Becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): Overview and Guide

It is time for you to be a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) with your certification from EC-Council.  This certification validates your skills in identifying, analyzing and resolving vulnerabilities in computer and network systems.  With legal authorization, you can utilize hacking techniques to protect your organization from cyberattacks. Certified Ethical Hackers can protect and prevent sensitive data breaches from malicious attacks. Will you wish to be one of those defenders?

With the expanding digital infrastructure, cyberattacks and data breaches have become a common issue.  Cybersecurity professionals play a crucial role in tackling cyberthreats that may collapse the normal functioning of an organization.  

Introduction

With the expanding global computing systems, ethical hacking skills have also gained crucial need across small, medium, and large organizations.  According to recent reports, not only globally, but also in India there would be a major shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals  (an estimated 1.5 million worldwide shortfall by 2025; India cannot fill ~30% of its cyber jobs.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), between 2023 and 2033, the demand for information security analysts would see a significant 33% growth.  The increase in demand for cybersecurity professionals, who protect networking systems from security threats, is mainly due to the sudden surge in the frequency of cyberattacks. 

Cyberattackers target organisations from all sectors, such as healthcare, finance, education, government or non-government, immaterial of their size.  When organizations want to strengthen their cloud computing systems, there is an increasing demand for ethical hackers who can legally test or secure systems.

If you want to be a Certified Ethical Hacker, you must have strong networking skills and solid experience in cybersecurity and IT systems administration.  You also must have a strong working knowledge of common operating systems such as Windows, Linux, etc.  You must be familiar with TCP/IP protocols and also have expertise in programming and scripting languages such as C, C++, Java and Python.

In addition, ethical hackers with their knowledge of data storage systems, SQL programming and the network infrastructure, must also know how to utilize cybersecurity tools, firewalls, encryption protocols, and debugging software.  Hacking techniques are used to perform diagnostic procedures, penetration tests etc., on the IT infrastructure of an organization.

Steps to Become a Certified Ethical Hacker

If you want to become a Certified Ethical Hacker, choose the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) program. This program helps you excel in ethical hacking because it combines hands-on training with theory. Once you have earned your CEH certification, you can identify vulnerabilities in your organization’s network systems and prevent malicious hackers from attacking them.  

1. Check if You are Eligible

According to the EC-Council, there are two criteria which applicants are eligible for the final CEH exam. Under the first criteria you can attend the EC-Council training course which does not require experience in handling cybersecurity issues; the training course is designed for all networking skill levels. Under the second criterion, if you have two years of prior experience in information security, you can directly take the exam. You need not undergo the training course.

You have to submit experience certificates that validate your solid experience in the following areas, such as Cloud computing, Cryptography, Information security, Ethical hacking, Web application hacking, network and perimeter hacking, wireless network hacking, hacking techniques, IoT, Operational technology (OT) hacking and mobile platform.

If you have a minimum two years of work experience in the information security-related field or if you have completed a CEH training course offered by the EC-Council, you are eligible to take the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) exam. The CEH training course does not require cybersecurity experience.

Though there is no formal educational requirement for CEH certification, eligible candidates for certification are expected to have a strong background in computer science, computer programming, software engineering, mathematics, information security or with a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in computer science or IT management or cybersecurity.

After getting your CEH certification, you must earn EC-Council CPE credits through continued learning to keep the certification active. Keep yourself updated by practising new tools, attending conferences or pursuing advanced certification. 

2. Choose Your Training

EC-Council offers multiple training options to suit your individual learning requirements. The training covers 40 hours of learning content or five days of full-time training.

• Classroom training at authorized training centres where an EC-Council authorized trainer will deliver training to students.
• The Online Instructor-Led Training (iLearn) program allows you to study at your convenience through recorded sessions with master trainers from EC-Council.
• The online live training program allows you to attend live classes from anywhere in the world and get trained by experienced trainers.
• If you have strong expertise in network technology, you can choose to learn at your own pace. 

For more information, you can write to support@eccouncil.org.

In addition, you can also register for your training at LINT to successfully clear your CEH v12 certification exam and move high up in your networking career.   It will pave the way for your globally recognized certification in ethical hacking and open opportunities for advanced roles in cybersecurity.

