In recent years becoming a certified ethical hacker has become a much sought-after skill in the cybersecurity world. Seeded by small groups of early hackers who bucked the trend of hacking for financial gain or simple disruption, it took time for the practice to be accepted as a legitimate role in the business world.
But how do you become a certified ethical hacker?
EC-Council's Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification first launched in 2003. Since then, it has been continuously updated and is now in its 10th edition. The certification is designed to test your ability to use the knowledge and skills of malicious hackers to help organizations lawfully identify vulnerabilities within their systems before cyber-criminals can exploit them. CEH is considered a great starting point for IT technicians looking to develop computer forensic and penetration testing careers. Training for CEH takes time and effort, so is CEH worth it?
Information security professionals are in high demand — job opportunities and salaries are on the rise as organizations seek top talent to help defend cloud-based networks, improve application security and develop innovative threat-reduction strategies.
The Certified Ethical Hacking (CEH) certification isn’t just another credential that IT professionals add to their collection. It’s an important IT role that organizations need in today’s technologically advanced world to protect their systems, data, and IT infrastructure. Ethical hackers are the “white hat” counterparts of cybercriminals who use hacking to attack and exploit private businesses, government agencies, and public organizations. Obtaining the CEH certification demonstrates that you have the knowledge and skills to fill this essential role.
According to the 2018 Hacker Report less than 5% of today’s ethical hackers learned their skills in a classroom. While the majority of ethical hackers do have some form of computer qualification, few have formal certification in the discipline itself. So why would an ethical hacker need anything as ‘establishment’ as formal training and certification?
(**Updated in April, 2021)
Year after year, we are becoming more dependent on the internet for much of what we do, from grocery shopping to healthcare advice. The COVID pandemic has only sped this up. At the same time, the volume and sophistication of cyber-attacks have also increased, with cyber criminals taking advantage of increased vulnerabilities, due to most of us working from home on less than ideally secured networks. So, as an IT professional, what can you do to positively affect an increasingly insecure world while improving your overall financial status?
Rising to the surface in a sea of cybersecurity hiring candidates demands more than mere skill. Employers demand stronger assurances, and the best guarantees of employee talent come in the form of certifications.
Choosing between obtaining Certified Ethical Hacker and Offensive Security Certified Professional credentials may seem difficult to the uninitiated. Here's some vital clarification on which certs will help you outswim your professional peers.
As technology innovation accelerates and becomes increasingly sophisticated, grows at an exponential rate, and there are continually new and exciting devices and gadgets hitting the market. While these advancements in society have largely offered us a tremendous level of convenience, there are always a few bad apples in every barrel, and some people use technology to their own benefit at the expense of innocent victims. The demand for qualified personnel to assess the security of computer systems is at an all-time high in the Washington, DC area, and you have a lot to gain by obtaining a Certified Ethical Hacker certification. There are five lucrative areas in the field worth consideration.
The internet is full of hackers, and these hackers grow in numbers, strength, and power each and every day. It was recently discovered that a group of hackers had managed to steal in total, around $1 billion from banks through their computers. This is thought to be one of the biggest banking breaches in history, and the robbers didn't even have to physically go to the bank. These hackers got their way into the banks' computer systems and observed the banks' operations. They either set up fake bank accounts to steal money with, or they programmed ATMs to dispense money at specific times. According to Kaspersky Labs, the hackers have attacked 100 banks in 30 countries, all fairly easily. Banks are one of the more prone industries to hacking, but they're not the only ones that need to keep a watchful eye when it comes to hacking incidents.