Penetration Tester Career Exploration

Want to be a penetration tester? This job comes under the classification of information security analysts, as per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Interestingly, the organization has forecasted 32% of job growth in the field between 2022 and 2032. 16,800 openings are also predicted annually in the field. Here is a guide that will help you on your journey toward becoming a licensed penetration tester and building a fulfilling career. 

Who is a Penetration Tester

A penetration tester is an information security professional who aims to uncover future security threats for organizational networks. Most companies have cybersecurity threats and hacking risks, so these professionals play a valuable role in combating them in advance.

What Are the Duties of Penetration Testers 

Certified penetration testers work on-site at client or company premises while also functioning off-site at the offices of their respective employers. They may also be engaged in remote work at times. Some of their duties include performing organizational security audits, finding possibilities of breaches/threats, writing reports for teams on the measures to be taken, and offering recommendations on system improvements while undertaking penetration testing for networks, software, and other IT equipment. 

They also support network administrators in combating cyber threats while staying updated on the evolving modus operandi of hackers worldwide. Penetration testers play a role in setting up teams to swiftly respond to incidents like breaches or hacks while creating reports on potential losses with a view toward highlighting how security problems can impact the organization.

Why Pursue a Career in Penetration Testing 

Pursuing a career in penetration testing can be a viable option for information security enthusiasts who wish to broaden their horizons in this field. Companies in the IT and ITeS industries hire these professionals, and they may also find employment in government institutions and bodies. Financial services, healthcare, and other entities may also hire these professionals. 

Penetration testers may also find employment in related fields like IT security Architects, Cybersecurity Directors, IT Security Managers, etc. At the same time, they can earn lucrative salaries. For instance, the average annual salary for these professionals stands at $120k in the USA. 

Moreover, based on reports by Cybersecurity Ventures, global vacancies witnessed stellar growth to 3.5 million jobs from 1 million jobs in 2021 alone. The figure has only increased since then.

How to Become a Penetration Tester

Wondering how to become a penetration tester? Here are the key steps to be followed for this purpose. 

• Initial education- First, you should focus on earning your high school qualification/diploma in computer science and other subjects relevant to your chosen pathway. 
• Higher education- Start by earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, Cybersecurity, or any other related field. You may also sign up for electives or additional programs in application development, network administration, computer security, and programming to widen your knowledge and skill sets. 
• Professional experience- The next step is to work as an entry-level information technology professional for some time. You can work in positions across coding, software development, help desk/support, programming, etc. 
• Certification and licensing- You should, after that, earn suitable licensing/certification that will enable you to advance your career as a penetration tester. 
• Being part of the community- Shore up your career by becoming part of information security and Cybersecurity communities. Attend workshops, seminars, conferences, and other events. Work on freelance or peer-driven projects that will boost your CV. 

You can, after that, obtain a position as a penetration tester and gradually develop your career in this field.

Skills Required

It goes without saying that a penetration tester should be a dynamic and motivated professional with multiple skill sets. These core skills include a penchant for solving Cybersecurity and other issues, system administration (knowledge of the working of networks and servers), proficiency in various computer languages, and communication skills since you will primarily work in teams. You should also have a thorough knowledge of security tools and other aspects like SQL injection, cryptography, malware, mobile hacking, password cracking, and social engineering. 

Career Scope

As mentioned earlier, the average salary for a penetration tester is $120k per year. Some other job roles in this field include the following: 

• Application Security Engineer- $136k per year
• Junior Associate- $74k per year
• Security Consultant- $93k per year
• Test Manager- $81k per year
• Security Engineer- $80k per year
• Test Engineer- $93k per year

As you can see, becoming a penetration tester comes with its fair share of benefits, from attractive salaries and perks to high demand and relative job security globally. However, you should not just build on your qualifications and skill sets but continually strive to upgrade your knowledge in order to stay relevant and keep advancing professionally.