I’m a Hacker, but I’m the Good Kind of Hackers. And I’ve Never been a Criminal. – Mikko Hypponen
Have you heard these phrases: tit for tat, eye for an eye, like for like and so on. I bet you surely have and you must be thinking the relevance of these idioms to the topic that we are going to cover. These phrases convey a specific idea: justice is best served when the reaction is equivalent to the action.
The same idea forms the fundamental principle of the profession of Ethical Hacking. While hackers are persuaded by malicious intents in unleashing a Cyber Attack; Ethical Hackers try to step into the shoes of a Hacker in breaching an organization?s computer systems security system (although legally) for coming up with appropriate countermeasures for mitigating probable attacks and threats.
Thus, to learn Ethical Hacking is to equip oneself with the expertise to develop fitting strategies for offsetting the attack by hackers and other cyber criminals.
Ethical Hacking happens to be just one of the many prospective professional avenues within the field of Cyber Security. If you wish to know more about some of the other prominent job positions within the domain, do read our blog on ?Top 8 Cyber Security Jobs?
In this blog, we will try to answer a very important question: how to learn Ethical Hacking from scratch? Consequently, we shall look at who is an Ethical Hacker, consider the best way to learn Ethical Hacking by acquiring relevant skills as well as try to understand the feasible pathway to learn Ethical Hacking.
What is Ethical Hacking?
Before we begin our journey of understanding how to learn Ethical Hacking from scratch, it is important to understand the very concept of Ethical Hacking itself.
Ethical Hacking can be understood as the legal intrusion of a computer or network system, with the objective of detecting possible security loopholes, infrastructure weaknesses or vulnerabilities, which can become potential gateways for a Cyber Attack. This process includes understanding network hacking techniques and methods used by malicious hackers, in order to better defend against them.
Ethical Hacking is also known as Penetration Testing as it entails the performance of Pen Testing with the purpose of detecting flaws in the system.
The Cyber Security expert who performs the act of Ethical Hacking is referred to as the Certified Ethical Hacker or the White Hat Hacker. These White Hat Hackers are different from malicious Black Hat Hackers.
The former undertakes legal breaching of a network system with the goal of identifying security issues; while the latter acquires unauthorized access to network systems with the intent of personal gain such as data theft, data leakage, fund transfer and so on.
Ethical Hacking is crucial in testing the cyber defences of an organization. By way of thinking like a hacker, Ethical Hackers are able to suggest measures which are best suited to deflecting possible Cyber Attacks. As you seek to learn Ethical Hacking, you must remember that:
- The Ethical Hacker must acquire Written Formal Permission from the owner of the organization before performing the act of hacking.
- Ethical Hackers are required to provide Detailed Reporting on all detected flaws and weaknesses in the system.
- Ethical Hackers are liable to safeguard the Privacy of the organization being hacked.
- They should Inform the vendors of the relevant hardware and software, wherein the weakness has been identified.
Learn Ethical Hacking from Scratch: Know How
It is indeed difficult to suggest one Best way to Learn Ethical Hacking. There can be different routes which one can potentially follow, if they wish to be an Ethical Hacker.
However, it is important to note that it is crucial to begin with sufficient clarity of concepts and with the understanding that the process to learn Ethical Hacking from scratch entails considerable knowledge and expertise.
Moreover, it is not just enough to acquire skills and expertise in consonance with that of an Ethical Hacker.
On the contrary, given the dynamic nature of the field and the rapidly increasing sophistication of Cyber Attacks and Threats; it is inevitable for Ethical Hackers to keep themselves abreast with all the industry trends and evolving issues.
While the Internet is certainly filled with an abundant of resources which might claim to help you to learn Ethical Hacking Online on your own.
However, it is always important to be really cautious of the reliability of the resources that one might use in their pursuit to learn Ethical Hacking. It is advisable to be a part of a structured curriculum of learning which can help you develop expertise in the field in an appropriate manner.
The Cyber Security Course offered at Syntax Technologies is one of the best in the field. Besides providing training under seasoned professionals of the Cyber domain, it would definitely help you in your quest to learn Ethical Hacking from scratch, even if you happen to hail from a non IT background.
Roles and Responsibilities of an Ethical Hacker
Seeking to learn Ethical Hacking from scratch is indicative of your inclination towards evolving as an Ethical Hacker.
