DevSecOps: Bridging the Gap Between Development, Security, and Operations

Introduction to DevSecOps

In today's fast-paced technological landscape, integrating development, security, and operations is no longer a luxury but a necessity. DevSecOps, an amalgamation of Development (Dev), Security (Sec), and Operations (Ops), represents a significant shift in the way software development and IT operations are approached. This methodology aims to instill a security-first mindset into the entire development lifecycle, ensuring that security considerations are integrated from the outset rather than being an afterthought.

The Evolution from DevOps to DevSecOps

DevOps, a practice that combines software development and IT operations to shorten the development lifecycle and deliver high-quality software continuously, laid the foundation for DevSecOps. However, as cyber threats have become more sophisticated, the need to embed security within the DevOps framework has become evident. This evolution from DevOps to DevSecOps underscores the importance of continuous security integration throughout the software development process.

Core Principles of DevSecOps

1. Automation and Continuous Integration

Automation is a cornerstone of DevSecOps. Automating security checks within the continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline ensures that security vulnerabilities are detected and mitigated early in the development process. This not only reduces the risk of security breaches but also saves time and resources by addressing issues before they escalate.

2. Shift-Left Security

The shift-left approach advocates for incorporating security measures from the very beginning of the development lifecycle. By embedding security practices during the initial stages, organizations can identify and fix vulnerabilities earlier, thereby reducing the overall risk and cost associated with late-stage security issues.

3. Collaborative Culture

A collaborative culture is essential for the success of DevSecOps. Breaking down silos between development, security, and operations teams fosters better communication and collaboration. This cultural shift encourages all team members to take ownership of security, leading to a more cohesive and effective security posture.

Implementing DevSecOps: Best Practices

1. Integrate Security Tools in the CI/CD Pipeline

Integrating security tools within the CI/CD pipeline is crucial for continuous security monitoring. Tools such as static application security testing (SAST), dynamic application security testing (DAST), and software composition analysis (SCA) help in identifying vulnerabilities in the codebase and third-party components.

2. Continuous Monitoring and Logging

Continuous monitoring and logging of applications and infrastructure enable real-time detection and response to security threats. Implementing tools for log management, intrusion detection, and anomaly detection ensures that security incidents are promptly identified and addressed.

3. Implementing Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is a practice that involves managing and provisioning computing infrastructure through machine-readable scripts. IaC promotes consistency and repeatability, reducing the risk of human error. By incorporating security policies into IaC scripts, organizations can ensure that their infrastructure remains secure and compliant.

4. Conduct Regular Security Training

Regular security training for development and operations teams is vital for maintaining a strong security posture. Training programs should cover secure coding practices, threat modeling, and incident response. By keeping teams informed about the latest security threats and mitigation strategies, organizations can build a security-aware culture.

Challenges in Adopting DevSecOps

1. Cultural Resistance

One of the main challenges in adopting DevSecOps is cultural resistance. Shifting from a traditional siloed approach to a collaborative DevSecOps culture requires significant organizational change. Overcoming resistance involves securing executive buy-in and demonstrating the value of integrated security practices.

2. Tool Integration

Integrating security tools into existing CI/CD pipelines can be complex and resource-intensive. Organizations need to carefully select tools that are compatible with their development environment and ensure that they do not disrupt existing workflows.

3. Skill Gaps

There is often a skill gap when it comes to implementing DevSecOps. Developers and operations teams may lack the necessary security expertise, while security teams may not be familiar with development and operations processes. Bridging this gap requires targeted training and cross-functional collaboration.

Benefits of DevSecOps

1. Enhanced Security Posture

By integrating security into every stage of the development process, DevSecOps significantly enhances an organization’s security posture. Continuous security assessments and automated testing ensure that vulnerabilities are identified and mitigated promptly.

2. Faster Time-to-Market

DevSecOps practices streamline the development process, enabling faster delivery of secure software. By automating repetitive tasks and integrating security checks into the CI/CD pipeline, organizations can accelerate their time-to-market while maintaining high security standards.

3. Improved Compliance

Adopting DevSecOps helps organizations stay compliant with industry regulations and standards. Automated security testing and continuous monitoring ensure that applications and infrastructure adhere to compliance requirements, reducing the risk of non-compliance penalties.

4. Cost Savings

Early detection and mitigation of security vulnerabilities lead to significant cost savings. Addressing security issues during the development phase is far less expensive than dealing with breaches and remediation efforts post-deployment.

Future of DevSecOps

The future of DevSecOps is promising, with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) poised to revolutionize the field. AI and ML can enhance threat detection capabilities, automate security responses, and predict potential vulnerabilities based on historical data. As these technologies mature, they will further solidify DevSecOps as the standard approach for secure software development.

Conclusion

Incorporating DevSecOps into your organization is not just about adopting new tools and practices; it’s about fostering a culture of security awareness and collaboration. By embedding security into every stage of the development lifecycle, organizations can enhance their security posture, accelerate time-to-market, and achieve significant cost savings. The integration of development, security, and operations through DevSecOps represents the future of secure and efficient software development.

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CEH vs. Pentest+: Which Certification is Right for You?

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, certifications play a crucial role in validating an individual's skills and knowledge. Two of the most respected certifications in the field are the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and CompTIA Pentest+. Both of these certifications focus on penetration testing and ethical hacking but have distinct differences in their approach, content, and industry recognition. This article will provide a comprehensive comparison of CEH and Pentest+, helping you decide which certification is right for your career path.

Overview of CEH

What is CEH?

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification, offered by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council), is one of the most recognized certifications in the cybersecurity industry. It focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in computer systems and understanding how to secure them.

CEH Curriculum and Exam Details

The CEH certification covers a broad range of topics, including:

• Ethical hacking introduction: Understanding the role and responsibilities of an ethical hacker.
• Reconnaissance techniques: Gathering information about the target system.
• Scanning networks: Identifying live systems and open ports.
• Gaining access: Exploiting vulnerabilities to access systems.
• Maintaining access: Ensuring continued access to the system.
• Covering tracks: Techniques to hide the presence and actions of the hacker.

The CEH exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions, and candidates have four hours to complete it. The exam tests a wide range of skills, from theoretical knowledge to practical hacking techniques.

CEH Prerequisites and Cost

Candidates for the CEH certification must have at least two years of work experience in the information security domain or complete an official EC-Council training. The cost of the CEH exam is around $850, with additional costs for training materials and courses.

Overview of Pentest+

What is Pentest+?

The CompTIA Pentest+ certification is a newer addition to the field of cybersecurity certifications, focusing specifically on penetration testing. It is designed to validate the skills required to identify, exploit, report, and manage vulnerabilities on a network.

Pentest+ Curriculum and Exam Details

The Pentest+ certification includes the following domains:

• Planning and Scoping: Defining the scope of penetration testing activities.
• Information Gathering and Vulnerability Identification: Techniques to gather information and identify vulnerabilities.
• Attacks and Exploits: Performing attacks and exploiting vulnerabilities.
• Reporting and Communication: Documenting findings and communicating results to stakeholders.
• Tools and Code Analysis: Using tools and scripts for penetration testing.

The Pentest+ exam is composed of a maximum of 85 questions, including multiple-choice and performance-based questions, and candidates have 165 minutes to complete it.

Pentest+ Prerequisites and Cost

There are no formal prerequisites for the Pentest+ certification, although it is recommended that candidates have at least three to four years of information security experience. The exam costs approximately $404.

