How to Become a Pen Tester With Avg. Salary $102,000
Do you know the fact that, the average salary for Penetration and Vulnerability Testers at $102,000. Now you must be curious, How to Become a Pen Tester to get this kind of salary in your bank account.
Keep reading as you will be getting the answer shortly in this article.
Well, the modern business functioning is unlike what it was a decade ago, as technological developments have transformed business operations massively. Technology has brought ease to business leaders’ lives by making processes simple.
It has also raised several issues that were unheard of in previous years. Security has become a significant concern as cybercriminals also use technical tools for their malignant attacks and extort money.
Today, companies need to exercise cybersecurity measures to keep their information safe and to run firms smoothly.
Penetration testing, commonly known as pen testing, is a cybersecurity exercise where experts use technical skills and literacy to determine vulnerabilities in a computer system. Identifying weak areas beforehand mitigate cyberattacks, and business leaders can work with peace of mind that their systems are safe.
Penetration testers are sometimes called ethical hackers. They are the good guys who prevent evil people from carrying on their malicious attacks and keep the firms’ information safe.
Furthermore, scientists believe that the next age will be more technologically sophisticated. People equipped with technical skills will have the edge over others. Penetration testing is a relatively new concept but one that has gained immense momentum.
Pen testing is a fascinating field. Many people want to learn how they can become skillful pen testers.
Below we are stating some points that will give an insight into how to become a pen tester:
1. Self-Evaluation
Pen testing is about cognitive competency. People are aspiring to become one and need to have exceptional critical thinking skills.
They must possess a strong presence of mind, be keenly observant, and should give attention to detail. People often inquire about penetration tester salary as they understand that it is a popular field.
Aside from salary expectations, people should have a self-analysis and conclude if they possess the required skills. Self-assessment provides people with an in-depth insight into themselves and enables them to make better decisions for their future.
2. Acquire Relative Education
Self-analysis is essentially the first step, but it is not the only thing required to become a pen tester. People must enroll themselves in comparative education as it helps them acquire needed skills.
In the previous years, organizations used to hire hackers to combat security issues. They would ask them to use their knowledge and apply it to their systems to keep safe. Sometimes turning evil into good works, but not always. Companies are more comfortable with people who are ethically responsible and are not morally corrupt.
Acquiring education clears the doubt and makes people ethically and ethically strong. People can get a degree in IT or Computer Science as it gives them the foundation required to become a pen tester.
3. Learn the difference between Hacking and Pen testing
Good and evil have a thin line between, and people need to have a strong will not to cross the line. Earning education and gaining Experience expose people to hacking practices.
People inspired to become pen testers must learn what comes in unethical exercises and is considered hacking. The main job of pen testers is to determine the weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the system.
To pinpoint the issues in systems, they must possess the skills and literacy to distinguish between hacking and pen-testing. Real hackers and pen testers constantly push and pull as pre-emptive work on pen testers’ side, and efforts on hackers’ end is a constant race.
Hackers usually know pen testers’ techniques and fight with them. So, pen testers also have to think like hackers and apply many hacking strategies to identify issues in the system.
4. Earn Professional Certificate
Many pen testers might get a job without acquiring a professional certificate, but earning certificates gives them an in-depth insight into pen testing exercises. Various prestigious universities now offer different certification courses as the field is gaining momentum.
Information technology or computer science is required; people can register themselves in pen testing certificate courses. These certification programs are designed in such ways that people acquire fundamental technical skills in operating systems.
They learn more about cybersecurity, cyber threats, and different hacking tools. In addition, these courses further offer specialized forensics, vulnerability analysis, cryptography, and security tools.
Some of the leading penetration tester certification programs include:
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Certified Penetration Tester (CPT)
- Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT)
- GIAC Certified Penetration Tester (GPEN)
- Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT)
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
- Certified Mobile and Web Application Penetration Tester (CMWAPT)
- CompTIA PenTest+
5. Gain Experience
Theoretical knowledge is of utmost importance, but it cannot replace Experience. People must strive to apply technical skills in real-life situations to gain Experience.
People may not get a higher-level position even after acquiring a degree in information technology and certification. Still, they can easily land an entry-level position in many companies. People must not have very high standards and should take entry-level jobs to gain experience.
Working in a field and applying pen-testing strategies is entirely different from learning from an instructor. Besides, people get exposure to systems and become well-versed in the technical system by gaining Experience in the same field.
6. Be Aware of Real-World Threats
The technological world is not stagnant, and cybercriminals are getting smarter by the day. They stay abreast with the latest happenings of the technological world and continue to equip themselves with technical competency. Pen testers must try to keep a step ahead of hackers.
They should keep an eye on developments in hacking and must remain aware of real-world threats. Pen testers generally use an offensive defense strategy, so they must know the cyberworld practices.
When they know the dangers, they can quickly fix the loopholes and prevent cyberattacks.
Conclusion
Pen testing has become an imperative exercise in modern-day business functioning as cyberattacks are increasing by the day. Many business leaders argue that they exercise all security measures to keep their data safe, and pen testing is an additional burden.
The truth is cybercriminals are constantly innovating with their strategies. Pen testers help identify the loopholes in systems and fix them before cybercriminals can find their way and steal data or launch an attack.
Pen testing reduces network downtime, initiates highly effective security measures, enables rules’ compliance, and protects companies’ reputations and customers’ trust.
People can sharpen their technical skills and apply security measures in real-life scenarios to become pen testers.
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