Tips on How to Start Your Career in Ethical Hacking – Jobs and Salary – Techbytes

Tips on How to Start Your Career in Ethical Hacking – Jobs and Salary

Cyber security is one of the fastest evolving industries across the world. Furthermore, with the number of hackers and hacking attempts increasing notoriously, nearly all organizations need cyber security professionals to deal with cyberattacks and take preventive measures to avoid security breaches or data loss. That’s where ethical hacking makes perfect sense.

Traditionally, a hacker was a skilled programmer with expert skills in computer systems and machine code. However, in the contemporary world, a hacker is someone who invariably breaks into computer systems and considers hacking as part of their lifestyle. As such, ethical hackers are the good guys in the hacking world and.

Ethical hacking is a profession that anyone interested in helping others can pursue. In this post, you will find everything you need to know about ethical hacking, including how to become an ethical hacker.

What is ethical hacking? Roles of ethical hacking

Nothing could get further than the truth: the term “hacking” has very negative connotations in the real world. However, this is only until someone understands the role of an ethical hacker.

So, who are ethical hackers, and what do they do to deserve the title “ethical” hackers?

Essentially, ethical hacking is a lawful practice of getting into computer systems and networks to identify potential security threats. Primarily, ethical hacking is aimed to strengthen the network security systems of organizations. In this regard, ethical hackers, popularly known as white hat hackers, are cyber security professionals who identify weaknesses in computer systems and networks.

After identifying vulnerabilities in systems and networks, ethical hackers take preventive measures up front to counter cyberattacks by hackers with ill motives. In other words, ethical hackers determine the security breaches and vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks of businesses and organizations they work for and recommend appropriate solutions to enhance the effectiveness of the security systems.

Notably, ethical hackers use the same techniques and methodologies as the notorious black hat hackers to find system and network vulnerabilities. However, they differ from the bad guys in that they are lawfully employed to hack by respective companies. Indeed, most ethical hackers are certified.

Skill sets required for a career in ethical hacking

If you are an IT professional who appreciates the existence of computers and relishes challenges, a career in ethical hacking can be an enticing prospect for you. Technically, there is no one formulated way for becoming a hacker. However, to become an ethical hacker, as the name suggests, you need to have high ethical standards - the discipline to do the right thing regardless of the perceived benefits. Indeed, ethics is what separates the white hat guys from the black hat guys.

As an ethical hacker, you get an opportunity to use your high-end IT skills to break into computer systems and get paid good money for that. All in all, you need the right skills to get a high-ranking job.

To become a successful ethical hacker, you need to have an attitude towards continuous learning. While a degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or Mathematics gives you an edge when starting, you need a dependable exposure to various programming languages, including HTML, Python, C, C++, Java, and ASP.

That said, here are some of the areas you need to perfect.

1. Learn Programming Languages and Operating Systems

Besides studying a field concerned or related to ethical hacking, you need to up your coding and scripting skills. You need to get proficient with programming languages and frameworks.

As an ethical hacker, you want to be able to identify programming errors and vulnerabilities, implement useful security solutions, automate tasks, and handle all other tasks relating to your career.

As for programming, you can start with languages like C, C++, JavaScript, Ruby, ASP, Python, SQL, and HTML, then continue learning other languages as you get to understand different aspects of hacking. Along with programming, make sure to familiarize yourself with various Operating Systems, especially LINUX, UNIX, and Windows. Knowing the functionalities of these OSes will help broaden the effectiveness of your skills.

2. Knowledge of network and security concepts

Needless to say, you cannot be a hacker without understanding cybersecurity concepts. That’s why you need to update your knowledge base of computer networks and cyber security concepts.

Some of the concepts you need to advance your knowledge in are cryptography, firewalls, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and cloud computing malware. Understanding various types of cyber-attacks like Denial of Service (DoS) will also be of great help.

There is so much knowledge that goes into ethical hacking and, for that matter, any other type of hacking. To put it simply, for you to become a successful ethical hacker, you need to understand all aspects and concepts of cyber security and technologies that will help you break into systems and devise solutions for identified vulnerabilities.

Getting Certified as an ethical hacker

Ethical hacking is lawful, but, like any other career, you need to validate your ethical hacking skills. Relevant certifications serve as proof that you have relevant knowledge and skills while increasing your chance of getting a secured job.

Among many other certifications, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is one of the most sought-after and renowned ethical hacking certifications. The CEH exam tests your knowledge of various aspects related to the ethical hacking field.

Whatever certifications, getting certified adds credibility and value to your professional profile as an ethical hacker and can help you land a job in big tech giants.

Outlook for ethical hackers

The demand for skilled and experienced ethical hackers is rising. That said, it should be no surprise that global expenditure on IT security is approaching the trillion-dollar mark.

Many big-name enterprises are constantly looking for skilled, ethical hackers to help them combat the threat posed by black hat hackers. This means anyone trying their hands in ethical hacking can end up in a good-paying job. As an ethical hacker, you can expect an average salary of $71,000 to an excess of $120,000 per year, immensely depending on your level and where you work.

Conclusion

Now you have it: the approach you need to follow to become a successful ethical hacker. As the demand for ethical hackers continues to increase rapidly, hopefully, this guide will help you understand what you need to become a proficient hacker and put your skills on demand. You can even start working as a freelance white hat hacker.