Penetration testing, or pen testing, is a key tool when it comes to keeping your organization’s networks and data safe. Pen testers use targeted attacks to find the holes in your cyber defenses so that your security team can mitigate risks before threat actors attack. While pen testers are quite skilled, they require regular training to stay abreast of changing attack trends. Pen tester training is vital to keeping their skills sharp.
Understanding Pen Tester Training
What is pen testing?
Pen testing is short for penetration testing, and refers to simulated cyberattacks against an organization’s systems, networks, or applications. Pen tests are performed by members of an organization’s security team, contractors, or by other ethical hackers, to identify security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors. Once weak spots are found, the security team uses the information revealed during the test to fix those vulnerabilities.
Are pen tests and red teaming the same thing?
Both pen tests and red teaming are an offensive approach to security, but there are differences between them. Pen testing is usually a more targeted exercise, focusing on known vulnerabilities. Red team tests are broader, testing for known vulnerabilities as well as zero-day vulnerabilities.
What are the key features of online pen tester training?
- Educational content: Pen tester training covers tools, techniques, and threat intelligence, including the latest attacker trends and other information that helps pen testers to do their jobs.
- Expert speakers: Online training and webinars usually feature industry professionals and thought leaders who share their knowledge, insights, and real-world experiences with participants.
- Interactive elements: Many online trainers offer participants the chance to interact with experts and one another, engaging learners with live Q&A segments, polls, and discussions.
- Credits and certifications: Some pen tester training sessions may offer certifications or credits toward certification for participants.
- Flexible formats: Digital training can be live, pre-recorded, or hybrid (live with recordings available later).
Why is Pen Tester Training Especially Important in Today’s Cybersecurity Landscape?
Why is pen testing especially relevant now?
Part of a strong cybersecurity strategy involves knowing the threats facing your organization. Well-trained pen testers are your organization’s front line against unknown or suspected vulnerabilities in your systems, networks, and applications.
Penetration tests can help your organization understand its:
- security vulnerabilities
- prioritize remediation efforts
- enhance its overall security posture
…ultimately reducing the risk of cyber attacks and improving resilience against potential threats.
By categorizing vulnerabilities based on their severity, a test helps the organization prioritize remediation efforts, focusing on the most critical issues first.
Who can benefit from pen tester training?
Integrate the world’s easiest to use and most comprehensive cybercrime database into your security program in 30 minutes.
Pen tester training is an important tool for new security personnel, but even seasoned pen testers can benefit from training. In fact, non-technical personnel who want to better understand what pen testers do can also benefit from sitting in on a webinar.
Why do pen testers need continuous training?
Training is never a one-time thing, especially when it comes to security. Threats are constantly changing, threat actors are always changing their approach, and new vulnerabilities are always being discovered. On the positive side, technology is always evolving, providing new tools and methodologies for your pen testers. Consistent training provides pen testers with all the updated information they need to keep your data safe.
How can online cybersecurity webinars help with pen tester training?
The cybersecurity industry is currently experiencing a skills gap. Many businesses offer training for their own personnel but even so, it’s important for pen testers to seek out their own training opportunities so that they can build their skills independently. Webinars help bridge the skills gap by providing outside training for professionals who want to build their skills and their awareness of new threats. Some webinars even offer credit toward certifications for security professionals.
For nontechnical learners, cybersecurity webinars offer supplemental knowledge that may help them better understand pen testing and the current cyber threats. Many webinars are also free or low-cost, giving professionals a cost-effective way to obtain valuable training.
How Flare Helps with Pen Tester Training
Does Flare offer pen tester training?
Flare recently introduced a new training series: Flare Academy. This series of free cybersecurity webinars covers topics that are of interest to cybersecurity practitioners and also includes Flare Academy Discord Community where security professionals can meet, share information and resources, and discuss security issues with the experts who have appeared in our webinars. One of the topics that will be covered is pen tester training.
What do you get with Flare’s free pen tester training?
- High-value training from cybersecurity experts
- Interactive learning with peers
- Actionable cybersecurity insights
- CPE credits toward security certifications
- A resource hub and learning community on Discord
What if I miss a live training session?
Webinars are offered live, but you don’t need to watch every training session as it happens. Recordings of all webinars are available for replay on Flare Academy Discord Community, as are additional resources, access to the experts who spoke in each webinar, and discussion and networking opportunities with other participants. This allows all our webinars to be watched by members of the Discord, or to be rewatched by participants who want to revisit certain content.
Who can attend Flare’s webinars?
It depends on the webinar’s content. Many webinars are available to anyone. Because some topics are of greater interest to a wider audience, anyone is welcome to join those seminars. However, we are careful to label each webinar as beginner, intermediate, or advanced. This helps participants decide which sessions are a good fit for them and their security background.
Pen Tester Training and Flare
Flare Academy can elevate your cybersecurity career. Our (free!) training series are led by experts that cover critical topics such as threat intelligence, operational security, and advanced investigation techniques. You can also earn CPE credits toward your cybersecurity certifications.
At any point in your career, Flare Academy will enhance your skills and keep you at the forefront of the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. Sign up for the next training here.
