If you are looking for an IT-related career that allows you to earn a significant amount of money while building your skills, you should consider becoming a penetration tester. In recent years, building a career as a penetration tester has become highly profitable due to the increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals. As organisations prioritise safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining customer trust, the need for experts who can identify and mitigate vulnerabilities has certainly surged. As such, penetration testers, who simulate cyber-attacks to uncover security weaknesses, are now essential in various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and e-commerce.

This heightened demand for penetration testers, coupled with the complexity of modern cyber threats that often require threat intelligence training, has led to competitive salaries and lucrative opportunities for these skilled professionals. Moreover, the expanding regulatory landscape around data protection has further amplified the need for penetration testers, making it a truly rewarding and financially attractive career path. To learn more about this career choice, read on as this article explains what exactly penetration testers do and whether a CREST certification is necessary to become one.

What Exactly Does a Penetration Tester Do?

As mentioned earlier, penetration testing is a security activity that involves attempting to find, detect, and exploit vulnerabilities within a computer system. It is usually done by a cybersecurity expert and is aimed at identifying any weak points in the defenses of a system, which cyber-attackers can take advantage of. In the cybersecurity industry, certain penetration testing roles are known by other titles, such as “assurance validator” or “ethical hacker.” That said, these roles share similar responsibilities with penetrator testers, as they focus on discovering, identifying, and attempting to exploit vulnerabilities in digital systems and networks.

Here are some of the primary responsibilities of penetration testers:

• Planning and designing penetration tests: Penetration testers need to create tests and simulations to assess how well current security measures perform.

• Performing tests and other simulations: Once assessments are planned and designed, penetration testers conduct investigations and record their findings.

• Creating reports and suggestions: Penetration testers compile their findings into reports to share with supervisors and other key decision-makers within the organisation. These reports may be written in either technical language or layman’s terms, depending on the audience.

• Giving management advice on security enhancements: Senior penetration testing team members often collaborate with company management to discuss the risks associated with particular vulnerabilities and provide recommendations on how to mitigate them.

• Working with other employees to boost organisational cybersecurity: Penetration testers collaborate with other cybersecurity and IT staff to inform employees about measures that will enhance the organisation’s cybersecurity.

Is a CREST Certification Necessary for Penetration Testing?

The short answer to this question is yes. Although not strictly required to become a penetration tester, CREST certifications are worth getting, highly valued and are increasingly becoming a standard for demonstrating competence and ethical conduct in the cybersecurity field. Hence, obtaining a CREST certification in Singapore is a significant edge for both aspiring and established penetration testers. Basically, a CREST certification is a globally recognised accreditation for both individuals and organisations in the field of cybersecurity, which demonstrates competence and adherence to industry standards, specifically in the areas of penetration testing, incident response, and threat intelligence.

Now, the journey to becoming a CREST-certified penetration tester is a significant undertaking, which necessitates a solid understanding of the fundamental requirements and skills needed for success. Firstly, to become an effective CREST-certified penetration tester, you need to have a strong educational background. Usually, a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field provides a solid foundation, offering the theoretical knowledge necessary to comprehend complex cybersecurity concepts. However, education alone is insufficient. Relevant work experience in cybersecurity is equally vital.

Moreover, you also need to have practical experience, as it enables you to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world situations, thereby enhancing your effectiveness as a penetration tester. Additionally, obtaining preliminary certifications, such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA Security+, or CISA certification (Certified Information Systems Auditor) can be highly advantageous if you want to become a successful penetration tester. These certifications not only strengthen your resume but also equip you with essential skills and knowledge for the job.

In summary, here are the key requisites for a CREST certification:

• A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or any related field;
• Relevant work experience in the area of cybersecurity;
• Preliminary certifications like CEH or CompTIA Security+.

Conclusion

Penetration testers are indeed in high demand due to the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats nowadays. Organisations across various sectors are now increasingly reliant on these professionals to safeguard their digital assets. In line with this, to become an effective penetration tester, you should consider obtaining a CREST certification, as this globally recognised accreditation ensures that testers possess the necessary skills and adhere to industry best practices. In essence, having this certification guarantees that you are equipped to handle complex security challenges, thereby making you a true asset in the cybersecurity landscape.

Should you finally decide to become a CREST-certified penetration tester, do not hesitate to reach out to BridgingMinds for valuable assistance! BridgingMinds is a highly trusted training provider offering an extensive range of high-quality courses in the areas of cybersecurity, DevOps, network analysis, cloud, and project management, among others. With numerous years of experience in the industry, you can assure that BridgingMinds already has what it takes to help you achieve career development and professional growth. Feel free to contact us anytime to find out more about our offers.