Why CEH Opens Doors to Offensive Security Careers
The Certified Ethical Hacker certification is the industry standard for penetration testing and offensive security roles. With cyberattacks increasing in sophistication, organizations actively seek professionals who can think like attackers to defend their systems.
Who This Guide Is For
- Security professionals transitioning to penetration testing
- IT professionals entering cybersecurity
- Network administrators seeking offensive skills
- Security analysts pursuing red team roles
The CEH Exam Structure
Exam Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 125 |
| Duration | 4 hours |
| Format | Multiple choice |
| Passing Score | 60-85% (varies by exam form) |
| Delivery | Prometric or EC-Council exam centers |
The 20 Domains
| # | Domain |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Ethical Hacking |
| 2 | Footprinting and Reconnaissance |
| 3 | Scanning Networks |
| 4 | Enumeration |
| 5 | Vulnerability Analysis |
| 6 | System Hacking |
| 7 | Malware Threats |
| 8 | Sniffing |
| 9 | Social Engineering |
| 10 | Denial-of-Service |
| 11 | Session Hijacking |
| 12 | Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots |
| 13 | Hacking Web Servers |
| 14 | Hacking Web Applications |
| 15 | SQL Injection |
| 16 | Hacking Wireless Networks |
| 17 | Hacking Mobile Platforms |
| 18 | IoT and OT Hacking |
| 19 | Cloud Computing |
| 20 | Cryptography |
Hacking Methodology Phases
Understand this attack lifecycle:
1. Reconnaissance
Gathering information about the target.
Passive: OSINT, social media, WHOIS Active: Port scanning, banner grabbing
2. Scanning
Identifying live hosts, open ports, services.
Tools: Nmap, Nessus, OpenVAS
3. Gaining Access
Exploiting vulnerabilities to access systems.
Techniques: Password attacks, social engineering, exploitation
4. Maintaining Access
Establishing persistent access.
Methods: Backdoors, rootkits, trojans
5. Covering Tracks
Hiding evidence of intrusion.
Techniques: Log manipulation, timestomping
Critical Domains Deep Dive
Footprinting and Reconnaissance
Key Concepts:
- OSINT techniques
- DNS enumeration
- WHOIS lookups
- Google dorking
- Social media intelligence
Tools to Know:
- theHarvester
- Maltego
- Recon-ng
- Shodan
Scanning Networks
Key Concepts:
- TCP/UDP port scanning
- Service identification
- OS fingerprinting
- Vulnerability scanning
Tools to Know:
- Nmap (syntax is testable)
- Hping3
- Nessus
- OpenVAS
Web Application Hacking
Key Concepts:
- OWASP Top 10
- SQL injection types
- XSS (reflected, stored, DOM)
- CSRF attacks
- Session management flaws
Tools to Know:
- Burp Suite
- OWASP ZAP
- SQLmap
- Nikto
The 8-Week Study Plan
Weeks 1-2: Foundation
- Reconnaissance and footprinting
- Network scanning techniques
- Enumeration methods
- 50 practice questions
Weeks 3-4: Core Exploitation
- System hacking
- Malware threats
- Social engineering
- Sniffing and session hijacking
Weeks 5-6: Advanced Topics
- Web server hacking
- Web application attacks
- SQL injection
- Wireless hacking
Weeks 7-8: Specialized & Review
- Mobile, IoT, Cloud hacking
- Cryptography
- 2 full practice exams
- Weak area review
Hands-On Practice Is Essential
While the exam is multiple-choice, hands-on experience dramatically improves understanding.
Lab Environments
- EC-Council iLabs: Included with official training
- Hack The Box: Realistic penetration testing labs
- TryHackMe: Beginner-friendly guided labs
- VulnHub: Downloadable vulnerable VMs
Essential Skills to Practice
- Nmap scanning. Know syntax cold
- Metasploit basics. Module usage, exploitation
- Web app testing. Burp Suite, manual testing
- Password cracking. John the Ripper, Hashcat
Study Resources
Official Materials
- EC-Council Official Courseware
- EC-Council iLabs
- CEH v12 Practice Tests
Third-Party Resources
- Matt Walker’s “CEH Certified Ethical Hacker All-in-One Exam Guide”
- Cybrary CEH course
- Udemy CEH preparation courses
Practice Exams
- Boson CEH Practice Tests
- EC-Council official practice exams
- Whizlabs CEH practice tests
Eligibility Requirements
Option 1: Official Training
Complete EC-Council authorized training (5 days, includes exam)
Option 2: Self-Study
- 2 years of information security experience
- Pay eligibility fee + exam fee
- Self-study route is more cost-effective
CEH vs. Other Security Certifications
| Certification | Focus | Level |
|---|---|---|
| CEH | Offensive techniques | Intermediate |
| Security+ | Foundational security | Entry |
| OSCP | Hands-on penetration testing | Advanced |
| CISSP | Security management | Expert |
CEH is broader but less hands-on than OSCP. Good stepping stone to advanced penetration testing roles.
Career Impact
Immediate Benefits
- Role Access: Penetration tester, security analyst
- Salary Range: $80,000-$120,000
- DoD Compliance: Meets 8570 requirements
Career Pathways
Offensive Track:
- CEH → OSCP → OSCE/OSWE
Management Track:
- CEH → CISSP → CISM
Common Roles
- Penetration Tester
- Security Analyst
- Red Team Member
- Vulnerability Analyst
- Security Consultant
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Memorizing tools without understanding. Know when and why to use each
- Skipping hands-on practice. It dramatically improves retention
- Ignoring outdated content. CEH covers current threats
- Underestimating the exam length. 4 hours can be draining
The Bottom Line
The CEH certification at $1,199+ is a significant investment, but it opens doors to offensive security roles. Combined with hands-on practice, it provides a solid foundation for penetration testing careers.
Master the hacking methodology, practice with real tools, and understand the attacker mindset. Your ethical hacking career starts here.