How to Be Penetration Tester - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Sep 15, 2021 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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Penetration testing is a specialized form of security testing that simulates real-world attacks on a system to identify any weak points and vulnerabilities. It is important for organizations to conduct periodic penetration tests in order to identify security weaknesses that could be exploited by malicious actors. When these weaknesses are identified, corrective measures can be put in place to prevent a potential breach.

In addition to reducing the risk of a breach, penetration testing can also help organizations ensure compliance with regulatory standards, as well as strengthen their overall security posture. The benefits of penetration testing include improved security, increased resilience to attack, and compliance with applicable regulations.

Steps How to Become

Learn the Fundamentals. Before you can even begin to think about becoming a penetration tester, you need to understand the fundamentals of computer networking, programming, operating systems, and security. You should have a strong grasp of Linux, as well as knowledge of scripting languages like Python and Bash.
Get Certified. Certifications are a great way to demonstrate your knowledge and skills as a penetration tester. Consider certifications such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN), and EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA).
Build Your Toolkit. Its important to have the right tools in your arsenal when you become a penetration tester. Popular tools such as Metasploit, Nmap, Wireshark, and Burp Suite are essential for any security professional.
Practice, Practice, Practice. Its important to practice what youve learned in order to become an effective penetration tester. There are plenty of online resources available to hone your skills, such as vulnerable virtual machines or websites. You can also set up your own lab environment or join an online community such as HackTheBox or VulnHub for practice.
Find Opportunities. Once youve honed your skills and built your toolkit, its time to find opportunities in the field. Look for open positions at local or national security firms or contact companies directly to offer your services. You can also look for freelance work on sites like Upwork or Freelancer.

Penetration testing is an important part of keeping businesses secure from potential threats. It involves testing a company's systems, networks and applications for weaknesses that could be used to gain unauthorized access. To ensure that the tests are reliable and capable, it is important to use experienced and qualified penetration testers who have the necessary skills and knowledge to accurately assess the security of the system.

organizations should use the right tools and procedures to ensure that the tests are comprehensive and up to date. Finally, it is important to have a clear understanding of the scope of the tests to ensure that all potential threats are identified and addressed. All of these factors combined will help to ensure that the penetration tests are reliable and capable.

You may want to check Privacy Officer, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), and Cyber Operations Specialist for alternative.

Job Description

Assess security posture and identify weaknesses in systems and applications.
Perform vulnerability assessments, penetration tests and other security assessments.
Utilize network and application scanning tools to identify vulnerabilities.
Write reports summarizing the findings of penetration tests and other security assessments.
Monitor networks for suspicious activity and provide analysis of security events.
Provide guidance on best practices for secure system configuration, hardening, and patching.
Develop custom tools, scripts and exploits to assess security posture.
Perform advanced threat modeling and identify potential attack vectors.
Analyze malware, malicious software, and other malicious activity.
Develop security policies, procedures, and training materials.

Skills and Competencies to Have

Networking fundamentals
Operating systems knowledge
Experience with scripting languages (Perl, Python, Bash, etc. )
Security concepts (encryption, authentication, authorization)
Understanding of network protocols and services (HTTP, SSH, FTP, etc. )
Knowledge of security tools and techniques (port scanning, vulnerability scanning, exploitation, etc. )
Security auditing and assessment
Ability to interpret results from security scans
Familiarity with compliance and regulatory standards (PCI-DSS, SOX, HIPAA, etc. )
Knowledge of web application security (SQL injection, XSS, etc. )
Understanding of wireless network security
Risk assessment and management
Excellent communication and report writing skills

A successful penetration tester needs a unique set of skills and knowledge to be able to effectively identify and exploit potential vulnerabilities in a system. One of the most important skills to have is an understanding of how computers and networks operate, including knowledge of different operating systems, network protocols and web technologies. A penetration tester must also have an understanding of software development, including the ability to read and understand code.

an effective penetration tester should have the ability to identify and analyze potential security flaws in code, as well as the ability to develop custom scripts and tools to exploit vulnerabilities. Furthermore, a penetration tester must be able to think outside of the box in order to find potential security issues that may not be obvious. Finally, a successful penetration tester must also have excellent communication skills, as they are often required to present their findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical audiences.