CEH vs. Pentest+: Key Differences

Focus and Depth of Content

CEH provides a comprehensive overview of various hacking techniques and tools, with a strong emphasis on the theoretical aspects of ethical hacking. It covers a wide range of topics, making it suitable for those who want a broad understanding of cybersecurity.

Pentest+, on the other hand, is more focused on practical penetration testing skills. It emphasizes hands-on experience and real-world scenarios, making it ideal for professionals who want to specialize in penetration testing.

Industry Recognition and Career Impact

The CEH certification is well-established and recognized globally, often considered a benchmark for ethical hacking skills. It is particularly valued by employers in government and large corporations.

Pentest+ is gaining recognition and is respected for its practical approach. It is ideal for roles that require in-depth penetration testing skills, such as penetration testers, vulnerability assessment analysts, and network security specialists.

Cost and Time Investment

The CEH certification is more expensive, with higher costs for the exam and training. It also requires prior work experience or completion of official training, which can be a barrier for some candidates.

Pentest+ is more affordable and accessible, with no formal prerequisites. This makes it a cost-effective option for professionals looking to enter the field of penetration testing.

Choosing the Right Certification for You

Consider Your Career Goals

If your goal is to have a broad understanding of ethical hacking and cybersecurity, and you aim to work in roles that require a recognized certification, CEH may be the better choice. It is particularly valuable for those looking to work in government or large enterprises.

If you are focused on becoming a specialized penetration tester and want to gain practical, hands-on experience, Pentest+ is likely the better fit. It provides a more focused curriculum and is designed to prepare you for real-world penetration testing challenges.

Evaluate Your Experience and Resources

Consider your current experience and resources. If you have the necessary work experience or can afford the cost of CEH training, the CEH certification can be a valuable investment. However, if you are newer to the field or looking for a more affordable option, Pentest+ offers a practical and cost-effective pathway.

Assess Industry Demand

Research the demand for each certification in your target job market. While both certifications are respected, certain regions or employers may prefer one over the other. Understanding the specific requirements of your desired career path can help you make an informed decision.

Conclusion

Both CEH and Pentest+ certifications offer valuable skills and knowledge for cybersecurity professionals. Your choice between the two should be guided by your career goals, current experience, and the specific demands of the job market. By carefully considering these factors, you can select the certification that best aligns with your aspirations and sets you on a path to success in the dynamic field of cybersecurity.

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The Chief Information Security Officer: A Comprehensive Guide to the Role and Its Importance

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) plays a crucial role in safeguarding an organization’s information assets. As cyber threats become more sophisticated, the demand for skilled and knowledgeable CISOs has never been greater. This article delves into the multifaceted responsibilities of a CISO, the skills required to excel in this role, and the strategic importance of information security in contemporary business operations.

Understanding the Role of the Chief Information Security Officer

The Chief Information Security Officer is the senior-level executive responsible for developing and implementing an information security program, which includes procedures and policies designed to protect enterprise communications, systems, and assets from both internal and external threats. The CISO must work closely with other executives to ensure that the security strategy aligns with the organization's business objectives.

Key Responsibilities of a CISO

1. Developing and Implementing Security Policies

The CISO is tasked with creating comprehensive security policies that protect the organization's information infrastructure. These policies must address various aspects of information security, including data protection, network security, incident response, and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

2. Risk Management and Assessment

One of the primary responsibilities of the CISO is to conduct regular risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities within the organization’s systems. By evaluating potential threats and their impact, the CISO can develop strategies to mitigate risks and enhance the overall security posture.

3. Incident Response and Recovery

In the event of a security breach, the CISO must lead the incident response team to quickly and effectively contain the threat, minimize damage, and recover from the attack. This involves coordinating with other departments, communicating with stakeholders, and ensuring that lessons learned are integrated into future security practices.

4. Compliance and Regulatory Oversight

The CISO ensures that the organization complies with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards. This includes overseeing audits, maintaining documentation, and staying abreast of changes in the regulatory landscape to ensure ongoing compliance.

5. Security Awareness and Training

Educating employees about security best practices is a critical component of a robust security program. The CISO is responsible for developing and delivering training programs that raise awareness and foster a culture of security within the organization.

Essential Skills and Qualifications for a CISO

To be effective in their role, a Chief Information Security Officer must possess a unique blend of technical expertise, leadership skills, and business acumen. Here are some of the key qualifications and skills required:

Technical Expertise

A deep understanding of information technology and security is fundamental for a CISO. This includes knowledge of:

• Network Security: Understanding how to protect data as it travels across internal and external networks.
• Encryption and Cryptography: Implementing advanced techniques to secure sensitive information.
• Threat Intelligence: Staying informed about the latest cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
• Security Architecture: Designing and maintaining a secure IT infrastructure.

Leadership and Communication

Effective leadership is crucial for a CISO, as they must lead cross-functional teams and communicate complex security concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Key leadership skills include:

• Strategic Thinking: Developing long-term security strategies that align with business goals.
• Decision-Making: Making informed decisions quickly during a security incident.
• Communication: Articulating security risks and strategies clearly to executives, board members, and employees.

Business Acumen

A successful CISO must understand the organization’s business model and industry landscape. This includes:

• Financial Management: Managing budgets for security initiatives and investments.
• Regulatory Knowledge: Understanding industry-specific regulations and ensuring compliance.
• Risk Management: Balancing security needs with business objectives to minimize risk without stifling innovation.

The Strategic Importance of a CISO in Modern Organizations

In the digital age, information security is integral to the success and longevity of any organization. Here are some reasons why the CISO’s role is strategically important:

Protecting Intellectual Property and Data

Organizations hold vast amounts of sensitive data, including intellectual property, customer information, and financial records. The CISO is responsible for safeguarding these assets from cybercriminals who seek to exploit them for financial gain or competitive advantage.

Maintaining Customer Trust and Brand Reputation

A security breach can have devastating effects on an organization’s reputation. Customers and partners expect their data to be protected, and a failure to do so can result in loss of trust and business. The CISO plays a vital role in maintaining and enhancing the organization’s reputation by ensuring robust security measures are in place.

Ensuring Regulatory Compliance

Non-compliance with regulatory requirements can lead to severe financial penalties and legal consequences. The CISO ensures that the organization adheres to all relevant laws and regulations, thereby avoiding costly fines and legal issues.

Supporting Business Continuity

A significant security incident can disrupt business operations and lead to substantial financial losses. The CISO’s role in developing and implementing a comprehensive incident response plan ensures that the organization can quickly recover from attacks and maintain continuity of operations.

Challenges Faced by CISOs

Despite the critical nature of their role, CISOs face numerous challenges in their quest to secure their organizations:

Evolving Threat Landscape

Cyber threats are constantly evolving, with attackers developing new techniques and exploiting emerging vulnerabilities. Keeping up with these changes and proactively defending against them is a significant challenge for any CISO.

Resource Constraints

Many organizations face budgetary and staffing limitations that can hinder the effectiveness of their security programs. The CISO must make the most of available resources and prioritize initiatives to maximize impact.

Balancing Security and Usability

Implementing stringent security measures can sometimes impede usability and productivity. The CISO must find a balance between protecting the organization and allowing employees to perform their jobs efficiently.

Executive Buy-In

Gaining support from executives and the board for security initiatives can be challenging, especially when security investments compete with other business priorities. The CISO must effectively communicate the value of security to secure the necessary resources and support.

