The technical demand and level of accessibility involved in pen testing indicates that it has to be done by a trusted person. Interestingly, Tony Vizza, Director of Cybersafety Advocacy, in an interview asserted that there is a shortage of personnel in the industry. He went on to suggest that having certain certifications creates better opportunities for a pen tester. But what for?
In the professional world, almost every skill-set has some levels of certification to evidence expertise, experience and proficiency. Most times, it is not enough to say that you are an expert in a particular field. You may need to backup your claim by providing certain certificates even before you would have the opportunity to practically prove actual competency. IT support giant CompTia, posits that over 90% of employers consider IT certifications as a major requirement for some job roles including cybersecurity and pen testing.
Penetration testing certification is a proof that an acclaimed tester is certified and has the required knowledge to carry out a pen-test. The certification serves as an evidence that the tester has gone through the required training.
It would be absurd and careless for a company to hire the penetration testing services of anyone on the basis of their claims of being a pen tester. Because beyond the need of actual skill, in the modern world there is also a need for a legal document that proves a tester’s competency.
Hence the focus of this post is on providing some of the best penetration testing certifications you should explore for credibility in pen testing.
Issuance of pen testing certification
With the growth of online education, a lot of organizations and people offer pen testing training and, as such, different certifications. However, there are reputable certificates that most employers recognize and would prefer over others.
For instance, the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) issued by the EC-Council is often required by most major organizations including the United States Department of Defense.
To ensure credibility and relevance, it is always best to obtain certification from reputable cybersecurity IT firms, and institutions.
Types of pen testers certifications
There are tons of certifications available to testers and they all depend on choice, requirements, and knowledge. For example, a tester may decide to get trained and certified on mobile application pen testing while leaving out cloud pen testing. Admittedly, it will be difficult to classify penetration testing certifications based on such indices, as many certificates are multipurpose and can be used for a wide subject area.
Notwithstanding, Pen Testing certification can be classified under:
- Beginner / entry-level
- Intermediate level and,
- Expert level.
This implies that training and certifications are often obtained according to the expertise and experience of the tester. An entry-level tester in most cases would not be required to undergo the same training an expert tester who wants to update their knowledge would undergo. In the same vein, their certificates would not be the same.
By reasonable standards, having multiple certifications is the ideal thing, even industry experts advise the same. In a recent interview, the director of cybersecurity services at RTS, Michael Wylie argued that multiple certifications widen a pen tester’s knowledge-base. He further explains that certifications indicate commitment and a knack for learning in the ever-evolving industry of cybersecurity and penetration testing.
10 most recognized certifications for penetration testing
Here is a list of popular and in-demand certifications for ethical hackers.
The Certified Ethical Hacker is a renowned license that is issued by the EC-Council. The course is thought to be very robust and furnishes an excellent foundation for P testers.
CEH course is regularly updated to include new threats and susceptibility and the operational mechanism of these threats. Participants are equipped to combat vehicles of cyber-attack like malware, hooks, cloud attacks etc.
Over the years, CEH has been endorsed by a lot of prominent establishments and government agencies. It is referenced as the basic required certification and standard for white hat hackers.
To be an awardee of the CEH, an aspirant is recommended to partake in a five days training boot camp (totaling 40 study hours) after which they must pass an objective-type question test within 4 hours.
GIAC Certified Penetration Tester (GPEN)
The GPEN is a license issued by digital-Information protection Outfit GIAC. GIAC which came into existence in 1999 with the aim of developing, examining and acknowledging IT professionals, offers varying kinds of licenses from the entry-level to the top-level.
GPEN focuses on password hacks, digital programs intrusion and extensive pentest prep. The course also assesses testers on relevant non-specialized skills that can improve the general business disposition of a tester as it affects his profession.
To be eligible for the GPEN certificate, it is mandatory to pass a 180-minute appraisal of 15 questions. The GPEN examination is mostly practical oriented as you would be appraised on various pen testing approaches including password hacks and intrusion vectors among others. This license is renewable every four years.
GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester (GXPN)
The GXPN is a more complex cert than the GPEN but both are issued by the GIAC. GXPN is suited for more advanced testers who want to revalidate their competency or upgrade on extant insight, it is not for beginners. The GXPN appraises a tester’s capacity to engage in more advanced ethical hacking including advanced random white-intrusion methodologies, stack mashing network exploitation etc.