3. Preparing Your CEH Exam:

The first important step before starting to prepare for your CEH exam is to go through the blueprint of the official CEH exam and know in detail about the topics covered in the exam.  You must also know about the weightage given to each topic.  This will help you to focus on the important topics and score better.

If you prefer to undergo the official EC-Council training, spend quality time to be thorough with the available course materials, instructor guidance, and the lab notes.

Spare time to practice mock exams. Mock exams help you to evaluate your understanding of the topics and also identify areas where you need to put in extra effort.  Utilize available online resources and test materials to get yourself familiar with the format and the types of questions asked.

In addition to your theoretical knowledge, you must have hands-on experience to score better.   A virtual lab environment to practice hacking techniques will help you learn in depth.  Use virtualization platforms like VirtualBox or VMware to set up your lab environment to practice hacking skills using virtual machines.

VirtualBox is a free, open-source platform.  VMware offers your virtual workstation and player for a price.  These platforms will help you to practice cybersecurity skills, explore various operating systems and test hacking software. These platforms will not harm any real systems or violate ethical rules.  By practising virtually, you can learn from your mistakes.

Collaborative learning always helps to understand networking concepts better.  If you are part of a study group with aspiring CEH candidates, it will help you clarify doubts and understand difficult techniques. Keep yourself updated with the latest cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and tools. 

4. Take the CEH Exam

Once you are ready to take the CEH exam,  you have to register for the exam through the EC-Council website or an authorized testing centre (Pearson VUE). 

The CEH exam consists of two parts, theory and practical exams.  You have the option to take both the theory and practical exam or choose just one, depending on your career goals. 

The MCQ-based exam is for 4 hours, consisting of 125 scenario-based, multiple-choice questions. The passing score is in the range of 60 to 85%. The practical exam is for 6 hours with challenges consisting of 20 real-world scenarios. It is conducted in a live cyber environment with real systems and applications. The passing score is 70%.  At least 14 challenges must be completed successfully.  

5. Maintain your credential

CEH holders must earn EC-Council CPE credits through continued learning to keep the certification active. Stay current by practicing with new tools, attending conferences, or pursuing advanced certs.

Register for the exam: eccouncil.org

CEH Salary Trends:

It is good to note that the demand for ethical hackers has increased making it a profession with competitive salaries.  According to recent Payscale salary reports, in India, the average CEH salary is between ₹6 and ₹25 lakh per annum; and in the U.S., the average CEH salary is around $97,553 per annum.

In India, the starting salary for ethical hackers varies significantly based on experience, qualification and expertise.  It can range from ₹4 and ₹20 lakh per annum. Ethical hackers can expect a significant hike in their salary depending upon their experience.

Career Paths and Job Prospects

• With your CEH certification, you can secure varied cybersecurity roles that will suit your expertise.
• As an Ethical Hacker, you will be using hacking skills for defensive purposes.
• As a Penetration Tester, you will be conducting simulated attacks on networks and systems to find the vulnerable spots.
• As a Security Analyst, you will be monitoring security systems, analyzing threats, and responding to security incidents.
• As a Security Consultant, you will be providing expert guidance to follow best practices in risk management and security.
• As an Information Security Manager, you will be supervising an organization’s security position and implementing suitable security procedures and policies.
• As a Cybersecurity Engineer, you will be designing, implementing, and maintaining security systems and infrastructure.
• As a Vulnerability Assessor, you will be identifying and analyzing weaker security areas in systems and applications. 

Career advancement

You have successfully received your certification.  Now, you will be eager to know how to advance further in your career and achieve the best.  Initially, you may start your career as a Junior Penetration Tester or a security analyst.  After gaining two to five years of experience, you may get promoted to senior roles such as Cybersecurity Consultant, Web Security Manager, Security Auditor or Security Certified Programmer.  Keep yourself updated with the latest developments in technology to move higher in your career.

Conclusion

In today’s digital landscape, data security has gained significant attention.  Ethical Hackers play a crucial role in safeguarding sensitive information by identifying system vulnerabilities.  The growing demand for cybersecurity roles assures rewarding salaries and allows you to update yourself on technological innovation.