Future Trends in the CISO Role

As technology continues to advance, the role of the CISO will evolve to meet new challenges and opportunities. Some emerging trends include:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

AI and machine learning are increasingly being used to enhance security measures. CISOs must stay abreast of these technologies and incorporate them into their security strategies to stay ahead of cyber threats.

Cloud Security

With the growing adoption of cloud services, securing cloud environments has become a top priority. CISOs must develop strategies to protect data and applications in the cloud while ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

Cybersecurity Talent Shortage

The demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals continues to outpace supply. CISOs will need to develop innovative strategies for attracting and retaining talent, as well as investing in the continuous development of their teams.

Zero Trust Architecture

The zero-trust model, which assumes that threats can come from anywhere and requires strict verification for all users and devices, is gaining traction. CISOs will need to implement zero-trust principles to enhance their organization’s security posture.

In conclusion, the role of the Chief Information Security Officer is more critical than ever in today’s digital age. By understanding the complexities of this position and staying ahead of emerging trends, organizations can ensure they are well-equipped to protect their most valuable assets.

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Exploring the Security Module in the Google Cloud Course

According to IBM, 82 percent of data breaches involve information stored in cloud environments (IBM, 2023). Moreover, 80 percent of organizations experienced a major public cloud security incident in 2021, indicating a breakthrough from traditional security approaches. (Snyk, 2022).

Many discussions of cloud security have focused on the “Big Three” public cloud providers: Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). As of this writing, major companies such as Target, UPS, PayPal, and Goldman Sachs trust GCP with their public cloud resources.

As a result, more IT professionals are looking to bolster their knowledge of platforms such as Google Cloud with a cloud security certification. Below, we will look at the security module in EC-Council’s Google Cloud course, as well as the EC-Council Certified Cloud Security Engineer (C|CSE) program.

Overview of Cloud Security and the Google Cloud Course

“Cloud security” refers to the various practices, tools, methodologies, and best practices to protect cloud data, software applications, and infrastructure. It includes fields such as network security, data encryption, identity and access management (IAM), and more.

Public cloud providers such as Azure, AWS, and GCP typically implement a number of security features to protect customers’ cloud environments. However, public cloud customers are also responsible for securing their own IT assets and resources by adopting measures such as multi-factor authentication, logging and monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and access control. This arrangement, in which the provider and customer share responsibility for cloud security, is known as the shared responsibility model (Alvarenga, 2022).

As such, organizations must be familiar with cloud security issues in their choice of public cloud provider. For businesses that use the Google Cloud Platform, this may come in the form of Google Cloud training that emphasizes cloud security topics and techniques.

EC-Council offers a course called Google Cloud Platform Essentials. This GCP course discusses the fundamentals of Google Cloud for those new to the platform. The modules of EC-Council’s Google Cloud course discuss the various computing services available on the platform, including:

• Compute services
• Storage and database services
• Networking services
• Security services
• Data integration and analytics services
• Management tools and monitoring services
• Other services (AI, IoT, cloud migration)

Exploring the Security Module in the Google Cloud Course

Cloud security engineers leverage their expertise in designing and implementing secure workloads and infrastructure specifically tailored for Google Cloud environments. The security service module in the Google Cloud Platform Essentials course focuses on crucial aspects of securing data and resources within the Google Cloud ecosystem. Covering fundamental principles and practical techniques, the course aims to equip learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to safeguard cloud-based assets effectively.

Students will gain an overview of the key Google Cloud Security services, namely Google Cloud IAM, Google Cloud SSL Policies, Google Cloud Armor, and Google Cloud Security Scanner, and learn how to integrate them into an organization’s cloud application.

This program offers a comprehensive training experience covering all essential security considerations. From access management to communication security, data protection to operational security, and compliance adherence, students will gain a thorough understanding of securing cloud environments. This knowledge will enable them to protect against various cyber threats and ensure regulatory compliance.

Overall, the program equips learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to create a secure cloud environment, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Explore EC-Council’s Cloud Security Certification

EC-Council’s Google Cloud Platform Essentials course is an excellent introduction to using GCP. However, it is usually wise for IT professionals to have expertise in multiple cloud platforms, such as AWS and Azure, in addition to Google Cloud. This is because most businesses adopt a “multi-cloud” approach, using different services and products from more than one cloud provider. 98 percent of companies using the public cloud have adopted a multi-cloud approach (Oracle, 2023). Multi-cloud strategies have several benefits. They make cloud environments more resilient, give customers more flexibility to choose the right cloud services, and can be more cost-effective than sticking with a single provider. For this reason, it is a good idea for IT professionals to select a vendor-specific cloud security certification. Specializing in a particular cloud provider, such as Google Cloud Platform, can help you stand out from the crowd when looking for cloud security jobs.

However, it is equally important to obtain a rock-solid understanding of cloud security essentials that can be applied to multi-cloud environments. Vendor-neutral cloud security courses are highly valued in the industry because they testify to students’ comprehensive understanding of cloud security that can be applied to a variety of IT environments. EC-Council’s Certified Cloud Security Engineer (C|CSE) program is the only certification that delivers a mix of vendor-neutral and vendor-specific cloud security concepts. Students learn both cloud security fundamentals and specialized topics that pertain to individual cloud providers, including AWS, Azure, and GCP. C|CSE focuses on the fundamental practices, frameworks, technologies, and principles necessary to succeed in multi-cloud environments, validating a student’s expertise in general cloud security concepts and best practices. In addition, it includes more than 80 hands-on labs that provide the practical experience students need to scale up their skills in cloud security.

C|CSE students learn a variety of skills throughout 11 modules that prepare them for real-world scenarios:

• Introduction to cloud security
• Cloud platform and infrastructure security
• Cloud application security
• Cloud data security
• Cloud operation security
• Cloud penetration testing
• Cloud incident detection and response
• Cloud digital forensics investigation
• Cloud disaster recovery and business continuity
• Cloud governance, risk management, and compliance
• Cloud standards, policies, and legal issues
• Cloud security in private, hybrid, and multi-tenant cloud models

The C|CSE course makes you eligible for more than 20 job roles and responsibilities of cloud security professionals, such as:

1. Cloud Security Engineer
2. Cloud Security and Compliance Specialist
3. Cloud Security Consultant
4. Cloud Security Operations Lead
5. Cyber Cloud Security Manager
6. Cloud Security Practice Manager
7. Cloud Security Architect
8. Cloud Security Engineer – DevSecOps
9. Cloud Security Manager
10. DevSecOps Cloud Security Architect
11. API Cloud Security Engineer
12. Cloud Security/OPS
13. Cloud Security Technical Lead
14. Cloud Security SME
15. Cloud Security Administrator
16. Cloud Security Project Manager
17. Cloud Security Analyst
18. Cloud Security/Operations Engineer
19. Cloud Security Specialist
20. Cloud Security/Infosec/SecOps Engineer
21. IT Delivery Manager – Cloud Security Engineer
22. Cloud Security/Infosec/SecOps Engineer

After five days of intensive training and passing a four-hour exam, C|CSE students are job-ready and have the skills to address real-world cloud security issues.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Why You Should Join EC-Council’s Certified DevSecOps Engineer (E|CDE) Course

As the field of DevSecOps grows in popularity, so too does the number of DevSecOps courses and certifications—not all of which are created equal. DevSecOps programs can differ significantly in cost, time commitment, curriculum, learning format, and more.

