My Journey to become a Certified Ethical Hacker

My Journey to become a Certified Ethical Hacker

#certifiedethicalhacker #eccouncil #Myjourney 

As we all know and as the whole industry and IT Guru's discuss, Cyber Security is one of the top priorities for all types of business.

Be it a educational institute, be your company is in IT sector or real estate to health care or even if you are a Home maker, Cyber Security is The top priority. Well, yes, you heard it right. Even if you are a home maker staying at home using a bunch of small computers (call it IoT) and not in any of the industry, Cyber Security and protection from cyber criminal is important to you.

I follow cyber security professionals and cyber security related blogs from the time I started my career in the IT sector including security briefing, cyber security related blogs and often get amazed the way cyber criminals are getting better and more amazed the way White hat hackers are getting better too. 

The interest grew and I ended up in a cyber security role.

When you get into the role that you are interested in, the work becomes fun. And if you have the certifications as the endorsement to the knowledge that you have, you are recognized in your company/ organisation and in your career.

I was in the quest to one of those certifications and as an engineer and a person living in the 21st century, it is in my DNA to research a lot before I take any decision.

While researching, I found some of the certifications which are too easy for an experienced candidate or some of them are too hard/ not eligible. After all the research, I found that EC Council's Certified Ethical Hacker is the cert that I want to take up.

I started reading more and more about the program. The more I read, more I was excited to take up the exam.

I Started my training to CEH in 2018 October (Training here is Self-Study) and I thought I could easily crack it. Because as I said, I had done my complete research on the course work and I was ready (or so I thought)

However, after starting my training in October 2018, for many obvious reasons (Work pressure, family engagements, personnel other choices) I could not concentrate on the training.

The purchased training voucher has one year of validity form the date of purchase and I thought I will take the exam in 3 months. The time flew and it was already July 2019. I was still studying and I completed only 30% of the course work and little practice in the iLabs (This is a virtual lab offered by EC Council, when you purchase a training program, online/in class/ recorded self-study/ voucher in many countries)

This is the time I decided, I am done with Self-Study (or you may term it as over confidence) and purchased an in-class CEH class boot camp.

The advantages of boot camp when you really want to hold the certificate in your hand is you will be introduced to what is important, what is required, what needs more attention, the atmosphere to reach the target and improve your concentration on the course.

Of-course the other advantages include the ambiance of alike minded people and professionals and the qualitative, valuable discussions and updates on cyber that you get.

I am really grateful of my decision to take up the boot camp. This not only helped me to complete my certification but also opened up my mind to new ideas, current industry expectations and current practices in other industries.

This also introduced me to a great trainer and wonder people (People and contacts are one of the most important thing in your career or life, isn't?)

Here is what you can actually expect in a boot camp:

1. Fast Forward Training or Crash Course Training on CEH Course

2. Fast Froward lab practices in the class

3. Good discussions about industry practices and current expectations

4. Quick completion of the vast course work

5. Good tips to pass the exam

He is what you DON'T get in a boot camp

1. Ample time to practice the tools that you are introduced to

2. Ample own time to discuss about any topic in particular

3. Sweet own time to go deeper into any of the tools or topics or subject in the class

4. Not so important fun activities only in the class

Here is what you should do before OR After the class/ certification

1. Study the course materials as much as possible

2. Try to go and practice the iLabs as far as possible

3. Have a personnel lab environment at your home and practice the tools on your own.

Tips to Pass the Exam:

1. Concentrate in the class and listen to the trainer

2. Complete the iLab sessions as suggested by the trainer in class only

3. Concentrate on the topics as suggested by the trainer

Alright, you might ask me, did you follow above tips and suggestions as I laid out above?

The answer is: ********** (Encrypted)

Well, that was my story, what is yours?