How to Start a Career in Ethical Hacking: A Step by Step guide
Ethical hacking is one of the most fascinating disciplines in the IT industry. A career in this field comes with high pays, always something new to learn, and the job is just like a strategy game. In this discipline, you will either learn how to hack a system or stop someone from hacking it.
However, certain major skills along with a career-oriented degree are needed to kick start a career in ethical hacking. The following blog is designed to offer the footsteps to the door of ethical hacking, shed light on the best course to become a successful ethical hacker, and the top management college in Meerut where you can enroll to pursue the course.
What is Ethical Hacking?
Hacking is the practice of identifying vulnerabilities in a computer system, device, or network with the intent to gain unauthorized access to the data it holds. Ethical hackers deal with the aim of finding out the vulnerabilities to fix them or protect them from malicious attacks.
When organizations employ ethical hackers for testing the computers they are also referred to as penetration testers. White hat hackers are another name to describe ethical hackers and black hat hackers are those who work on the other side of the law and find vulnerabilities to exploit them. Grey hat hackers are the ones who may be working for the right reasons but use unethical approaches for it. Their intentions may be pure but work outside the norms.
- Ethical hackers work under a code of conduct that differentiates them from the malicious hackers.
What does an Ethical Hacker do?
An ethical hacker or pentester aims to help identify the hidden flaws in computer systems, devices, or networks and recommend fixes before these flaws can be exploited. Organizations will ask ethical hackers to do their testing and functions on a specific system or network that will be in scope for testing.
Some daily activities of ethical hackers include:
- Conducting an assessment of vulnerabilities in network, system, or web applications
- Scanning networks using tools like Nmap
- Analyzing network structure and protocols using tools like Wireshark
- Processing and reviewing bulk data and searching file shares to seek passwords
- Communicating with clients and assisting seniors with security debriefs
- Documenting all findings into a report that includes details for non-technical readers technical details.
Not all the time an ethical hacker is engaged in hacking, they also spend their time writing documentation, reporting activities and findings, and liaising with customers. However, technical offensive skills are not sufficient to become a successful ethical hacker. These professionals also require good communication and soft skills.
5 Key Steps to Become an Ethical Hacker
Below discussed are the key 5 steps to becoming a successful ethical hacker.
Step 1- Developing the foundational hacking skills
The ethical hacking aspirants should begin with the fundamental cyber security skills required for hacking such as scripting, Linux, windows, and networking. This forms a base for your career. Mastering these fundamental skills will also accelerate your ability to learn advanced hacking concepts, tools, and techniques. Also check What is AICTE? What are the benefits of attending an AICTE approved college?
Step 2- Select a learning path
After gaining the foundational hacking skills, the next step is to pursue a certification, degree, or self-directed training course that can prove your competency in cyber security. Bachelor of Computer Application, BCA is the most suitable program to pursue a career in ethical hacking. DDUMC, The best BCA College in Meerut offers the BCA program with cyber security and ethical hacking to prepare students for a career in cyber security and ethical hacking field.
Step 3- Prove your practical skills
Use hacking labs to simulate practice in real real-world environment. Acquiring this experience is helpful for gaining hands-on practical learning and for cracking interviews, elevating your confidence to the next level.
Step 4- Create your online presence
Recruiters generally seek for online presence when it comes to hiring. There are various platforms that help to show your credentials, achievements, and skills including LinkedIn, GitHub, YouTube, and Stack Overflow.
Step 5- Apply for Jobs
You can seek cyber security jobs on general websites like Indeed and LinkedIn. These platforms will help you find recruiters who value your knowledge and practical experience.
To make a successful career in the ethical hacking domain one of the crucial steps is to choose the right college. Famously known as IIMT Mall Road, DDUMC is the best private college in Meerut that offers a career-oriented BCA program with cyber security and ethical hacking specialization. For decades the college has successfully prepared excellent professionals who can lead the industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which degree is best to become an ethical hacker?
BCA with ethical hacking specialization is the best program to make a career in ethical hacking.
What are the options for ethical hackers?
Data security analyst, Security Engineer, Security consultant, and Penetration tester.
What is the role of an ethical hacker in an organization?
They are responsible for performing vulnerability assessments, security audits, and penetration testing to find and fix the vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers.
