Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Ethical Hacker

🎯 Role Definition

As an Ethical Hacker, you are the organization's authorized, offensive security expert, tasked with proactively identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities across our digital landscape. You will simulate sophisticated cyber-attacks on our networks, applications, and infrastructure to expose weaknesses and test our defensive capabilities. This role is critical for strengthening our security posture, ensuring compliance, and protecting our valuable data assets from real-world threats. You will be a key player in our defense strategy, working closely with engineering and IT teams to translate your findings into actionable security improvements.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Security Analyst / SOC Analyst
Network Engineer or Administrator
System Administrator (Windows/Linux)

Advancement To:

Senior Penetration Tester / Senior Ethical Hacker
Red Team Lead / Manager
Application Security Manager
Security Architect

Lateral Moves:

Cybersecurity Consultant
Threat Intelligence Analyst
Digital Forensics Investigator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Plan, scope, and execute comprehensive penetration tests across various domains, including web applications, mobile applications (iOS/Android), APIs, and internal/external networks.
Conduct in-depth vulnerability assessments and security testing of cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP) to identify misconfigurations and potential attack vectors.
Perform sophisticated red team and purple team exercises, simulating advanced persistent threats (APTs) to rigorously test our detection and response capabilities.
Develop and maintain a customized toolkit of scripts, exploits, and automation frameworks to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of security assessments.
Meticulously document all findings, attack paths, and proof-of-concept exploits in detailed technical reports suitable for both technical and executive audiences.
Analyze and review application source code manually and with static analysis (SAST) tools to identify underlying security flaws and logic errors.
Conduct social engineering campaigns, including phishing and vishing, to assess the human element of our security posture and improve employee awareness.
Perform reverse engineering of malware, mobile applications, or proprietary software to understand their functionality and identify security weaknesses.
Validate the effectiveness of existing security controls, such as firewalls, WAFs, IDS/IPS, and EDR solutions, through targeted testing.
Collaborate directly with development, DevOps, and infrastructure teams to provide clear, actionable remediation guidance and verify the successful patching of vulnerabilities.
Conduct threat modeling for new and existing systems to proactively identify potential security risks early in the development lifecycle.
Stay at the forefront of cybersecurity by continuously researching emerging threats, zero-day vulnerabilities, and new attacker tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
Present complex security findings, risks, and strategic recommendations to leadership, business stakeholders, and technical teams in a clear and compelling manner.
Perform physical security assessments of corporate facilities to identify and mitigate risks related to unauthorized physical access.
Test and secure wireless networks against common and advanced attacks, ensuring the integrity and confidentiality of our wireless communications.
Evaluate and exploit vulnerabilities within Active Directory environments, including misconfigurations, privilege escalation paths, and authentication weaknesses.
Contribute to incident response efforts by providing subject matter expertise on attack vectors, exploitation techniques, and containment strategies.
Mentor junior security professionals, sharing knowledge and fostering a culture of continuous learning and offensive security excellence.
Ensure all testing activities are conducted ethically, professionally, and in full compliance with legal requirements and established rules of engagement.
Automate repetitive testing tasks and integrate security testing tools into the CI/CD pipeline to enable DevSecOps practices.

Secondary Functions

Assist in the development and delivery of security awareness training programs for employees.
Participate in the evaluation and proof-of-concept testing of new security technologies and tools.
Contribute to the creation and refinement of corporate security policies, standards, and best practices.
Collaborate with the GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) team to provide evidence for audits and ensure adherence to standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, or ISO 27001.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Deep proficiency with security assessment tools such as Burp Suite Professional, Metasploit, Nmap, Wireshark, Nessus, and Cobalt Strike.
Strong knowledge of networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, DNS, HTTP/S) and network architecture.
Advanced scripting and programming skills for tool development and automation, using languages like Python, PowerShell, Bash, or Ruby.
Expertise in web application security and common vulnerabilities as defined by the OWASP Top 10 (e.g., SQLi, XSS, CSRF, SSRF).
Hands-on experience with penetration testing of cloud infrastructure and services in AWS, Azure, or GCP.
In-depth understanding of Windows and Linux operating systems, including system internals and security hardening.
Familiarity with the MITRE ATT&CK framework and its application in red team and threat emulation scenarios.
Experience with Active Directory security assessments and common attack techniques (e.g., Kerberoasting, Pass-the-Hash).
Knowledge of mobile application security for both iOS and Android platforms, including reverse engineering and dynamic analysis.
Experience with container security (Docker, Kubernetes) and identifying associated vulnerabilities.
Understanding of cryptographic principles and their practical application and weaknesses.

Soft Skills

Hacker Mindset: A creative, curious, and analytical approach to problem-solving, with the ability to think like an adversary.
Exceptional Communication: Ability to write detailed, high-quality technical reports and present complex security concepts to non-technical audiences.
Unwavering Ethics & Integrity: A strong sense of personal responsibility and commitment to ethical conduct is non-negotiable.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous and methodical in your testing and documentation to ensure accuracy and reproducibility.
Collaboration & Teamwork: Ability to work effectively with defensive teams (Blue Team), developers, and system administrators.
Self-Motivation: A continuous learner who stays current with the rapidly evolving threat landscape on their own initiative.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent demonstrated work experience and certifications.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Cybersecurity or a related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Computer Science
Cybersecurity
Information Technology
Software Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-7+ years of dedicated experience in an offensive security role, such as penetration testing, red teaming, or application security.

Preferred:

Possession of industry-recognized certifications is highly desirable. Key certifications include:
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
- GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN) / GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT)
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Burp Suite Certified Practitioner (BSCP)
- CREST Registered Penetration Tester (CRT)