While the best DevSecOps course will depend on each learner, many students find their needs well matched with the EC-Council DevSecOps certification: E|CDE (Certified DevSecOps Engineer). Below, we’ll discuss the biggest reasons why the E|CDE program is one of the best DevSecOps courses in your journey to becoming a DevSecOps engineer.

E|CDE Program Highlights

The DevSecOps methodology has recently seen a surge of interest from businesses of all sizes and industries. Based on its predecessor DevOps, DevSecOps adds concerns about security to the software development and deployment lifecycle. With news of devastating data breaches and hacks constantly in the headlines, DevSecOps has become an effective strategy for organizations to counteract security vulnerabilities while rapidly building and delivering secure applications.

EC-Council Certified DevSecOps Engineer (E|CDE) is a hands-on, instructor-led, comprehensive DevSecOps certification program that gives IT professionals the essential skills to design, develop, and maintain secure applications and infrastructure.

The E|CDE program has been created by subject matter experts and experienced DevSecOps professionals worldwide to help learners master real-world DevSecOps concepts, tools, and methods with a comprehensive training module. Attaining the E|CDE certification verifies that students have obtained the necessary knowledge and skill set to become DevSecOps professionals.

Before starting the E|CDE certification, students should know that:

• E|CDE includes more than 80 practical, hands-on labs and seven theoretical modules. 
• The program teaches security topics and tools at all eight stages of the DevOps pipeline.
• E|CDE covers topics in both application and infrastructure DevSecOps, as well as both cloud-native environments and on-premises platforms.
• DevSecOps experts have created the E|CDE program to map the precise job roles and responsibilities of real-world DevSecOps engineers.

Who Is the E|CDE Course For?

The EC-Council DevSecOps program is for any students who want to begin a career as a DevSecOps engineer or to improve their career in the field (i.e., via promotions or raises). The E|CDE course is a good match for people such as:

• Application security professionals
• DevOps engineers
• Software engineers and testers
• IT security professionals
• Cybersecurity engineers and analysts

In general, any students who are interested in the field of DevSecOps, and who have a previous understanding of IT or application security concepts will be a good fit for the E|CDE program.

After obtaining the E|CDE certification, program graduates will be prepared for jobs such as:

• DevSecOps engineer
• Senior DevSecOps engineer
• Cloud DevSecOps engineer
• Azure DevSecOps engineer
• AWS DevSecOps engineer
• DevSecOps analyst
• DevSecOps specialist
• DevSecOps operations engineer
• DevSecOps systems administrator
• DevSecOps systems administrator
• DevSecOps consultant
• DevSecOps CI/CD engineer
• Infrastructure DevSecOps engineer

What Will the E|CDE Students Learn?

The EC-Council DevSecOps certification covers all the topics students need to become a DevSecOps engineer. Throughout the E|CDE program, students learn to use a wealth of DevOps and security tools and platforms that they need in their real-world work in the field of DevSecOps.

E|CDE is the most laboratory-intensive DevSecOps certification program, with over 80 guided hands-on labs delivered in a virtual online or offline format. This includes 32 labs focused on Amazon Web Services, 29 labs focused on Microsoft Azure, and 32 labs focused on on-premises environments. As such, graduates of the E|CDE program learn the essential skills needed to perform DevSecOps on-premises and in the cloud.

Below is just a sampling of the topics that E|CDE students will learn throughout the program:

• DevSecOps culture, philosophy, practices, and tools
• Security practices (security requirement gathering, threat modeling, secure code reviews, etc.)
• Automation tools and practices (Jenkins, Bamboo, TeamCity, Gradle)
• Threat modeling tools (Threat Dragon, ThreatModeler, Threatspec)
• Continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) tools such as Jenkins
• Application security testing tools (Snyk, SonarQube, StackHawk, Checkmarx SAST, Debricked, WhiteSource Bolt, etc.)
• Runtime application self-protection tools (Hdiv, Sqreen, Dynatrace, etc.)
• Automated security testing in AWS (Amazon CloudWatch, Amazon Elastic Container Registry, AWS CodeCommit, CodeBuild, CodePipeline, Lambda, Security Hub, etc.)
• Vulnerability scanning tools (Nessus, SonarCloud, Amazon Macie, Probely)
• Penetration testing tools (gitGraber, GitMiner)
• Infrastructure configuration tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef)
• Logging, monitoring, and alerting tools (Sumo Logic, Datadog, Splunk, Azure Monitor, the ELK stack, Nagios, Opsgenie)
• Compliance-as-code tools (Cloud Custodian, the DevSec framework)

E|CDE Modules

The EC-Council DevSecOps program covers seven different modules:

• Module 1: Understanding DevOps Culture
• Module 2: Introduction to DevOps
• Module 3: DevSecOps Pipeline—Plan Stage
• Module 4: DevSecOps Pipeline—Code Stage
• Module 5: DevSecOps Pipeline—Build and Test Stage
• Module 6: DevSecOps Pipeline—Release and Deploy Stage
• Module 7: DevSecOps Pipeline—Operate and Monitor Stage

These modules correspond to the eight stages of the DevOps pipeline:

• Plan: The team defines the project goals; identifies the budget, timeline, and necessary resources; and constructs a roadmap to meet the project objectives.
• Code: Developers write software code and check it into a version control system (VCS), making it accessible to all team members. This stage also involves code reviews and analysis to ensure the software meets quality standards.
• Build: Developers compile and build the code into an executable file format, such as a binary or container image.
• Test: Testers and quality assurance (QA) professionals evaluate the software to verify that it meets the desired functionality and quality standards. This stage typically includes both automated and manual testing, as well as a variety of testing modalities (such as unit tests, integration tests, and performance tests).
• Release: The team deploys the tested software to a production-like environment. This stage also involves creating release notes, assigning version numbers, and changing management processes.
• Deploy: The team deploys the software to production. If the team is practicing continuous deployment (CD), the updated software is automatically deployed to production as soon as it passes the automated test suite.
• Operate: The IT operations team assesses the deployed application to ensure it is running as expected. This stage includes logging, monitoring, and alerting processes.
• Monitor: The operations team monitors the application’s performance, collecting data to improve future iterations of the software development life cycle. This stage includes processes such as performance testing, user feedback, and metrics analysis.

Source: eccouncil.org

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A Complete Guide to the NIST Risk Management Framework

Information security is more important than ever in the business world. Most businesses implement a risk management strategy to help secure everything from their front door to their supply chain management process. However, information security concerns can be harder to address. This has highlighted the need for comprehensive risk management and incident response plans. However, building these plans from the ground up can take time and produce mixed results.

Many organizations want to turn to an established methodology for guidance. The NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF) has emerged as a popular way to manage risk and strengthen incident response plans. Since organizations of all types and sizes use it—from government organizations to large enterprises and small businesses—the NIST RMF is an excellent choice for any business that needs to solidify its cybersecurity incident response plans.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, initially developed the NIST RMF for federal agencies, but the private sector has widely adopted its excellent approach to risk and incident response. If you’ve never looked into the NIST Risk Management Framework or any incident response plans, keep reading. Below is a complete guide to everything you need to know about the NIST Risk Management Framework.

What is the NIST Risk Management Framework?

In 2002, the U.S. Congress passed a law known as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). Part of the law tasked the National Institute of Standards and Technology with creating risk management and incident guidelines for all federal agencies. The result was the NIST Risk Management Framework covering cybersecurity, privacy, and incident response practices. Its primary purpose is to provide a standardized yet flexible and customizable approach to risk management. The first version appeared in 2014, and  NIST Incident Response 2 was released on August 8, 2023. Smaller and more specific NIST risk management guides have also been developed, like the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, which was also released in 2023 (NIST).

