How The CEH Certification is Turning Bad Hackers into Good Hackers

by jeff on July 29, 2011

When mentioning “hackers,” most people envision criminals or miscreants determined to steal data and wreak havoc on computer systems. However, the Certified Ethical Hacker, or CEH, certification seeks to give this label new meaning. Most hackers are largely self-taught and passionate about their abilities.

Sometimes individuals will pick up tips and tricks from others but most of the time these skills are taught through long hours of experimentation and trial and error. It comes as no surprise that the security industry has been frustratingly slow in utilizing these abilities in the name of good instead of evil.

For individuals possessing these skills, this has made the transition to the traditional “white hat” work world difficult to achieve. Often, when legitimate employment is sought these former hackers find it hard to obtain positions in areas they are passionate about and get stuck at boring “desk jobs” instead. For businesses, this has created a gap in the work force that needs to be filled by people who are experienced hackers and understand the methodology and tools that malicious hackers use to attack their business.

Adding to this conundrum, teaching and measuring these skills can be nearly impossible as well. After all, how can the masses effectively be taught intricate technical skills that are time consuming and difficult to master? As a result of lacking good teaching venues for the skills, there has traditionally been a true lack of ability to test the level and depth of skills possessed by an individual. Additionally, many companies might be hesitant to hire a self-professed “hacker” due to the negative connotations with the title itself. Hiring a person with the right skillset thus becomes a difficult and frustrating scenario for both businesses and job seekers alike.

By filling this gap and addressing these concerns, the Certified Ethical Hacker certification has become a truly hot commodity in the information security world. Individuals possessing CEH certification have solid proof that they understand and have mastered the skills, tools and mindsets used by criminal hackers. Aside from certifying skill levels, this title also helps companies understand that not all hackers are out to get them. Instead, ethical hackers are there to prevent the bad guys from doing damage. By having the CEH certification to use as a standard gauge of skill it has become possible for non-technical hiring and human resources staff to properly screen and hire individuals which possess skills they honestly do not understand and cannot adequately judge.

The Certified Ethical Hacker certification has become a basic requirement for a broad range of job titles in many different industries. Security consulting firms pay premium salaries for a wide range of different job titles. Offering great pay and benefits for titles ranging from penetration tester to security auditors these positions not only provide comfortable earnings but also a fun and challenging position for those passionate about hacking and information security.

Many private companies also seek out CEH certifications when hiring security and web staff alike. Companies recognize the value this certification provides and are willing to pay premium prices to attract high-quality employees. The public sector is also a hotbed of opportunity for certified individuals. Many government agencies such as the NSA, FBI and even the Department of Defense actively seek and recruit CEH holding individuals.

In the past, there truly was no legitimate skillset or certification field that would highlight and use hacking skills to the advantage of security-minded businesses. The CEH certification has permanently changed this playing field. Recognized by the government, businesses and security firms everywhere, the skills associated with CEH certification are in hot demand for lucrative and challenging employment opportunities.

CEH certification gives new meaning to the world of hacking. This training teaches skills and ways of ethical hacking by long classes, experiments and checking trial and error. These courses are recognized by government, businesses and security firms and have good employment opportunities.


Article from articlesbase.com

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