Is Penetration Testing The Path For You

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to hack and problem-solve daily while making the world more secure? That’s what penetration testers do!

What Is Penetration Testing?

A penetration test evaluates the security controls implemented in a company’s infrastructure or application. Many companies need to stay compliant with various security standards and regulations to ensure data protection and maintain the integrity of data provided by customers, such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001. The penetration tester will identify vulnerabilities and suggest remediation steps for the company to implement. After the penetration test is complete, a report will be sent to the client. Penetration testing is also a broad term, as there are different niches, like applications, networks, and physical security.

Skills You Need to Succeed

People think penetration testing involves daily hacking and writing reports, but there are a few things to remember when becoming a successful penetration tester.

Understanding Your Niche

As mentioned, penetration testers can specialize in web applications, networks, or physical security niches (many others besides these three examples). Each niche has different certifications you can take to advance your skillset. For example, the OSCP is a general penetration testing certification encompassing web application and network security. However, the OSWE is specific to web application security. Additionally, new vulnerabilities are presented daily, and you are responsible for staying on top of the latest vulnerability trends.

Communication Skills

You must communicate with clients through kick-off calls, debrief meetings, and ongoing discussions. When explaining vulnerabilities to a client, you can’t be too technical, as most of the conversation will not be with highly technical individuals. Begin by practicing explanations of vulnerabilities to non-technical people. Clear communication is critical for client meetings and reports.

Patience

Patience seems a bit odd to say, but penetration testing can be frustrating at times. Sometimes, the client’s testing environment may not be fully prepared. When this happens, maintain open communication with the client to ensure the test runs smoothly. You may run into an engagement where you can’t find anything. Take a step back and think about different paths you can take to identify a vulnerability. There have been engagements where I saw no vulnerabilities, which can happen. Highlight the client’s strong security posture.

The Benefits and Challenges of the Role

Penetration testing can be stressful because it involves identifying vulnerabilities in a company’s infrastructure or applications and communicating these findings with clients. Here are a few pros and cons of being a penetration tester.

Pros of Penetration Testing

• Client Uniqueness - Every client is different, and you will have unique functionality to explore on each engagement.
• Securing Data - You know your work will make the client more secure, protecting sensitive data that may be stored and reducing the risk of cyberattacks to an organization.
• Continuous Work—You will always have work to do, whether developing new skills or handling a new client engagement.
• Career Advancements—There is always career growth to solidify your skill in penetration testing, such as taking more advanced certifications or developing a new tool to help automate tasks.

Challenges of Penetration Testing

• Timeline Management—Projects have strict timelines. You must deliver a report if the client needs it by a specific date. We always want our clients to be as happy as possible.
• Lack of Findings—If you don’t find something on an engagement, a client may question the test and request additional time with another tester to validate that their security controls are correctly set.
• Poor Communication - Communicating vulnerability severity with clients may get heated if the client doesn’t deem the severity the same as the one in the report. Clear communication of the vulnerability and impact will help the client better understand the severity given.

Is Penetration Testing Right for You?

Penetration testing is not for everyone, but you can succeed if you put your mind to it. While starting may be challenging, vulnerabilities will become easier to identify with experience. Ask yourself these questions when choosing if this is the right path for you.

• Do you enjoy solving complex problems?
• Do you enjoy learning consistently?
• Can you explain technical concepts in simple terms?
• Are you fluent when writing reports?

If this sounds like a role for you, start exploring resources like certification paths and practice labs today. Your journey begins now!