There is such a great demand for cyber security experts within every industry that companies are now offering to pay out training for those that are interested.
The specific area that has a lot of focus in cyber security is known as penetration testing.
Penetration testing is the act of approved cyberattacks on the entire company’s technical infrastructure, all with the mindset to discover any weaknesses. Typically these are simulated.
We’ll delve deeper into what the responsibilities of a penetration tester are and how it can be a great option for you.
Looking at the roles and responsibilities of a Penetration Tester
This role is where you’re getting ahead of major issues that could harm the company. That means you are actually going on the offensive and deliberately attacking the network and digital infrastructure. These are a blend of traditional hacking methods and techniques intended to find those gaps and issues. Then it’s about proper documentation of detailed actions taken and what was successful in breaching the system, and what wasn’t successful.
The common tasks of a penetration tester
There are some commonalities of responsibilities within this role that may only slightly shift between companies.
- Launch tests on all digital infrastructure, from devices that are networked to cloud build-out to system applications.
- Research the latest types of attacks and cyber threats and try to replicate spam and malware software.
- Develop and execute social engineering tactics.
- Create automation for basic testing tasks.
- Support code review searching for vulnerabilities.
- Document issues and communicate with stakeholders via technical reports.
- Create systemic processes and methodologies on how to approach penetration testing
- Continue testing to confirm the gaps have been closed.
What types of environments do penetration testers work in.
- Directly for a company: You are an employee of the company and considered in-house. This great option gives you time to learn exactly what the company process and technical infrastructure look like. You’ll most likely have enhanced responsibilities and be sought out for more input.
- Agency: Here, you’ll work for a dedicated security firm that handles third-party cybersecurity testing for companies. For those that work at one, it provides a wider range of testing and use cases.
- Self-Employed: there’s also an option to become a freelance penetration tester. This gives the maximum flexibility when it comes to your time but will also require you to find your own clients at the start.
What is needed to become a penetration tester?
This may seem just like the job for you, especially since you’re legally asking to break digital systems. So let’s see what’s needed to get into this field.
- Getting those penetration testing skills
So, what is actually needed from a penetration tester? Extensive knowledge of IT security, for starters. This helps them to be able to know how to see where they are vulnerable. Here are some common skills.
- Understanding how the cloud works.
- Core understanding of common programming languages.
- Core understanding of common operating systems from MacOS to Linux to Windows, as well as how to access them remotely.
- Ability to write clearly and in a technical format.
- Understanding how to use penetration management and security assessment programs.
- Ability to develop modelling against threats.
- Cryptography.
- Get the right training and certificates.
There are more and more specialized training platforms out there related to penetration testing. However, consider the IBM Analyst Professional Certificate for those just beginning their journey. It’ll help with the fundamentals of your future career and is self-paced.
- Continuously grow your certifications
As you grow your career and you want to expand your knowledge and show your potential employers or clients you know your industry, you will need to consider multiple penetration testing certificates such as these.
You can also consider some of the following:
- CompTIA Security+ (Plus) Certification-certification”+
- Penetration Tester (GPEN)
- Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT)
- Certified Penetration Tester (CPT)
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
Typically, these require a final submission or passing an exam to achieve the certification.
- Always practice
Of course, your chances of getting hired are showing some type of portfolio and history of working. Yet, for penetration testers, there are ways to showcase your skills beforehand through environments that are simulated like the real thing.
You can also grow your portfolio by completing bug bounties. You get paid to find bugs and can help new systems launch properly. Check out sites like Hackerone or Bugcrowd to see more options.
Then there are some free sites allowing would-be penetration testers to test out their skills online on sites like hackthebox.com and hack.me. Finally, if you need more options, check out Webgoat or Hack This Site.
Go a more traditional route through traditional entry-level IT jobs
There’s nothing wrong with starting out in a junior IT position and working your way up into roles related to cybersecurity. In fact, on-the-job training and improving your IT skills, in general, can help you more down the line understand what to look for as a penetration tester. It can just be the ticket for progressing the right way.
Start looking now
Whenever you get yourself some certifications and experience under your belt, then it’s time to start looking for your first in-house position or gig. Common job sites such as Indeed or Linkedin are excellent places to start. Not only that, you can also look at more focused IT and cyber security-related job sites such as CyberSecJobs or Dice.