What are the Key Components of the NIST Risk Management Framework?

The five key components of the NIST Risk Management Framework are:

• Identification: The NIST RMF starts with identifying risks to an organization, whether they be security, legal, or strategic risks.
• Measurement and assessment: This component describes how to measure or assess the identified risks.
• Mitigation: For risks that require action, the NIST RMF recommends developing mitigation plans.
• Reporting and monitoring: The NIST RMF includes processes for reporting risks and monitoring mitigation progress.
• Governance: This component ensures that risk management policies and procedures are implemented.

These components ensure organizations develop and properly document and implement information security policies and procedures. Although designed for federal agencies, it’s easy to see from these seven general steps that it can benefit any organization’s information security response plans. That’s because the NIST RMF follows a risk-based approach that helps manage information security incidents at any organization.

How Does the NIST Risk Management Framework Help Organizations Manage Risk Effectively?

Since it is a comprehensive framework, the NIST RMF helps organizations manage and mitigate risks effectively. The NIST framework is a well-structured and tested process that builds a strong risk management foundation. The categorization and mitigation techniques described in the NIST RMF are easily adapted and customized to organizations of all types and sizes, ensuring that they are effective regardless of where they are used.

Following the NIST RMF allows businesses and their leadership teams to gain a deeper understanding of the risks they face. This, in turn, helps them to make more informed decisions. The NIST framework also encourages communication between an organization’s employees and stakeholders, providing a platform for effective collaboration.

Exploring the Steps of the NIST Risk Management Framework

To implement the NIST Risk Management Framework in your organization, you must follow its six core steps. Below is a guide to each of the six steps of the RMF. s. Each step can be customized to your organization’s specific needs so that your policies match the needs of your business, employees, and customers. Here are the NIST RMF steps:

Step 1: Categorize System

In the categorization step, you classify the system to be evaluated for risk. Categorize the system’s associated information assets based on their sensitivity and the potential impact on your organization. This involves analyzing data sensitivity, assessing the potential impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and ultimately assigning security categories.

Step 2: Select Controls

Once you’ve categorized your system, the next step is to select and tailor security controls based on its categorization and specific needs. You’ll need to reference NIST SP 800-37 to choose the appropriate security controls and then customize them to align with your system’s unique characteristics and operational environment.

Step 3: Implement Controls

In the implementation step, you put the selected security controls into practice within your system. This involves creating a security plan that details how each control will be implemented, monitored, and managed. Subsequently, you integrate these controls into the system’s design and operations.

Step 4: Assess Controls

To ensure the effectiveness of the implemented controls, you must conduct security assessments. This begins with developing a Security Assessment Plan (SAP) that outlines the assessment objectives, methods, and scope. The SAP serves as a guide as you perform security assessments to evaluate the controls’ effectiveness and compliance with security requirements.

Step 5: Authorize System

Following the assessment phase, review your findings and decide whether to adopt the policies. You can fine-tune any aspects that don’t suit your business.

Step 6: Monitor Controls

Develop a continuous monitoring plan encompassing regular security assessments, vulnerability scanning, and incident response procedures. Ensure prompt reporting of security incidents, vulnerabilities, and compliance deviations, and take corrective actions as needed to maintain ongoing security and compliance.

These six steps will allow your organization to effectively manage information security risks and ensure resilience to potential threats. If you have appropriately customized the NIST RMF to your organization’s needs, only regular maintenance of the policies should be necessary. However, keeping your implementation team active doesn’t hurt, so team members can review how well the RMF works at your organization.

Benefits and Advantages of the NIST Risk Management Framework

While there are other risk management frameworks that organizations can follow, the NIST RMF has several benefits and advantages. As a proven and time-tested framework, the NIST RMF offers a stable approach to managing risk that has proven successful at many different organizations.

Some of the benefits and advantages of the NIST RMF include:

• Customization: The NIST RMF allows businesses, government agencies, and other organizations to tailor security controls and risk management practices to their specific needs.
• Compliance: The framework aligns with cybersecurity standards, legal guidelines, customer requirements, and various regulations. Adopting the NIST RMF is an excellent way to validate compliance with an organization’s requirements.
• Scalability: Due to its flexibility, the NIST RMF can scale to organizations of all sizes and types. Other risk management frameworks tend to be industry-focused or meant for organizations of certain sizes.

In addition, the NIST RMF promotes a proactive approach to risk management thanks to its focus on risk identification and categorization. Organizations following the framework’s six steps gain an understanding of their most severe risks. They can then form incident response plans before disaster strikes. The emphasis on continuous monitoring in the RMF helps stop emerging threats in real-time.

The NIST RMF has several advantages over competing risk management frameworks. Its widespread adoption means there is a large community providing resources and expertise that other frameworks lack. Since the RMF is well-known and recognized, customers gain confidence when they see a company use it for risk management. A proper NIST RMF implementation provides documentation of all incident response plans and actions, promoting openness and transparency.

Challenges and Considerations of the NIST Risk Management Framework

Even though the NIST framework is well-suited for most scenarios, it is not without its challenges. Organizations should consider the change management component when adopting any risk management framework. Implementing the NIST RMF will likely require significant changes to a company’s workflows, business processes, and even technology stack.

Another consideration is the resources required for a successful NIST implementation. The framework is complex and comprehensive, which requires input from team members all across the organization. Time spent on a NIST RMF implementation will mean key personnel will be pulled from their regular jobs. Depending on the company and the industry involved, there may even be significant costs required to properly implement the NIST RMF.

Case Studies and Success Stories of the NIST Risk Management Framework

The NIST website features several case studies and success stories from organizations that implemented the RMF. Among them are:

The University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) bolstered its cybersecurity procedures by adopting NIST. KUMC established an Office of Information Security (OIS) because of the sensitive nature of patient data. According to OIS staff, the entire KUMC organization now understands that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility (NIST, 2019).

The Multi-State-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) aids state and local governments with cybersecurity practices. By implementing the NIST cybersecurity framework across all member organizations, MS-ISAC now has a standard to measure the effectiveness of security and privacy programs (NIST, 2021).

Source: eccouncil.org

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Decoding DevSecOps and DevOps Course

The DevOps software development methodology seeks to break down the barriers between an organization’s development and operations teams, improving collaboration, speed, and efficiency. DevOps has become a best practice for many businesses. In a survey by Redgate Software, 74 percent of companies say they have now adopted DevOps practices in some form (Redgate, 2021). DevSecOps is a variant of DevOps that adds security into the mix, making IT security an essential concern throughout the development process.

With DevOps and DevSecOps in high demand right now, you might be searching for the right DevSecOps or DevOps course to fit your career goals. In this article, we’ll discuss how to compare and decode DevOps and DevSecOps programs and certifications so you can choose the right one.

Embracing DevOps and DevSecOps: The Surging Demand for IT Professionals

Both DevOps and DevSecOps are poised for significant growth in the next several years. This larger economic growth has naturally led to greater business demand for DevOps and DevSecOps professionals. MarketsandMarkets estimates that the worldwide DevOps market will grow from USD 10.4 billion in 2023 to USD 25.5 billion in 2028, with an annual growth rate of 19.7 percent (MarketsandMarkets). Meanwhile, the global DevSecOps market will be nearly quintuple in size during this period from USD 3.79 billion in 2021 to $17.24 billion in 2028 (Grand View Research).

