Penetration testing is the process of evaluating the security of a remote system. This process is carried out by IT Security professionals specialised in finding and exploiting the weaknesses of the remote system.

Pentesting is said to be one of the most difficult jobs in the world, since you've to be extremely skilled and experienced in order to be successful.

In recent times the requirement for qualified and well trained penetration testers has boomed rapidly.

Applying for an online penetration testing course is the fastest and most comfortable way to achieve the skills required to enter the field.

1. Mind the quality, not just certifications

All of the online penetration testing courses provide some form of certification. While companies certainly favor certified candidates, in the long run, your skills will be they key for your success.

Whether you work as freelance penetration tester or in an IT Security company, you will be asked to provide solutions to the discovered vulnerabilities: a penetration testing course should not just provide you with the "how to's" but also of the "why's".

You want your next penetration testing course to teach you the logic and the theory behind every technique before teaching you how to put it in place.

2. eLearning

Penetration testing courses delivered online are usually in form of PDF textual contents delivered to you.

If you wish to widen your skills on the subject or just enter the field, avoid the mistake of paying ten times more than a book to receive nothing more than an electronic book: You would end up with an awkward text to read in front of your PC.

eLearning is there to facilitate and make your learning much more effective. Make sure you pick a course that employs the most recent elearning tools available. You don't have time to read pages and pages of text when a single flash sample accomplishes the same result in a fraction of your precious time.

3. Methodology is king

Penetration testing is a complex process that involves many steps. Understanding advanced techniques or knowing how to use tools will not make you a skilled professional. Methodology will ensure that the project is carried out at the state of the art:

Penetration testing is once again a complex process and as such should be learnt. Make sure that you look for the presence of this important feature in your next penetration testing course.

4. Practical skills win

Penetration testing is the most practical of the skills required of an IT Security professional. You don't want to just read. You want to practice the learned skills early in the learning process. The more you practice the better you will be in the trenches.

Regarding the salary, the occupation of penetration tester provides a nice platform to earn increasing income. Generally, the income for a penetration tester is averaged between $10,000 and $20,000 per engagement and the median annual income for this group reaches approximately $100,000.

Today certainly it may be considered as one of the few career options that may provide you the long-term job growth and consequential rewards.