How to Become an Ethical Hacker

With cybercrime on the rise, the demand for innovative cybersecurity solutions is growing. Malicious actors — cybercriminals — use methods from malware to deepfakes to access data, damage infrastructure, and disrupt the global supply chain. Modern organizations have to rise to these increasingly sophisticated challenges.

Ethical hackers help level the playing field. They turn the methods of threat actors against the criminals, simulating attacks to test just how robust the cybersecurity posture of an organization is. Becoming an ethical hacker requires specialized training — and could lead you to a lucrative career where you make a difference in the fight against cybercrime.

Discover more about ethical hacking and how to become an ethical hacker with no experience by embarking on the right courses. Read our guide on how to become an ethical hacker for beginners below.

What is an Ethical Hacker?

A certified ethical hacker is qualified in offensive security, often shortened to simply OffSec. OffSec includes various proactive security strategies that test networks for vulnerabilities using the same methods as malicious actors. You may hear ethical hackers referred to as “white hat hackers,” which is a term used to differentiate the “good guys” from the “bad guys.” Some people refer to ethical hackers as penetration testers, but that’s just one task performed by a fully qualified ethical hacker.

Tasks that fall under the remit of the ethical hacker may include:

• Vulnerability assessment
• Penetration testing
• Recommendation of mitigation strategies
• Implementing new security controls
• Monitoring and responding to security threats
• Liaising with other cybersecurity personnel to ensure holistic approaches to security

Ethical hacking is just one option if you’re interested in learning how to become a cybersecurity specialist, but it’s in demand due to the rising risk of cyberattacks.

Key Responsibilities

While ethical hackers may perform any of the above tasks, they’re trained in key functionalities that other cybersecurity personnel may not have experience with.

Identifying system vulnerabilities is a major responsibility of the ethical hacker. They utilize the same methods as cybercriminals to check for vulnerabilities, such as weak network security. They may also assess the cybersecurity awareness of personnel by launching fake phishing scams to check if employees are following the correct steps as per an organization’s data security protocols.

Penetration testing or pen testing means conducting a simulated cyberattack, perhaps using malware or other invasive techniques, to test a network, app, or website’s security posture. Ethical hackers may perform increasingly sophisticated attacks on a regular basis, making recommendations based on the results of the penetration test.

Risk assessment can also fall under the ethical hacker’s remit. For example, if the organization wants to invest in new software, the ethical hacker may perform a security risk assessment to determine if the new applications could lead to unacceptable vulnerabilities.

Ethical Hacking is a Growing Field: Market Insights and Career Opportunities

Learning how to become an ethical hacker is a popular educational route right now due to the rise in cybercrime. Let’s take a look at how that’s impacting the market for these professionals and what that might mean for you as a prospective cybersecurity learner.

Market Trends in Ethical Hacking

The ethical hacking sector is experiencing accelerated market growth—it was worth $1.2 billion in 2023 and is set to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.5% between now and 2032. These figures highlight the soaring demand for skilled cyber specialists who can keep pace with the shifting methods used by malicious actors.

That demand is driven by an alarming increase in cyberattacks and data breaches. Forbes reports a new record of 72% increase in data breaches since 2021. In 2023, there were 2,365 reported cyberattacks, with an estimated 343,338,964 victims.

Forbes also reported that the market for information technology roles in the cybersecurity sector is projected to grow by 32% by 2032. Learning how to become an ethical hacker now could be the smart move to ensure job security in the future.

Salary Expectations for Ethical Hackers

The average salary in the United States for an ethical hacker is $111,541. However, this can rise to over $138,000 as professionals gain more experience. It’s also worth noting that the increasing demand for qualified, certified professional hackers could see these salaries rise in the future.

How to Become an Ethical Hacker – From Education to Certification

If you can see yourself as an ethical hacker, you need to know what route to take. Your potentially lucrative career starts with the right education and avenues you can pursue to gain real-world experience as an ethical hacker.

Degrees and Basic Knowledge

If you want to become an information technology expert, you might pursue a degree such as Computer Science or Cybersecurity. Either of these will give you the foundational knowledge you need to pursue a specialized focus on ethical hacking.

Degree courses are in-depth and require a huge time commitment, but will provide well-rounded knowledge on either IT topics or cybersecurity-specific subjects. Learners can then use that knowledge as a basis from which to move on to their chosen specialized subject.

Essential Certifications for Ethical Hackers

You may be wondering how to become an ethical hacker without a degree. Some learners may find that the college lifestyle isn’t for them or that they can’t make the necessary time commitment. There are other options, such as dedicated ethical hacking courses that provide real-life experience as well as relevant certifications.

Many different types of cybersecurity certifications provide experience and knowledge for a career in ethical hacking. Options include:

• CEH: The Certified Ethical Hacker Certification, or CEH for short, is a respected professional qualification that shows that you specialize in ethical hacking.
• CISM: CISM stands for Certified Information Security Manager. The Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), an association focused on secure IT governance, provides this certificate.
• CompTIA Security+: CompTIA (Computing Technology Industry Association) is a non-profit organization responsible for issuing various industry standard IT certifications. The Security+ is a baseline cybersecurity qualification that proves you have a good foundation in cybersecurity basics.

Plenty of people find work in cybersecurity without a degree by following specialized training designed to provide hands-on experience and networking opportunities with potential employers.

How Long Does it Take to Become an Ethical Hacker?

How hard is it to become an ethical hacker, and what’s the time commitment? Course commitments vary, and your previous level of experience will determine how challenging your education journey is. Degree courses take 2-4 years and may require a full-time commitment from you as a learner. You have to ensure you can balance the learning requirements with the other demands in your life.

Specialized technical courses are often run at least partly online, allowing a more self-paced approach. Learners can complete the online parts of the program at times that suit them, leaving time for work, family, and other commitments.

Whatever path you choose, remember that you get out what you put in. The more time you spend on your education, the better the opportunities will be for you at the end of that journey.

Key Skills Needed for Success as an Ethical Hacker

So, what skills do you need when learning how to become an ethical hacker? Your chosen course will teach you most of the technical skills you need, but there are soft skills you should consider, too. Let’s take a look.

Technical Skills for Ethical Hacking

Ethical hackers will need competencies in programming languages like Python and JavaScript. If you already know how to code, that experience will help you greatly. Other technical skills required include networking, such as understanding TCP/IP protocols and VPNs. Ethical hackers must also learn how to use penetration testing tools such as Metasploit and Kali Linus.

Soft Skills

A great cybersecurity specialist needs to have more than just technical expertise. As a successful ethical hacker, you’ll need a good sense of justice to help motivate you in your role. You’ll also need excellent problem-solving skills, which you should be able to demonstrate in various situations.

Critical thinking is essential, including the ability to quickly highlight problems to the necessary personnel within your organization — and suggest solutions. With that in mind, effective communication skills are also a “must-have” as ethical hackers need to liaise with chief information security officers (CISOs) and various other IT team members.

One of the most important soft skills is adaptability. You must be willing to learn and pivot in line with shifting cyber threats, to stay one step ahead of the malicious actors.

Start Your Career as an Ethical Hacker with Free Training at Per Scholas

Per Scholas offers cybersecurity training focusing on the skills you’ll need to succeed in your chosen career. We partner with local organizations to help provide you with real-life, hands-on experiences that you can use to enter the job market as a prime candidate.

Ready to unlock your potential? Start your journey toward a career in ethical hacking by browsing the Per Scholas cybersecurity courses.