What is an Ethical Hacker?

As SaluteMyJob launches its pilot programme to support members of the Armed Forces community on their journey towards a promising and exciting career in ‘ethical hacking’ - we discuss what it means to be an ethical hacker - or ‘one of the good guys’.  

Penetration testers, also known as ‘ethical hackers’ are experienced in probing for vulnerabilities that hackers might be able to exploit to gather secure data and intelligence. It's a rewarding career path. Does this sound like a career you might be interested in? Read on to discover what skills and experience you need.

WHAT DOES AN ETHICAL HACKER DO? 

The purpose of ethical hacking is to test the security of a system or network's infrastructure. An ethical hacker will attempt to bypass system security, and find and expose any weak points that could be taken advantage of by a malicious hacker. Vulnerabilities are typically found in improper system configuration and in hardware or software flaws.

HOW MUCH DOES A ETHICAL HACKER MAKE IN THE UK?

The average salary expectations are: £30,000 - £50,000+.

IS ETHICAL HACKING THE RIGHT CAREER PATH FOR ME? 

Ethical hackers are in high-demand so this is a great time to begin this career path. This is a great vocation if you are looking for a rewarding job that makes a positive impact - with the chance to earn a highly competitive salary. Those who have taken an ethical hacking bootcamp - or those who can think outside the box and who can keep calm under pressure will be a perfect fit.

Soft skills required

• The ability to work in pressurised environments

• Patience and Persistence

• Detail oriented

• Enjoy a challenge

• Can think outside the box

Hard skills required: Where to start as a beginner

• SaluteMyJob Penetration Tester Pathway: The partnership, with SaluteMyJob, Abertay University, the UK’s leading provider of advanced ‘Ethical Hacking’ courses, and the Scottish Business Resilience Centre will offer a short, tutored ‘Penetration Course’ to serving personnel, veterans and military spouses. If you're a competent IT user, willing to learn and have an interest in gaining the skills to become an Ethical Hacker or Penetration Tester, then this is for you! And it's FREE - no need to use up ELC or IRTC grants and no course fees.

Find Out More and Apply Today