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If you are serious about getting your foot in the door of the cyber security industry, then getting certified is a great way to show employers that you have the skills and knowledge to do the job. The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification is one of the most popular certs in the field, and for a good reason.
The CEH certification is awarded by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC Council). The CEH exam is designed to test an individual’s knowledge of hacking tools and techniques. CEH certified professionals are able to identify security risks and vulnerabilities in networks and systems and can take measures to mitigate these risks.
So, what kind of cyber security jobs can you get with a CEH certification?
Let’s take a look.
CEH is not just for ethical hackers
The job role of an ethical hacker (or its sibling role, a penetration tester) is often the first that comes to mind when thinking about CEH. Ethical hackers are hired by organizations to test their systems and networks for vulnerabilities before a malicious hacker has a chance to exploit them. They are arguably the most featured type of cybersecurity position in a Hollywood movie or TV show.
But CEH is not just for an ethical hacking career. The skills and knowledge you gain from earning your CEH certification can be applied to a number of other jobs in the cybersecurity field.
According to the EC-Council website, here are some of the other job roles that CEH can prepare you for:
- Security administrator
- Security consultant
- Security engineer
- Security analyst
- Cybersecurity auditor
- Security compliance analyst
- Solution architect
- Warning analyst, and more
Network security vs information security vs system security
A security analyst (or engineer or consultant) can have a focus in one of three main areas: network security, information security, or system security.
Network security refers to the measures taken to protect a computer network from unauthorized access or damage. This can include both physical and logical security measures.
Information security, on the other hand, is all about protecting electronic data from unauthorized access or theft. This can include data stored on computers, servers, and other devices as well as data that is transmitted over networks.
System security combines elements of both network security and information security. It encompasses the measures taken to protect a computer system from damage or unauthorized access. This can include the physical security of the system and the logical security of the data stored on it.
Of course, there are other types of information technology security professionals not mentioned here, such as application security specialists and incident response coordinators. But the three main categories of network, information, and system security should give you a good idea of where CEH can take you.
Security administrator
An IT security administrator or a system security administrator is responsible for the day-to-day management of an organization’s security infrastructure.
This includes tasks like installing security software, maintaining security records, and monitoring the network for suspicious activity.
In larger organizations, there may be multiple administrators, each with their own specific area of responsibility. For example, one administrator might be responsible for managing firewalls, while another might be responsible for managing intrusion detection systems.
In general, administrator roles are entry-level cybersecurity positions. Many administrators start out in other roles, such as customer support or technical support, and then move into security administration roles as they gain experience.
From there, they might move into more senior positions such as security analysts or security engineers.
Security analyst
An analyst is someone who gathers and interprets data to help make decisions. In the cybersecurity field, analysts use data to identify security risks, assess the impact of these risks, and develop plans to mitigate them.
A big part of a security analyst’s job is to generate reports on their findings, regardless if they are an information security analyst, network security analyst, or a system security analyst. These reports are then used by decision-makers to help them understand the risks facing their organization and to make informed decisions about how to address these risks.
Another aspect of a security analyst’s job is to create documentation. This can include things like security policies, procedures, and best practices. Analysts may also be involved in creating training materials for other staff members.
Security analysts typically have a background in computer science or engineering, and many of them hold certifications such as CEH.
At the moment of writing this article, there are over 36,000 job openings for the cybersecurity analyst position.
Security engineer
If a security analyst is the one who identifies the risks, a cybersecurity engineer is the one who designs and implements the solutions to mitigate those risks.
In other words, a security engineer is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining an organization’s security infrastructure. This can include things like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption protocols.
In fact, many security engineers start out as security analysts and then move into engineering roles as they gain experience.
A security engineer’s job requires a mix of technical and soft skills. They need to be able to understand complex technical problems and then design creative solutions to those problems. They also need to communicate their ideas clearly, both in writing and in person.
Software programming skills are also helpful for security engineers, as many of the solutions they design will need to be implemented in code.
Security consultant
In terms of the job description, a security consultant is similar to a security analyst. Both roles involve identifying risks and recommending solutions.
The main difference between a security consultant and a security analyst or engineer is that consultants are brought in from the outside to provide expert advice. In contrast, analysts and engineers are typically employed directly by an organization.
Another difference is that consultants are usually hired on a project basis, meaning they are only brought in for a specific period of time to work on a specific problem. After the project is completed, the consultant is usually no longer involved with the organization.
Consultants are typically hired when an organization needs expert advice on a particular issue. For example, an organization might hire a security consultant to help them assess their security risks or to develop and implement a new security strategy.
Many security consultants are self-employed and work with multiple clients at a time. Others work for consulting firms that specialize in cybersecurity.
The demand for cybersecurity consultants is higher than ever. In fact, at the moment of writing this article, there are over 25,000 job openings for the security consultant position, according to Cyberseek.
Cybersecurity auditor
By definition, an auditor is someone who reviews an organization’s financial records to ensure they are accurate. In the cybersecurity field, auditors review an organization’s security practices to ensure they are effective.
This includes the following responsibilities:
- Reviewing an organization’s security policies and procedures
- Identifying gaps in an organization’s security posture
- Conducting vulnerability assessments
- Testing an organization’s security controls
- Providing recommendations for improving an organization’s security and more
A security auditor is similar to a consultant in that they are usually brought in from the outside to provide expert advice. However, an auditor’s focus is on compliance, whereas a consultant’s focus is on security.
Cybersecurity auditors are often employed by governmental organizations, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, there is also a growing demand for auditors in the private sector.
Does a CEH certification guarantee employment?
The short answer is no; a CEH certification does not guarantee employment.
However, holding a CEH certification can make you a more attractive candidate for certain jobs and may give you a competitive edge over other candidates who do not have the certification.
In addition, the CEH certification is recognized by the United States Department of Defense (DoD), which means that holders of the certification may be given priority for certain job openings within the DoD.
In conclusion, a CEH certification can be a valuable asset for anyone looking to enter or advance in the cybersecurity field. However, it is important to remember that the certification is not a guarantee of employment.
In order to land a job, you will still need to polish your interview skills, put together a strong resume, and network with people in the industry. But if you’re looking to give yourself a competitive edge, getting your CEH certification is a good place to start.
Conclusion
CEH jobs are in high demand, especially with how fast the cybersecurity industry is growing. With a CEH certification, you can open yourself up to job roles such as security consultant, security analyst, security engineer, cybersecurity auditor, and more.
However, it’s important to remember that the CEH certification does not guarantee employment. You will still need to put in the work to land the cybersecurity job you want.
However, employers will often give preference to candidates with a CEH certification, so it’s definitely worth getting if you’re looking to enter or advance in the cybersecurity field.
If you’re interested in starting your CEH journey, be sure to check out our CEH training.
Not only will you learn the ins and outs of ethical hacking, but you’ll also get hands-on experience with the latest tools and techniques.
Enroll today and start your path to a new career in cybersecurity!