Understanding DevOps Course

With all this in mind, what should you look for from a certification in DevOps? The key concepts, skills, and tools that you should learn during your DevOps engineer training include:

• Continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD): CI/CD emphasizes automating the software building, testing, and deployment processes to make them faster and more reliable. Tools include Jenkins, CircleCI, and GitLab CI/CD.
• Infrastructure as code (IaC): IaC manages and provisions IT infrastructure through code files rather than manual processes, further automating IT operations and management.
• Microservices and containerization: Developers build applications as a loosely coupled collection of microservices that can be deployed independently as containers with technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Logging and monitoring: DevOps teams collect logs and monitor application performance to quickly detect and resolve issues. Tools include Grafana, Prometheus, and the ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana).

Some DevOps engineers choose a certification that trains them in a specific public cloud platform, such as a Microsoft Azure or AWS DevOps training. However, when you’re just starting out, this can limit your knowledge and opportunities. Instead, it’s a wiser idea to select a vendor-neutral DevOps certification to learn the fundamentals and then specialize by pursuing further Azure or AWS DevOps training.

Exploring DevSecOps Courses

In addition to the tools and techniques taught in DevOps, a DevSecOps course covers many important concepts. These include:

• Shift-left security: The term “shift-left security” refers to bringing IT security practices and concepts early in the software development process, from design and coding to testing and deployment.
• Security testing automation: IT security should be baked into the software testing process to quickly detect vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Tools include both static (SAST) and dynamic (DAST) application security testing solutions such as SonarQube, Checkmarx, Burp Suite, and OWASP ZAP.
• Threat modeling and detection: In threat modeling, DevSecOps engineers identify potential threats to the application and formulate methods to mitigate or address them. Techniques such as vulnerability scanning and penetration testing can help confirm the presence of security risks.
• Secure code practices: DevSecOps engineers learn about secure code practices to prevent common exploits such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS). They also learn about security concerns in IT infrastructure and containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes.

Comparing and Decoding DevSecOps and DevOps Course

Of course, not all programs are created equal regarding the right DevSecOps or DevOps training. The factors to consider when comparing these certifications include the following:

• Content: Make sure that your DevSecOps or DevOps program covers the concepts and tools relevant to your career objectives, such as CI/CD, version control, cloud platforms, and security testing.
• Format: Depending on your learning preferences, goals, and schedule, you may prefer to attend in-person lectures with an instructor or follow an online, self-paced, asynchronous program.
• Expenses: Consider the course cost, training materials, and the exam. You can receive a scholarship or obtain tuition reimbursement from your employer.
• Hands-on experience: Practical knowledge is essential for DevOps and DevSecOps practitioners, so look for a certification that offers hands-on labs and projects to apply your theoretical knowledge.
• Support and community: Check to see if the course provides opportunities to connect and network with fellow students and instructors, such as forums, chat groups, office hours, or Q&A sessions.
• Industry value: To help advance your career, your choice of DevSecOps or DevOps certification should be offered by a well-regarded institution with a large alumni network.

Job Market Trends and Opportunities

Whether you choose a DevSecOps or DevOps course, the future looks bright for those interested in these growing fields. As of Aug 2023, there were more than 46,000 jobs in the United States on LinkedIn with the keyword “DevOps” and more than 8,000 jobs with the keyword “DevSecOps.”

As more organizations become aware of IT security concerns, the demand for DevSecOps engineers will only increase. According to Veracode’s State of Software Security report, 74 percent of software applications have at least one security flaw detected through automated scanning in the past 12 months (Veracode, 2023).

IT professionals who acquire valuable DevOps and DevSecOps skills can be well-compensated for this knowledge. According to Glassdoor, the average salary per year in the US for a DevOps engineer is USD 103,801 (Glassdoor, 2023), and for a DevSecOps engineer is USD 104, 689 (Glassdoor, 2023).

Source: eccouncil.org

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What to Do After Ethical Hacking? Learn Advanced Pentesting Skills with the C|PENT

Ethical hacking is a highly popular cybersecurity skill that creates many opportunities and career paths. If you have already obtained a certification and are wondering what to do after ethical hacking, the next natural step would be to acquire advanced pentesting skills. But what is penetration testing in ethical hacking, and how can you become a penetration tester after obtaining ethical hacking certifications? This article will discuss what to do after ethical hacking, the roles and responsibilities of penetration testers, how ethical hackers can hone their advanced pentesting skills, and more.

Why is Ethical Hacking a Core Cybersecurity Skill?

Ethical hacking is the use of hacking skills and techniques to help organizations strengthen their cybersecurity posture. Ethical hackers use hacking tools and knowledge to assess an IT environment, network, or computer system for vulnerabilities and recommend measures for effective mitigation.

Ethical hacking is a core cybersecurity skill because it helps businesses see their IT ecosystem from an external perspective, putting them in the mind of an attacker. Ethical hackers help companies identify vulnerabilities, improve their defenses, understand various attack methods, and comply with cybersecurity laws and regulations. Ethical hacking is a proactive approach to cybersecurity that can protect organizations from devastating cyberattacks and data breaches.

What are the Most Rewarding Career Options after Obtaining an Ethical Hacking Certification?

Wondering what to do after ethical hacking certifications? There are many highly rewarding professions one can pursue after obtaining an ethical hacking certification, such as:

◉ Penetration Testers: Identify potential vulnerabilities in IT systems, test the security of these systems, and generate reports and recommendations on their findings.

◉ Red Team Members: Simulate a cyberattack against an organization, competing with blue team members whose job is to defend against the attack

◉ Security Architects: Design computer software, networks, and systems with a security-first approach, ensuring these products are protected against threats.

Why is Advanced Penetration Testing an Excellent Option for Ethical Hackers?

With the growing sophistication of cyberattacks (Brooks, 2023), many organizations are looking for skilled penetration testers to help them find and patch security weaknesses. If you are contemplating what to do after ethical hacking certifications, the good news is that pursuing a penetration testing career path is an easy transition.

In fact, the difference between ethical hacking and penetration testing is subtle, and there is a great deal of overlap between the two fields. Penetration testers typically restrict themselves to assessing a specific IT asset or resource, while ethical hackers may carry out many different types of attacks on the entire IT environment.

Advanced penetration testing makes for an excellent option after ethical hacking. It allows ethical hackers to go beyond the basics and learn more about a specific target system, identifying complex vulnerabilities that automated scans may miss. Advanced penetration testing also enables ethical hackers to specialize in a particular field and customize their tests and attacks to business needs and industry requirements.

What are the Responsibilities of a Penetration Tester

The role of a penetration tester includes functions such as:

◉ Defining the scope of the penetration testing process, including the target systems, applications, or networks and the tools and techniques to be used.

◉ Performing reconnaissance on the target, including details such as IP addresses, domain names, operating systems, and potential vulnerabilities.

◉ Using automated and manual techniques to probe the target for weaknesses and misconfigurations that can be exploited during an attack.

◉ Exploiting the discovered vulnerabilities to launch a simulated cyberattack, gaining access to unauthorized resources or data.

◉ Creating reports and documentation on the testing process and offering recommendations to key decision-makers.

How Do You Become a Penetration Tester?

