IT Certification Profile: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
March 18, 2015
Hackers are an organization’s worst nightmare. Right? Well, that depends on whose side they’re really on. In an effort to eliminate any vulnerability in system security, Ethical Hackers are gaining popularity as the solution to such a huge issue. So much so that there is a certification program built around it. Businesses and government-related organizations that are serious about their network security hire ethical hackers and penetration testers to help probe and improve their networks, applications, and other computer systems with the ultimate goal of preventing data theft and fraud. If this IT certification is something you’re interested in or think would be a great value to your enterprise, keep reading to find out more!
What is an Ethical Hacker, exactly?
According to EC-Council, a Certified Ethical Hacker is an individual who is usually employed with the organization and who can be trusted to undertake an attempt to penetrate networks and/or computer systems using the same methods and techniques as a malicious Hacker1. The purpose of ethical hacking is to evaluate the security of a network or system’s infrastructure. It entails finding and attempting to exploit any weaknesses to determine whether unauthorized access or other malicious activities are possible.
Given the nature of the job and the expertise required, ethical hackers are highly paid employees with access to the most sensitive data of a company. Therefore, potential employees must be highly skilled to be able to secure such a position, and face a challenging set of selection criteria.
How to become certified
Becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) involves earning the appropriate credential from the EC-Council after a few years of security-related IT experience. The certification will help you understand security from the mindset of a hacker. You’ll learn the common types of exploits, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures. This course will significantly benefit security officers, auditors, security professionals, site administrators, and anyone who is concerned about the integrity of their network infrastructure.
EC-Council works with authorized partners worldwide to provide training. There are approximately 480 training centers in 87 countries, so potential candidates can attend anywhere in the world that has an authorized training center. You can also take advantage of the program online; EC- Council has a series of endorsed partners who have created e-learning curricula.
Is the certification worth it?
The career impact of getting the credential is often significant, according to EC-Council’s Senior Director Steven Graham2. CEH is the second fastest-growing IT security certification as far as salary hikes – with the average payout to a Certified Ethical Hacker at $71,331 per year. However, the salary ranges from $24,760 to $111,502 depending on the individual’s experience and location.
Certified Ethical Hacking positions are challenging, interesting and pay extremely well, prompting professionals to consider CEH as a good career move. If you’re an outside-the-box thinker, have a keen eye for solving problems and love security, the CEH is an excellent way for you to move forward in your career. To learn more about the certification program, visit the EC-Council webpage.
What value could a Certified Ethical Hacker bring to your organization? Share your thoughts below!
Posted By: Ariana Hampton-Marcell