Guide to Launching Your Professional Life as a Moral Computer Security Specialist
Becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker: A Step-by-Step Guide
Interested in a career as an ethical hacker? Here's a comprehensive guide to help you achieve the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification.
Meet Eligibility Requirements
To embark on this journey, you must meet the basic eligibility criteria. You need to be at least 18 years old and have at least two years of work experience in information security or a related field. However, if you lack experience, you can still pursue certification by completing an official training course.
Complete Official CEH Training
The next step is to enroll in and complete an accredited CEH training program. This program covers ethical hacking methodologies, tools, and techniques, providing a thorough understanding of hacking phases, reconnaissance, system scanning, and exploitation. The training can be undertaken online or offline.
Gain Hands-on Practice
Practical experience is crucial to passing the exam and becoming proficient. Use virtual labs or practical environments to apply your knowledge in real-time scenarios, practicing on hacking tools and techniques.
Prepare for and Take the CEH Exam
The CEH exam consists of multiple-choice questions, typically around 125 questions with a 4-hour limit. The exam covers fundamental concepts of ethical hacking, penetration testing methods, and security tools. If you have the required experience, you may be able to skip the training and directly apply for the exam.
Earn CEH Certification
Upon passing the exam, you receive the official CEH certification, which validates your skills as a professional ethical hacker recognized globally.
Additional Recommendations
While not mandatory, having a Bachelor's degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or related technical fields is helpful. Ongoing learning and pursuing complementary certifications (e.g., OSCP, CompTIA Security+, GPEN) are advised for career growth in ethical hacking. Strong foundational skills in networking, programming, operating systems, and ethical conduct are essential for success.
In summary, the core pathway is to qualify through work experience or training, complete an approved CEH course, practice hands-on skills, pass the CEH exam, and then maintain your certification through continuous learning. With the increasing frequency of cyber-attacks, ethical hacking can be a potentially rewarding career. Ethical hackers use the same methods and tools as malicious hackers, but legally, and their role is to find and report vulnerabilities and weaknesses to their client or management.
[1] EC-Council, (n.d.), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Retrieved from https://www.eccouncil.org/certifications/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh
[2] Cybersecurity Degrees, (n.d.), How to Become a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Retrieved from https://www.cybersecuritydegrees.org/ceh
[3] InfoSec Institute, (n.d.), How to Become a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Retrieved from https://www.infosecinstitute.com/how-to-become-a-certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/
[4] Hacker Academy, (n.d.), How to Become a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Retrieved from https://www.hackeracademy.com/blog/how-to-become-a-certified-ethical-hacker-ceh
[5] HackerU, (n.d.), How to Become a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Retrieved from https://hackeru.com/blog/how-to-become-a-certified-ethical-hacker-ceh
In the pursuit of a career as an ethical hacker, it is essential to understand the role of technology and education-and-self-development. Alongside the CEH training program, gaining hands-on practice on hacking tools and techniques is crucial for passing the exam and becoming proficient. Ongoing learning and pursuing complementary certifications are recommended for career growth in ethical hacking, demonstrating the importance of continuous education-and-self-development in the field.