If you’re seeking a path beyond ethical hacking, consider advancing into penetration testing. Both roles involve assessing and fortifying cybersecurity measures, making penetration testing a logical step forward. The relevant penetration testing skills may include:

◉ Knowledge of networking concepts such as TCP/IP, DNS, and network architecture

◉ Operating system proficiency in Windows, macOS, and Linux

◉ Programming and scripting languages such as C/C++, Java, Python, Ruby, and Bash

◉ Analytical and problem-solving skills that enable creative thinking and flexibility

Some—but not all—penetration testers have received formal education in fields such as computer science, information technology, and cybersecurity. Others have broken into penetration testing by accumulating real-world experience in the necessary tools and techniques, and still others have obtained penetration testing certifications such as EC-Council’s C|PENT.

Why Choose the Certified Penetration Testing Professional (C|PENT) Credential?

EC-Council’s C|PENT (Certified Penetration Testing Professional) program is an advanced pentesting certification ideal for anyone considering what to do after ethical hacking. The C|PENT educates students on industry best practices for penetration testing tools, techniques, and methods. It is an excellent training for students looking to further their cybersecurity careers via penetration testing and ethical hacking.

The benefits of the C|PENT certification include:

◉ A live practice cyber range for students to test their pentesting skills in hands-on activities

◉ 100 percent mapped with the NICE cybersecurity framework

◉ Blending automated and manual penetration testing techniques

◉ Alignment with more than 15 job roles

Why Should Penetration Testing Be the Next Move for an Ethical Hacker?

Penetration testing shares substantial common ground with ethical hacking, making it a natural progression for those who have obtained a certification and are wondering what to do after ethical hacking. The two fields are highly related and share several skills, tools, and techniques. Let’s examine why advancing to a penetration career can be an excellent move for ethical hackers.

◉ Broadening and deepening your skill set to include a variety of attack techniques and vulnerabilities for specific targets

◉ Gaining real-world experience with an advanced penetration testing range

◉ Providing value to organizations by protecting their IT assets, data, and systems from malicious actors, helping them address and resolve critical security weaknesses

◉ Working in combination with other valuable cybersecurity job roles, including security analysts, red teamers, security architects, and digital forensics investigators

What Skills of an Ethical Hacker are Upgraded in the C|PENT?

The C|PENT program includes 14 theoretical and practical modules for detecting security vulnerabilities.

Students learn about identifying weaknesses in various IT environments, from networks and web applications to the cloud and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In fact, C|PENT is the first penetration testing certification in the world with a curriculum including IoT attacks.

C|PENT covers advanced pentesting skills such as:

◉ Windows and Active Directory attacks, including Kerberoasting and Golden Ticket attacks.

◉ Exploitation of 32-bit and 64-bit binaries

◉ Double pivoting, privilege escalation, and evading defense mechanisms

◉ Writing informative and professional penetration testing reports

Ethical Hacking + Penetration Testing Skills: Why Every Organization Needs Them?

Developing your penetration testing competencies can give you a lethal combination of skills that are highly valuable to organizations of all sizes and industries. These include:

• Proactive security: Both ethical hacking and penetration testing encourage a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Organizations can find and mitigate issues and vulnerabilities before malicious actors discover and exploit them.
• Comprehensive assessment: Penetration testing and ethical hacking can be applied across the entirety of the IT environment. These fields allow organizations to thoroughly assess their networks, applications, and devices.
• Regulatory compliance: Ethical hacking and penetration testing aren’t just a wise idea; they may also be required under data privacy and security laws. Businesses should be familiar with the applicable regulations and how to remain compliant.

Career Benefits of Advanced Penetration Testing

Honing your advanced penetration testing skills is a great way to further your penetration testing career. Penetration testing can be an intellectually rewarding and lucrative career for those with the right combination of skills and experience:

• According to Indeed, the average base salary for penetration testers in the United States is over $119,238 (Indeed, 2024).
• The market research firm MarketsandMarkets estimates that the global penetration testing market will nearly double in just five years—from USD 1.4 billion in 2022 to USD 2.7 billion in 2027 (MarketsandMarkets, 2022).

Achieving your dream penetration testing job is much easier when you choose the right pentesting certification. EC-Council’s C|PENT equips you with advanced pentesting skills through its up-to-date curriculum and hands-on approach, giving students the real-world experience they need to succeed in a penetration testing career.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Burp Suite for Penetration Testing of Web Applications

Penetration testing simulates an actual cyber-attack by scanning and exploiting vulnerabilities in an IT environment. This cybersecurity practice aims to identify and resolve security weaknesses before an attacker can find them.

Safely exploiting vulnerabilities with penetration testing is a beneficial technique, so many pentesting tools are available on the market. You may see tools such as Metasploit, Nmap, Wireshark, OWASP ZAP, and others, although Burp Suite is one of the most popular solutions for penetration testing.

Now, what is Burp Suite? The creation of PortSwigger, Burp Suite is a set of software tools that professionals use for vulnerability scanning and web application pentesting. Burp Suite is a valuable penetration testing toolkit that every cybersecurity professional should know. This guide looks at Burp Suite’s tools and features, use cases, and functionality for professional penetration testing.

What Is Burp Suite Used For?

Burp Suite has a range of features and use cases for evaluating the security of web applications. One of its most well-known use cases involves scanning for many types of vulnerabilities. Burp Suite can identify common security flaws such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), and more.

By sitting between the user’s browser and the web application, Burp Suite acts as a proxy server. This setup allows the software to intercept and inspect the user’s HTTP requests and the application’s responses, streamlining the process of manipulating and interpreting data sent and received.

In addition to running vulnerability scans and penetration tests, Burp Suite comes with reporting and analysis features. Users can specify a number of configuration options, making it easy to construct detailed reports that key stakeholders and decision-makers can understand.

Burp Suite also easily integrates with other cybersecurity software tools. For example, professionals can install it on Kali Linux, a security-focused Linux distribution that penetration testers and ethical hackers commonly use

Tools Offered by Burp Suite

Burp Suite’s range of tools, features, and functionality depends on which version of the software you’re using.

Community Edition

The Burp Suite Community Edition is free and comes with a handful of essential tools for vulnerability scanning:

• Burp Repeater lets users manually alter and resend HTTP requests to a web application. Testers can alter the body, headers, and other components of the HTTP request to see how the application responds to different inputs.
• Burp Decoder lets users encode and decode various data formats (e.g., URL, Base64, hexadecimal, and more). This functionality helps testers understand how the application processes input data and whether it’s susceptible to security issues such as data tampering.
• Burp Sequencer lets users analyze the quality of random values and tokens an application generates. Testers can use Sequencer’s statistical techniques to search for patterns, predictability, and weaknesses in the randomness of these values.
• Burp Comparer lets users compare two pieces of data (e.g., HTTP responses) and identify the differences. The tool helps uncover changes in web application behavior, such as differences between two webpage versions (e.g., the version with and without a security flaw).

Professional Edition

The Burp Suite Professional Edition offers more advanced manual and automatic testing features. The Professional Edition includes all the tools in Burp Suite Community Edition, plus additional functionality — such as software plugins and extensions, a web vulnerability scanner, and the ability to save your work.

Most notably, Burp Suite Professional comes with Burp Intruder, a tool for automating different types of attacks against web applications. Burp Intruder allows users to send large numbers of malicious HTTP requests to target web applications, crafting their messages to enable attacks such as SQL injections and cross-site scripting (XSS).

With Intruder, users can specify exactly where in the HTTP request they insert a malicious payload, offering fine-grained control over the attack. Burp Intruder can help identify vulnerabilities, test the strength of authentication mechanisms, and assess the security of cookies and session tokens.

