The word “hacker” has long had negative connotations, but they’re not always bad! Certified Ethical Hackers have an important job in the world of information security.
It’s the perfect time to become a CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
The advent of the modern digital world has brought with it the unwelcome intrusion of the cyber hacker. Online theft and random crime has escalated to an unprecedented level, disrupting the security and privacy of individuals and corporations interacting online. Hackers have figured out that it is way easier to hack a corporate network and extract data worth millions of dollars than it is to hold a gun against someone’s head.
What makes matters worse is that these cyber criminals use advanced technologies to infiltrate high profile businesses. Although corporations across the globe have adopted measures to try to keep abreast and avoid being hacked, it seems as if the criminals are always one step ahead.
Because of this surge in hacker activity, businesses need professionals who can counteract these crimes and who can show proficiency in ethical hacking.
Read our reasons to why now is the perfect time to become a certified ethical hacker.
What Is a Certified Ethical Hacker?
First, let’s define what an ethical hacker is. An ethical hacker is a security professional who can find vulnerabilities in systems. They can function and exploit weaknesses exactly like unethical hackers but do so in a legitimate way.
This is done to fix the vulnerabilities before the system is breached by unethical hackers. Below are five reasons to become certified as an ethical hacker.
Benefits of Becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker
1. Think Like A Criminal Hacker
To be able to understand the world of the hacker you must be able to think like him. Because most people do not think like hackers it gives hackers an advantage. The normal person does not know what technologies or methods hackers use to exploit the systems they target.
When taking the certified ethical hacker course, you will learn the methods utilized in hacking and penetration testing. You will receive hands-on practical training in thinking and acting like a criminal hacker.
An environment is set up which is like the one hackers function in, so as to give you firsthand experience and simulate the types of scenarios you might encounter.
2. Defend Systems Against Attacks
As a CEH, you will have complete control over your organizations systems so you can properly protect them against cyber-attacks. There is a huge amount of data available online for cyber criminals to utilize.
With certified ethical hacker training you will possess the hacking skills needed to penetrate every weakness in your organization’s systems so you can learn how best to protect that data.
Knowing the weaknesses in your system will allow you to double up on your security perimeters. The possible attack and penetration of your organization can result in the loss of essential data, often the credit card breaches that make waves in the news, which can have far-reaching effects and damage to the organization’s reputation.
3. The Hacking Business Is Flourishing
Apart from the fact that hackers are making a lot of money stealing, those on the ethical hacking side are experiencing a boom as well. The need to train certified ethical hackers has risen tremendously due to the demand for over 500,000 security professionals. With so many organizations under attack, the demand has far exceeded the supply.
Although ethical hackers are mostly employed by IT firms, other industries such as airlines, financial institutions and hotels recruit CEH’s as well.
The kind of lucrative jobs available include network security administrators, security executives and web security managers.
4. Receive Professional Recognition
This skillset alone has emerged as the single most important one in the defense of an organization’s data infrastructure. Apart from the monetary compensation that accompanies such a certification, you are also recognized as a professional in your field.
The CEH certification is recognized worldwide as a valuable certification to have in the information security sector.
Showing this certificate will open a lot of closed doors that others who have the experience but not the credentials have up to now found impossible to open.
According to the EC Council, this certification is the most comprehensive hacking course available in the industry, containing 20 of the most current security domains.
5. Acquire Knowledge
Learning everything there is to know about hacking, although a serious topic, can be fun as well. Not only are you increasing knowledge, but you are also securing your own online environment by making sure it does not get compromised.
One of the positive points of studying to become an ethical hacker is your exposure to the world of the dark web.
Knowing how to surf and navigate the deep dark waters of the dark web will expose you to knowing attacks before they are carried out.
Conclusion
Becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker can be beneficial to almost any information security or tech career. Not only will you learn about an industry that is very stimulating and rewarding, but you will also be rewarded handsomely for your expertise.
The job availability in this sector ensures that you never have to be stranded when it comes to income.
Apart from that you will be branded as an expert in this field, which can open up more job prospects and increase your earnings potential.