue to learn. Doing the research in the beginning exposes you to the fact that the technology field is ever changing and you will be constantly learning to keep up with the industry. In order to become an expert, you must be willing to continuously evolve and be self-taught in most cases. Most senior positions would prefer some sort of formal educations but it is not required. To combat this, acquiring certifications is a must. There are a number of certifications that will prove your skill and knowledge for Ethical Hacking:
- SANS GIAC certification
- Certified Vulnerability Assessor (CVA)
- Certified Professional Ethical Hacker (CPEN)
- Certified Penetration Testing Engineer (CPTE)
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
- CompTIA Security +
There are a number of online resources that offer courses to help with certifications and contain information to study for the cert exam. When comparing the cost of a degree versus online resources, there is no doubt in the significance of savings and the value this information has for anyone. Note that you are expected to take the online resources and certifications seriously because the certification exam itself is pricey. Proper preparations with online resources for the exams will significantly decreases the chance of failing and having to repay for another exam date. Here are some of the resources:
https://www.cybertraining365.com/cybertraining/RoadMap
https://www.lynda.com/learning-paths/IT/become-an-ethical-hacker
https://www.cybrary.it/become-penetration-tester/
3. Understand your worth
After obtaining the proper certifications and spending time gaining experience, it’s time to start searching for a career. With all of the certifications above you are equipped to apply for any ethical hacking or penetration testing position. Ethical hacking is actually an ethically sound career which could prove quite beneficial to businesses and other organizations. Ethical hacking potentially offers a competitive salary with a median salary of nearly $90,000 according to Payscale.com.