All of these skills combined will help ensure that a penetration tester is able to effectively identify and exploit potential security vulnerabilities in a system.

Identity Management Specialist, Digital Security Specialist, and Cybersecurity Strategist are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have in performing penetration tests?
How familiar are you with security tools and frameworks such as Metasploit and Nmap?
What challenges have you experienced in carrying out a successful penetration test?
Describe a successful penetration test report you have created.
Are you comfortable with scripting in languages such as Python, Bash, and Ruby?
How do you stay up-to-date on the latest threats and vulnerabilities?
What methods do you use to ensure the accuracy of your findings?
How do you identify sensitive data during a penetration test?
What is your experience in creating and implementing security policies?
Do you have any experience in developing secure applications or systems?

Common Tools in Industry

Kali Linux . an open-source OS specifically designed for penetration testing and security auditing (eg: used to identify vulnerabilities in networks and systems).
Nmap . a free and open-source network scanner used to discover hosts and services on a computer network (eg: can be used to find open ports, running services, and other information).
Metasploit . an open-source framework for developing and executing exploit code against a remote target machine (eg: used to identify and exploit existing vulnerabilities).
Wireshark . a network protocol analyzer used to capture and analyze data packets over a network (eg: can be used for packet sniffing and analyzing traffic).
Burp Suite . an integrated platform for performing security testing of web applications (eg: can be used to detect application-level vulnerabilities).
John the Ripper . an open-source password cracking tool used to recover lost or forgotten passwords (eg: used to crack encrypted passwords stored in databases).
Aircrack-ng . a suite of tools used for wireless network auditing, cracking, and analysis (eg: can be used to crack WEP and WPA-PSK network keys).
Nexpose . a vulnerability management solution used to identify and prioritize security risks across an organizations networks (eg: can be used to identify vulnerabilities in web applications).

Professional Organizations to Know

International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC²)
Association of Computing Machinery (ACM)
Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)
Cloud Security Alliance (CSA)
Internet Security Auditors & Consultants Association (ISACA)
Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)
GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
SANS Institute
National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE)
National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA)

We also have Cybercrime Investigator, Encryption Engineer, and Malware Analyst jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Vulnerability Assessment. A process of identifying, quantifying and prioritizing security weaknesses in systems and networks.
Network Security Auditing. The process of assessing the security of a network to identify any existing security vulnerabilities.
Application Security Testing. A set of methods and techniques used to identify and address security vulnerabilities in computer applications.
Security Incident Response. The process of responding to and addressing security threats or incidents.
Risk Management. The process of identifying, assessing and managing potential risks in order to protect an organization's assets.
Social Engineering. A type of attack that involves manipulating people into divulging confidential information or performing actions that would otherwise be detrimental to the organization.
Malware Analysis. The process of analyzing malicious software to determine how it works, how it affects systems, and how it can be prevented or removed.
Penetration Testing. A type of security testing that uses simulated attacks to identify potential weaknesses in a system or network.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is a Penetration Tester? A1: A Penetration Tester is a cybersecurity professional who tests the security of computer systems and networks to identify vulnerabilities and recommend measures to improve security. Q2: What kind of skills are needed for a Penetration Tester? A2: Penetration Testers need to have strong technical skills in order to identify and exploit weaknesses in systems or networks. They also need excellent problem-solving, analytical and communication skills. Q3: How many types of penetration tests are there? A3: There are three main types of penetration tests: external testing, internal testing, and blind testing. Each type of test focuses on different aspects of the system or network being tested. Q4: What is an example of a Penetration Test? A4: An example of a Penetration Test would be using automated tools to scan a network for vulnerabilities and then manually exploiting those vulnerabilities to gain access to the system or network. Q5: How often should Penetration Tests be conducted? A5: The frequency of Penetration Tests should be determined by the organization doing the testing, and is based on factors such as the size and complexity of the system or network, the risk associated with it, and how often it changes. Generally, organizations should conduct Penetration Tests at least once a year.

Web Resources

What Is Penetration Testing? - Western Governors University www.wgu.edu
What Is a Penetration Tester? Exploring the Role of These Ethical ... www.rasmussen.edu
How to Become a Penetration Tester - Western Governors www.wgu.edu