Cybersecurity, much like any technical field, offers a multitude of jobs with various skills to explore. To validate your knowledge and hacking skills, obtaining certifications in hacking is essential. The FINDUID's article will discuss some of the most common certifications for ethical hackers that you should consider.
What is ethical hacker salary?
The average monthly salary for an ethical hacker in India is ₹51,230 (~0.61 USD), as reported by Glassdoor [1]. PayScale, which provides an annual salary estimate for certified ethical hackers in India, indicates an average of ₹517,569 (~6.3 USD) per year [2]. Your earnings are typically influenced by various factors, such as your educational background, relevant skills, and possession of related certifications.
Ethical hacker
Top 5 beneficial certifications for ethical hackers
Offensive security certified professional (OSCP)
At the top position, we have the OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional). This certification is widely recognized in the cybersecurity community and holds a prominent status. Upon successful completion of the examination, you can demonstrate to employers that you are capable of hacking into five computers within 24 hours. This certification is suitable for: Information security professionals transitioning to penetration testing, Pentesters seeking a leading certification in the field, Security experts, Network administrators, and other technology professionals.
- Certification content includes: 24-hour hands-on exam, TCP/IP network scanning, practical Windows and Linux administration, basic Bash or Python scripting. The price for each of these certifications is approximately $999 USD.
Offensive security certified professional (OSCP)
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification exam assesses your skills in Threats and Security Attack Vectors, Attack Detection, Attack Prevention, Procedures, Methods, etc. The curriculum bears a resemblance to OSCP but also includes topics such as Cloud Computing and Operational Technologies. The exam consists of 125 questions to be completed within a 4-hour timeframe, along with a practical challenge lasting six hours for those seeking mastery. This cybersecurity certification is essential for roles related to red teaming.
The certification is designed for Information Security Analysts/Administrators, Information Assurance (IA) Officers, Directors/Experts in Information Security, System Security Engineers, Risk/Threat/Vulnerability Analysts, and System Administrators.The price for each of these certifications is approximately 1199$ USD.
- Details include: 125 questions; Exam Duration: 4 hours; Exam Format: Multiple Choice; Exam Testing Provider: ECC EXAM; VUE, Exam Prefix: 312-50 (ECC EXAM), 312-50 (VUE).
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
This certification is intended for hackers with the desire to build structures and systems that other hackers will later attempt to breach. CISSP is a recognized program in the industry, demonstrating that you possess the necessary skills to design, implement, and manage an effective cybersecurity program.
Certification requirements include a minimum of five years of experience in two or more of the eight CBK domains, passing the CISSP exam, completing the (ISC)² Code of Ethics verification and endorsement process, and maintaining certification through regular Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits. The price for each of these certifications is approximately $158,190 USD.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
CompTIA Security+
One interesting aspect of this certification is that it has been approved by the U.S. Department of Defense! Coming from a government agency, you can be assured that they scrutinize every detail to ensure everything is secure.
The exam comprises approximately 90 questions with a duration of 90 minutes. Don't underestimate this certification. Diligent study and practice are essential to pass this exam, although it is shorter than some other exams. However, this is the cybersecurity certification for ethical hackers as it focuses on core cybersecurity skills crucial to the profession. CompTIA Security+ is designed for those on the red team.
- Detail: You will answer 90 questions within 90 minutes, and you will pass when you achieve a score of 750/900. To take this certification exam, you are required to have CompTIA Network+ and two years of experience in IT security administration. The price for each of these certifications is approximately 392$ USD.
CompTIA Security+
eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester (eJPT)
ELearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester is a cybersecurity certification designed for beginners. Its primary focus is to ensure that you feel comfortable with penetration testing and essential aspects of information security. It's not a theory-based exam. Instead, you are required to conduct a real penetration test on a company's network. Therefore, if you successfully complete the test, you'll be able to demonstrate your skills in the real world.
This cybersecurity certification often serves as the first step for cybersecurity professionals and ethical hackers. All you need to get started is a VPN, a stable internet connection, and $200. You can claim the certification for the red team.
LearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester (eJPT)
The article above has provided you some information about top 5 beneficial certifications for ethical hackers. If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact FINDUID for prompt answers.