Given so, it would only be prudent to be aware of some of the most important professional duties of a Penetration Tester. These include:
- Engagement in Social Engineering Methodologies
- Identification of Potential Threats to Network Systems
- Developing Strategies for the Abatement and Mitigation of potential issues
- Finding ways to Minimize the Impact of Cyber Attacks
- Ensure System Updates in light of potential vulnerabilities including web hacking
- Document Current Security Profile Reports
- Regularly Supervise and Monitor Network and System Resources
- Implement Security related Policies
How to Learn Ethical Hacking: Acquiring Relevant Skills
As you strive to learn Ethical Hacking, one of the most important aspects of this educational journey will be to acquire relevant skills and competencies, suitable for the position of an Ethical Hacker. These basic skills can be divided into two categories:
1. Hard/Technical Skills
2. Soft/Non-Technical Skills
Some of the most important Hard Skills include:
- In-depth knowledge of Security Concepts
- Knowledge of Web Applications
- Knowledge of Programming Languages
- Database Skills
- Cryptography
- Understanding of Advanced TCP/IP
- Familiarity with Wireshark and Linux
- Adequate understanding of Networking Concepts
- Digital Forensics
- Virtualization
Some of the most important Soft Skills include:
- Creative Thinking
- Persistence
- Problem-Solving Abilities
- Analytical Bent of Mind
- Excellent Communication Skills
Apart from these fundamental skills, there are certain other technical competencies which can serve as added advantages for Ethical Hackers. These include Network Management/Administration as well as Computer Security and IT Security and Infrastructure Skills.
In the end, you must be conscious of the fact that even as you strive to learn Ethical Hacking from scratch, given the skill specific nature of the field, it is indispensable for to cultivate the requisite competencies and abilities.
Best Way to Learn Ethical Hacking: Strive for Valuable Certifications
As you happen to try to understand how to learn Ethical Hacking, earning relevant certifications can serve as valuable additions in your education journey.
In this section, we shall look at some of the most popular certifications which can help you establish your identity as a seasoned Ethical Hacker.
1. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
This is considered to be a priceless asset within the IT security domain. Individuals with a CISSP degree are ones who have happened to undergone rigorous training in eight crucial fields within the security domain.
- Security Engineering and Architecture
- Security and Risk Management
- Identity and Access Management
- Asset Security
- Security Assessment and Training
- Communication and Network Security
- Software Development Security
- Security Operations
?2. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
As the name suggests, these individuals look into system auditing and governance issues. Professionals who happen to be CISA certified are able to detect and evaluate vulnerabilities and weaknesses as well as are responsible for reporting on institutional compliance and controls.
3. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
CISM certified professionals are ones who happen to be trained in managing, designing, supervising and evaluating information security of an organization.
These experts are able to forge connections between information security programs and the goals of the business organization. Thus, they are able to develop appropriate security measures and strategies for the future.
4. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
This certification can be seen as a relevant response to the changing security landscape. Business enterprises are increasingly moving towards the proposition of investing more and more in cloud.
As a result, it becomes imperative for Cyber Security professionals to develop strategies which specifically cater to the needs of Cloud Security.
Why Learn Ethical Hacking?
Data forms the backbone of every organization from the smallest to the biggest ones and protecting it is one of the foremost concerns of all enterprises. Securing data is also vital in terms of safeguarding one?s competitive edge over one?s competitors.
Since Ethical Hackers happen to be experts who are skilled in responding to and warding off Cyber Threats and data breaches; their demand has naturally soared across industries. Some of the other reasons which might propel you to learn Ethical Hacking are:
- Cyber Attacks and Threats are becoming more and more sophisticated
- Rapid adoption of Cloud Computing
- Soaring number of Internet users
- Tremendous increase in budgetary allocations towards the field of Cyber Security
The field of Cyber Security is expanding at a rapid pace. Moreover, according to research conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there will be a projected increase by 35% in job opportunities for Ethical Hackers between 2019 and 2029.
Moreover, the national average salary of Ethical Hackers or Penetration Testers might be at $102,000 and can even touch $130,000.
Hence, given the lucrative prospects of the field, it would only be wise to think about a career in the field by striving to learn Ethical Hacking from scratch.
Conclusion
By the end of this blog, I am pretty sure that you must be convinced of the rising significance of the field of Ethical Hacking.
Even in the face of soaring demand, there has been a continuous shortage in supply of professionals in the domain. Thus, there exist considerable opportunities for growth in the field. Consequently, it would only be in the best of interest to search for ways to learn Ethical Hacking.
One of the best ways to begin your journey to learn Ethical Hacking from scratch can be to enrol for a Cyber Security course.
If you wish to read more on how to enter the field of Cyber Security, do read our blog on ?How to Get into Cyber Security?: A Complete Guide?
We, at Syntax Technologies bring to you the alluring chance to learn Cyber Security from the comfort of your home.
Be a part of this enriching online program which would help you to enhance your skills in consonance with the existing requirements of the IT industry. Read more about our course here:
