How to Become a Penetration Tester

When cyber criminals strike, it’s penetration testers who come to the rescue. Using their hacking skills and information technology know–how, these cyber security heroes are responsible for protecting businesses and organisations from damaging cyber attacks. But there simply aren’t enough of them.

Fancy putting your computer skills to good use and starting a new career path? If you already have an understanding of computer networks and an analytical mind, read on. We will explore the skills, qualifications and experience you’ll need to become a penetration tester.

What Qualifications Do You Need to Become a Penetration Tester?

Bachelor’s degree/postgraduate route

If you have a degree in computer science, information security, or cyber security you could apply for a graduate trainee penetration tester role. While these jobs are becoming more widely available, you can still expect to face plenty of competition, and many job descriptions mention a preference for applicants with a postgraduate qualification.

Studying cyber security at postgraduate level will increase your chances of getting a trainee ethical hacking job without needing several years of industry experience. The first step in your journey may be gaining a master’s degree in the relevant subject. Once you’re working, your employer can pay for you to complete extra industry ethical hacking course training, such as the Certified Penetration Tester certification courses.

Professional certification route

If you want to become a penetration tester, but you don’t have a computer-related degree, you’ll need a combination of work experience and industry qualifications. This route entails starting your cyber security career with an entry-level role in systems administration, IT development, or IT support. Your employer should provide funding for professional certifications so that you can study while you work, but self-study is also an option.

Professional certifications for penetration testers

Certified Penetration Tester
Certified Ethical Hacker
Offensive Security Certified Professional
GIAC Certified Incident Handler
CISCO CCNA Security

Penetration testers are also known as ethical hackers or white hat hackers because they use their hacking skills for good.

Skill Set Required for a Penetration Tester

Communication skills (spoken and written)
Analytical skills
Attention to detail
Understanding of software development
Reverse engineering skills
Understanding of network security

Problem-solving skills
Knowledge of relevant programming languages
The ability to think strategically
Soft skills
Technical skills

What Does a Penetration Tester Do?

Using their knowledge of hacking methodologies, computer systems, web applications and software, penetration testers test out the cyber defences of businesses to make sure that they can fend off real-world cyber attacks. With the help of penetration testing tools, these security experts simulate attacks, identify security issues and recommend improvements.

£0,000

Average Salary for a Penetration Tester

Typical Duties for a Penetration Tester

Planning and creating penetration methods and tests
Carrying out remote vulnerability assessments of each client’s network
Testing infrastructure to expose any weaknesses
Exposing any malware and removing it seamlessly
Installing the proper firewall protection systems
Creating reports and presenting findings

Suggesting improvements to hardware, software and networks
Creating reports and presenting findings
Carrying out physical security assessments
Keeping up to date with the latest hacking methods and penetration tools
Preventing security breaches before they happen
Identify any security flaws and take security measures

Popular Career Pathways for Penetration Testers

Once you’ve gained 3-5 years of experience as a professional penetration tester, you’ll be able to progress to the role of a senior penetration tester. You could then become a lead cyber security specialist, a scrutiny consultant or a security architect. Alternatively, you might prefer to move into self-employment or consultancy work.

If you’re female and interested in pen testing we recommend checking out some of the schemes aimed at encouraging more women to join the cyber security industry. Websites worth visiting include WISE (Women into science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and Girl Geeks.

IT security is big news, and UK businesses are increasingly investing in penetration testing to protect valuable data from new threats. So if you’re tech-savvy with a desire to learn, why not join the fight against cyber criminals by signing up to one of our cyber security courses?