Burp Suite Professional also includes Burp Scanner, a DAST (dynamic application security testing) scanner that performs automated scanning for web vulnerabilities (Bashvitz, 2023). Burp Scanner has features such as:

• Recurring scans (e.g., daily or weekly)
• Scalability to run multiple concurrent scans
• Out-of-the-box configurations and bulk actions for easier automation
• Scanning API endpoints and privileged areas to increase the attack surface

Enterprise Edition

The Burp Suite Enterprise Edition includes even more bells and whistles to enable thorough penetration testing of web applications. The Enterprise Edition offers multiple pricing tiers, including an “unlimited” option with unlimited scans, users, and applications.

Burp Suite Enterprise includes advanced features that make it well-suited for use in large organizations:

• Integrations with third-party platforms for CI/CD, vulnerability management, and issue tracking
• Software plugins and extensions (either write your own or download from the BApp Store)
• Role-based access control (RBAC) and single sign-on (SSO)

Using Burp Suite for Penetration Testing

Burp Suite is a powerful and popular penetration testing tool. So, how can you get started using Burp Suite for penetration testing?

First, download and install the free Burp Suite Community Edition from the PortSwigger website (PortSwigger, 2024). You must also configure your web browser to work with Burp Suite. By default, Burp Suite listens on port 8080, so you’ll need to set your browser to use a proxy with the IP address 127.0.0.1 and port number 8080.

Next, define the scope of the Burp Suite penetration tests. This scope includes specifying the URL of the target web application you want to test and which parts of the website you’ll evaluate for security vulnerabilities.

After this initial setup, you can use Burp Suite’s penetration testing features and functionality. Here are the common starting points:

• Click on Burp Suite’s Proxy tab to intercept and inspect HTTP requests and responses. You can examine and modify these requests to test for vulnerabilities such as SQL injections.
• Use Burp Suite’s Repeater tool to send and modify HTTP requests manually. With Repeater, you can test for specific weaknesses that attempt to bypass security mechanisms.
• Hunt for cryptographic weaknesses using Burp Suite’s Sequencer tool. This feature allows you to analyze the quality of randomness in tokens or session identifiers that an attacker could exploit.

Penetration testing will run based on the parameters you set. Once testing is complete, use Burp Suite to generate comprehensive reports, including a list of any identified vulnerabilities, their severity, and recommendations for fixing or mitigating them.

If your penetration testing needs exceed the abilities of Burp Suite Community Edition, consider upgrading to a paid version such as Professional Edition or Enterprise Edition, which have added functionality for advanced users.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Importance of Cloud Computing Courses and Their Advantage in Protecting Data in the Cloud

Cloud computing has elevated from a cutting-edge technology to an enterprise IT best practice for businesses of all sizes and industries. The advantages of cloud computing over on-premises IT include scalability, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to access resources from anywhere, at any time. However, as organizations rely more on the cloud, IT professionals must develop their skills and knowledge through cloud computing courses.

Why are cloud computing courses so important, and how do they help students learn about cloud privacy and data protection? We’ll discuss these questions and more below.

Why Are Cloud Computing Courses Becoming Popular?

Cloud computing courses and certifications are growing in popularity—for a good reason. Below are a few reasons why more students are taking cloud computing courses:

• High cloud adoption rates: Gartner forecasts worldwide stated that spending on public cloud services will grow by 21.7 percent in 2023, reaching an all-time high of USD 597.3 billion (Gartner, 2023). With cloud computing playing an integral role for many businesses, professionals are looking to learn more about this valuable component of an IT environment. Cloud computing courses offer the chance to stay up-to-date with industry trends and technologies.
• Career opportunities: The surge of business interest in the cloud means that more companies are looking to hire individuals with expertise in cloud computing. Employees, too, are attracted to the field for benefits such as remote work and high salaries. According to Payscale, the average salary for workers with cloud computing skills is $136,000 (Payscale).
• Flexible learning: Many cloud computing courses offer flexible learning environments, making joining and completing the program easier. Students have more options than ever: in-person learning, self-paced video courses, and online lectures with a live instructor. These courses are also increasingly affordable, making them attractive to professionals who want to learn cloud computing and enhance their job prospects.
• Greater competencies: With so many advantages of the cloud, students in cloud computing courses can develop their skills and expertise in several areas. For example, system administrators can learn how the cloud improves IT uptime and reliability. Security professionals can broaden their knowledge by learning about cloud computing security and much more.

Who Should Opt for a Cloud Computing Course?

IT professionals working in a wide range of areas can all benefit from a cloud computing course. Students typically come from the various roles mentioned below

• System administrators manage an organization’s IT infrastructure. Cloud computing courses can provide system administrators with the skills to deploy, configure, and manage cloud computing infrastructure.
• Network administrators help maintain an organization’s computer networks. Cloud computing courses teach network administrators about cloud-specific networking topics such as cloud networking models, load balancing, virtual private clouds (VPCs), and content delivery networks (CDNs).
• Network security professionals help protect enterprise networks from cyber-attacks, preventing data breaches and unauthorized access to restricted resources. Cloud computing courses offer insights about securing network infrastructure in a cloud IT environment, starting with fundamentals such as the shared responsibility model.
• Cybersecurity engineers design, develop, and implement solutions to protect IT environments from cyber-attacks. Cloud computing courses teach cybersecurity engineers about cloud-specific IT security questions and concerns, including application security, incident response, forensics, and compliance.
• Operations professionals ensure that an organization’s IT operations are running smoothly. Cloud computing courses teach operations professionals about cloud infrastructure management, automation and orchestration, monitoring, performance optimization, change management, and more.

Of course, professionals in different roles will be interested in different cloud computing courses. IT security experts interested in cloud security will do well with a certification such as EC-Council’s C|CSE (Certified Cloud Security Engineer) program. The C|CSE course includes 11 modules on various cloud security topics, including configurations, forensics, cloud penetration testing, risk management, business continuity, and disaster recovery.

Learning Cloud Privacy and Data Protection in Vendor-Specific and Vendor-Neutral Environments

Cloud computing can be categorized into two types: vendor-specific cloud computing and vendor-neutral cloud computing.

A “vendor-specific” cloud computing course focuses on a particular public cloud provider. The major public cloud platforms include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), as well as offerings from other major tech firms such as Oracle and IBM.

On the other hand, a “vendor-neutral” cloud computing course teaches broad principles and best practices for cloud computing environments without delving into the specifics of any single platform.

Vendor-neutral cloud computing courses are important because many businesses have chosen a “multi-cloud” strategy. Companies use services from two or more cloud providers according to what best fits their needs and situations. According to a 2023 survey by Flexera, the percentages of organizations running at least some of their workloads in AWS and Azure are 47% and 41%, respectively (Flexera, 2023).

Many top public cloud providers offer certifications specializing in a single cloud platform. However, it’s often not the wisest idea to specialize by choosing a Google Cloud or AWS course—especially early in your career. Instead, IT professionals interested in cloud computing should select a vendor-neutral program that teaches widely applicable fundamentals and concepts.

Once you’ve established a firm basis for cloud security, you can proceed to vendor-specific courses—whether an Azure program or a Google Cloud certification. These programs discuss the intricacies of a particular cloud ecosystem and offer hands-on activities using the vendor’s tools and services. Vendor-specific courses are a good choice for experienced IT professionals who want to increase their knowledge of their employer’s choice of cloud vendor.

Source: eccouncil.org

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