The test is made up of 75 objective-type questions. Aspirants must be able to illustrate the procedures in forestalling certain sophisticated intrusions, and also explain how these intrusions could affect the productivity of a business.
Offensive Security Certified Professional
The OSCP is regarded as an optimum pen testing license because of the thorough pragmatic approach participants must engage to be eligible for the cert. OSCP trains participants on pen testing operations using Kali Linux executive program and the relevant tools that would be required.
The OSCP test is strictly practical and lasts for 24 hours. Real pen testing procedures are simulated for aspirants to handle. Participants would be mandated to attempt hacking or penetrating identified systems within a simulated setting.
Certified Penetration Tester (CPT)
Certified Penetration Tester is issued by the IACRB to evaluate the operational approach and skills of a pen tester. The license reinforces and emphasizes the need for testers to follow due process and methods. Participants would also be able to detect and carry out sophisticated intrusion and degradation including setting up Metasploit framework and recognize Kerberos intrusion.
Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT)
The CEPT is a more advanced version of the CPT. This license is well-suited for pen testing experts or professionals with very good experience and knowledge base. Participants of the CEPT are expected to display advanced knowledge of pen testing procedures.
A CEPT awardee should be able to simulate or replicate sophisticated attacks, manipulate systems and establish any slight attempt to compromise a system. The test consists of 50 questions that should be answered in not more than 2 hours.
Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE)
This is an intense practical-based test that depicts real-life digital defense situations. Participants partaking in the appraisal, are mandated to identify problems, porousness and susceptibilities and tackle them accordingly as in real situations. The duration for the appraisal is over 48 hours; this shows how intense it can be. It is arguably the most complex exam in the sector.
CompTIA PenTest+ is considered a mid-level skills cyber certification that emphasizes the offensive approach in pen testing. It tests professional practical skills, and their capacity to manage a disadvantaged position or inherent weakness within a system. The PenTest+ helps an ethical hacker improve on both their technical and non-specialized skills.
The PenTest+ is made up of 85 objective-type questions which should be done under 165 minutes
EC-Council Licensed Penetration Tester Master
This is strictly a high competence-level license not meant for a newbie. A holder of the LPT license is usually acknowledged as a sufficiently-experienced pro. The LPT is deemed a very rigorous test, due to the difficulty mode of the appraisal. Participants would be mandated to solve complex cybersecurity problems under pressure and in limited time.
Certified Mobile and Web Application Penetration Tester (CMWAPT)
CMWAPT is another license issued by IACRB as a training and acknowledgment programme that focuses on digital applications. It is a two hours exam that evaluates a pen tester’s ability on the following;
- Mobile app pen testing procedures
- Web based pen testing procedures
- Mobile operating program attack
- Mobile device software intrusion
- Web software intrusion.
Is certification enough to hire a penetration tester?
While a penetration tester must have the relevant certifications, it is important that you also consider some other qualities alongside certifications before deciding on a pen tester to hire.
Recommended: Check out 30 best penetration testing interview questions and answers for hiring ethical hackers.
Practical skills and knowledge
Brandishing a certificate doesn’t always culminate into the required skill. A tester may have gotten the certificate dubiously, or it could be an easier certification that doesn’t reflect the demands of your testing needs. So make sure you test your candidates practically or ask for verifiable previous jobs they must have handled and that can be related to your needs.
Honesty
A pen tester may likely have access to some sensitive data and information in the course of carrying out their duty. You would want to be sure of their sincerity and professionalism before granting access to your system. So you don’t end up employing a hacker disguising as an ethical hacker.
Experience
Cybersecurity expert Andrew Jenkinson in an interview opines that experience is more important than certifications. He further explained that the work experience of a pen tester may help handle or resolve certain complicated problems. However, he points out that certifications should not be disregarded. For Ross Thomas, IT manager at the SSL Store, a mix of experience and certification would make a better expert.
Finally, cybercriminals and hackers are always improvising and coming up with new methods to infiltrate the cybersecurity structure of organizations and individuals, hence the importance of pen testing certification can’t be underestimated. It’s important to employ penetration testing services as a measure against data breaches. To learn the cost of penetration testing services and the factors that influence the price, read our post on penetration testing pricing.
Very useful