Top 10 Ethical Hacking Certifications for Cyber Security Professionals

Introduction

Ethical Hackers are security professional who uses the methods deployed by black hat hackers to penetrate into systems and identify vulnerabilities. However, unlike their counterparts, ethical hackers have legal sanctions to make such a breach into the systems of an organization. The breach is made in order to record the issues and vulnerabilities that the company needs to fix. The hacker is hired by the organization to update with potential security threats, recover inaccessible data and update regarding necessary security policy.

Read More: 312-50: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Ethical Hackers are in great demand owing to the insufficient workforce which makes the job opportunities and the salaries very attractive. Many professional intend to enter and scale up in the field. One of the recommended approaches, to begin with, includes Ethical Hacking Certifications.

These ethical hacking certifications validates the technical skills as well as the understanding of the hacker about the responsibilities of the job. The ethical hacking course in itself elaborates upon the various tools, footprinting, counter measures, fingerprinting tools, sniffing methods that are immediate to hacker. It helps the professional to comprehend how an exploit evolves.

The certifications on ethical hacking brings a better understanding about the vulnerabilities and risks that effect the systems and the organization as a whole.

1. Certified Ethical Hacker

The Certified Ethical Hacker is the most commonly sought for certification on ethical hacking. It attests validation to the security professional’s fundamentals regarding countermeasures, risks, threats. The lecture course along with the hands-on labs give a pragmatic learning experience. Instructor-led training, online video lectures, forums, and consistent study are ideally recommended.

However, the CEH Course has undergone an incredible amount of criticism owing to its focus on the theoretical study over hands-on labs.

2. Global Information Assurance Certification Penetration Tester

The Global Information Assurance Certification Penetration Tester (GIAC) provides a broad range of compatible and interchangeable certifications that require hands-on labs. The GIAC is brought forth by SANS Institute and the courses available are online. Of the available approaches to attain the GIAC penetration tester certification, the SEC560  course is most recommended. 

The certification is extremely comprehensive and the topics in the course inherently demonstrate the ability of the professional to undertake the job due to the pragmatic nature of the training.

3. Certified Information System Auditor (CISA)

The certification prerequisites at least five years of experience as system Auditor with knowledge of control and security. The CISA certification validates the candidate’s knowledge and skills involving risk management and security. ISACA offers this certification.

4. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

CISM validates the detailed knowledge of candidates pertinent to the management of and enterprise information security program. Managers or IT consultants supporting information security program are the most suitable candidates for this certification.

5. Offensive Security Certified Solution

The Offensive Security Certified Solution is a technical certification that is entirely based on hands on labs. The certification attests for the practical understanding and clarity of knowledge over the process and life cycle of penetration testing. The course would require an in depth

Knowledge pertinent to system internals, software development and networking protocols. The course is accessible online. The exam tests hacking abilities wherein the candidate must be able to break into the system administration within 24 hours and identification of vulnerabilities.

6. CREST

CREST attempts to build quality penetration testers in cyber security with competence and consistency. CREST focuses on the best practices of security for the growth through the method of research.

7. Certified Penetration Testing Engineer

CPTE certification validates the knowledge of the professional with regard to five components of information security. This incorporates penetration testing, enumeration, data collection, scanning, reporting and exploitation. CPTE inherently trains on ethical hacking course and builds ethical hackers.

8. Certified Penetration Testing Consultant

CPTC is a certification that builds professionals responsible for computers and their security. The certification course targets skills pertinent to auditing, security controls, penetration testing and user security. It inherently elaborates on the business of penetration testing.

9. Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)

A rather advanced certification, the CISSP deals with information security. The certification course builds professional that are adept to develop, guide and manage security standards methods and policies. The certification is for the experienced IT professionals who can attest for their experience and knowledge in at least two of the (ISC)2 right body of knowledge domain.

10. CompTIA Security +

CompTIA Security + is a vendor neutral certification. Security+ accounts for an in depth knowledge of the professional in terms of technical and various security related disciplines. It is necessary that a candidate has the Network+ certification and at least two years of experience in Network security in order to be eligible for the Security+ certification. The certification qualifies the candidate in fields of cryptography, threat management, security system, security risk identification and mitigation, security infrastructure and network access control.

Source: testpreptraining.com