Penetration tester skills

How to become a Penetration tester

Employers seeking Penetration Testers highly value proficiency in network, web and system security to mitigate cyber vulnerabilities. Professionals skilled in ethical hacking, vulnerability assessment and exploit development will unlock promising career avenues in cybersecurity.

Hard skills:

  1. Network Analysis - Ability to utilize software and hardware tools to analyze and detect potential threats to a network
  2. Vulnerability Scanning - Skill in identifying security gaps and potential exploits in IT systems
  3. Exploit Development - Proficiency in constructing code to take advantage of security vulnerabilities
  4. Information Gathering - Expertise in researching publicly available information to identify weaknesses
  5. Penetration Testing - Knowledge in simulating attacks on systems to assess security posture
  6. Reverse Engineering - Capacity to analyze malicious code to determine its origin and purpose
  7. Network Forensics - Ability to investigate and analyze network traffic and security breaches
  8. System Hardening - Skill in configuring systems to protect against malicious attacks

Soft skills:

  1. Analytical Thinking - Ability to identify patterns and trends in complex data sets
  2. Creative Problem Solving - Capacity to develop creative solutions to complex challenges
  3. Advanced Communication - Possessing the capacity to communicate effectively with stakeholders
  4. Organizational Agility - Proficiency in navigating complex organizational structures
  5. Adaptability - Capacity to quickly adjust to changing requirements and environments
  6. Interpersonal Savvy - Demonstrating strong interpersonal skills to build relationships
  7. Collaborative Working - Demonstrating an aptitude for working in teams and groups
  8. Risk Management - Competency in recognizing, assessing, and mitigating risks