Is the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification Worth It?

When you’re looking for a new certification to pursue, remember that it is not a decision to be taken lightly. These certifications require money and time and more importantly, you are switching to a career that you will pursue for a very long time. 

Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing trend in the IT industry today. The CEH or Certified Ethical Hacker credential is getting increasingly popular within this domain. With all the other certification choices out there, here’s all the information you need to know if the certification is worth it.

Certified Ethical Hacker – What is it All About?

CEH is a certification exam that is conducted by the EC-Council that tests your penetration testing capabilities. It is one of the most fundamental certifications that the EC-Council offers with a focus on penetration testing. The objective of this certification, as specified by the EC-Council, is to validate the skills and expertise of professionals within the Ethical Hacking discipline under network security, from a global industry-wide perspective.

Exam format:

The CEH exam is conducted in a fixed format. There are up to 125 multiple-choice questions in an exam that you need to answer within 4 hours. You need 60-85% to pass, based on the exam. The EC-Council mandates that you either need two years of experience that is documented or must complete the EC-Council training. And while it isn’t mandatory, it works to your advantage if you also have a CompTIA Security+ or similar certification.

Key skills tested:

Ethical hacking includes five large phases which are also the key areas tested through the certification exam. These are:

  1. Reconnaissance
  2. Enumeration
  3. Gaining access
  4. Maintaining Access
  5. Covering Tracks

Training Requirements

The EC-Council gives applicants two options to pursue the CEH certification exam. You can either complete the mandated training or you can directly appear for the exam. 

The training approved by the EC-Council is priced at $850. You can attain this training via approved vendors or even directly from the EC-Council. If you complete this training, you are trained precisely for the CEH exam and have a better chance of clearing the exam compared to someone without it. Applicants who complete the training are also exempt from paying the application fee of $100 since that gets included in your course cost.

Benefits of the Certified Ethical Hacker Certification:

There are several benefits to getting the CEH credential to your name. There are several ethical hacking courses and certifications out there, but the CEH certification gives you an edge over them all. Here’s why:

  1. Simple exam format:
    Several certification exams are a mix of long and short format answers. With a standard MCQ format, candidates get no surprises when they sit for the exam.
  2. Enough study material present and available:
    Exams are challenging enough on their own. The last thing a student needs is to go hunting for reliable resources from which to study. CEH is a widely acclaimed certification, so it is easy to find multiple free resources as well as ethical hacking training courses online.
  3. CEH is offered at Pearson VUE:
    You have a greater advantage while giving the certification exam at an examination centre. These centres are accountable for any mishaps that you are prone to during an exam. You are less likely to lose time and peace over a poor or unstable network connection or malfunctioning system at a test centre. Even if it happens, you are not at fault or blamed for it. The authorities at the centre encounter such problems regularly, so they will know exactly what to do to get you out of that situation.
  4. You can appear for the exam without getting trained:
    Some certifications make it compulsory for applicants to complete their training before appearing for the exams. This is one more reason why CEH is so widely accepted. If you have sufficient work experience and knowledge, you can directly appear for the exam after paying the application fee.
  5. Globally acclaimed and well-known ethical hacking certification:
    HR departments and managers know which skills to look for in employee applications and CEH is one of the most sought-after credentials in the IT domain today. No matter how advanced a certification is, its value is ascertained by its acceptance in a higher number of organisations. The Certified Ethical Hacker certification can help you get more opportunities than lesser-known certifications at the same level.

Who Is The CEH Certification Designed For?

The EC-Council has created the CEH training to benefit certain roles and professionals. These professionals are the largest audience for the Certified Ethical Hacking certification. These roles are:

  • Systems auditor – These are the professionals who audit technology systems
  • Security professional – This includes network security engineers, cybersecurity analysts and incident responders among other security-related professional roles.
  • Site administrator – These professionals administer network assets and systems
  • Network infrastructure professionals – This includes those who support and protect network infrastructure, systems etc.
  • Penetration testers and cybersecurity consultants can also benefit from the CEH credential.

If you feel this certification can significantly advance your career, enroll to start your journey towards becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker today.