Ethical Hackers: The Data Protectors

An ethical hacker is employed by an organisation to protect its computer network. He has to be trustworthy enough to undertake an attempt to penetrate networks and/or computer systems, using the same methods as a hacker would - but his job is to devise a foolproof system to prevent hacking of the network, too. Hacking is felony, but when it is done on request and under a contract between an ethical hacker and an organisation, it is legal

ClockWork

• 9am: Leave for office
• 10am: Start work, carry out tests and checks
• 10.30am: Attend team meeting
• 12pm: Study current needs and steps required to check them
• 2pm: Lunch
• 2.30pm: Work on firewalls and sort out network glitches to protect it from hackers
• 5.30pm: Leave for home

The Payoff

After becoming a penetration tester or ethical hacker, one can make Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 and can grow rapidly depending on his/her skills. There are people who have grown by leaps and bounds and reached top technical positions. In the West, one can make around $50,000-$70,000 a year as an ethical hacker

Skills

• The most important prerequisite before one studies to become an ethical hacker is to ace computer networking knowledge
• Expertise in at least one application like Java or C++
• Knowledge of the functioning of UNIX
• One should have an analytical approach and should probe every functioning with a critical bent of mind

Getting There

First of all, one should work in a company on networking designs, administration principles, system designs or application software. Then do a certificate/ diploma programme in ethical hacking to gain an edge over competitors

Institutes

• Innobuzz Knowledge Solutions
• Koenig Solutions (Indian centres of EC-Council's Certified Ethical Hacker)
• IMT Ghaziabad

Pros And Cons

• It is a challenging and enterprising job
• Industry estimates show that there is a scarcity of IT security professionals, which means good job prospects
• Becoming a pro is a little difficult. Few institutes offer training in ethical hacking and some even ask for prior experience
• Professionals must continuously improve and update themselves as technology changes at breakneck speed
• The profession may require a lot of travelling in India and abroad

Source: HT Horizons

Date: 19^th May, 2011