5 Network Penetration Courses to Identify Vulnerabilities

Why should you, as an aspiring or current security professional, consider specializing in network penetration? The answer lies in the numbers. The average cost of a data breach soared to $4.45 million in 2023, a 15% increase in just three years, as reported by IBM. Ransomware attacks surged by 37% globally in the same year. These statistics highlight the critical need for security analysts/penetration tester professionals who can proactively identify and address security weaknesses before they're exploited. Now, the question that arises is - which network penetration course should I opt for? As there are many providers like Udemy, Coursera, edX, etc., that offer network penetration testing courses, it becomes challenging to choose the best one. And if you feel overwhelmed, don't worry.

In this article, we have compared 10,000+ courses available in the market and listed down the 5 best network penetration courses. Hence, read the article till the end, and select any one of these courses to equip yourself with the skills needed to excel in this field and protect the network and systems from a malicious actors.  

Table of Content

• What is Network Penetration?
• Best 5 Network Penetration Courses?
  • Advanced Penetration Testing 
  • IBM - Penetration Testing, Incident Response and Forensics
  • Offensive Penetration Testing
  • Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking
  • Palo Alto Networks Network Security Fundamentals

What is Network Penetration?

Network penetration, also known as penetration testing or ethical hacking, is a process of assessing a computer network's security by simulating an attack from malicious outsiders or insiders. The primary goals of penetration testing are to identify vulnerabilities, evaluate existing security measures, estimate potential impacts, and enhance overall security.

The network penetration process generally involves the following steps:

1. Reconnaissance: Gather information about the target network.
2. Scanning: Identify active systems and potential vulnerabilities.
3. Gaining access: Attempt to exploit discovered vulnerabilities.
4. Maintaining access: Simulate persistent threats by trying to remain undetected in the system.
5. Analysis and reporting: Document findings and provide recommendations.

The network penetration testing field offers substantial financial rewards. In India, penetration testers with 3-5 years of experience earned an average of 6.6 LPA in 2024, according to Ambitionbox. As of August 30, 2024, 3,220+ penetration tester jobs were available on Naukri, highlighting the robust job market.

Best 5 Network Penetration Courses?

Here are the top five network penetration courses:

Course Name	Duration	Provider
Advanced Penetration Testing	14 hours and 26 minutes	Cybrary
IBM - Penetration Testing, Incident Response and Forensics	17 hours	Coursera
Offensive Penetration Testing	21 hours and 49 minutes	Cybrary
Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking	6 hours and 31 minutes	Cybrary
Palo Alto Networks Network Security Fundamentals	11 hours	Coursera

Let's explore each of these courses in detail.

Advanced Penetration Testing 

The Advanced Penetration Testing is an advance-level course. It teaches you about cyber attacks from the perspective of a hacker. You learn how to use common hacking tools, manipulate network traffic, and carry out web attacks like cross-site scripting and SQL injection.

Advanced Penetration Course Highlights

Course Name	Advanced Penetration Testing Course & Pen Testing Training
Duration	14 hours and 26 minutes
Provider	Cybrary
Mode of Learning	Online
Course Fee	Free
Trainer	Georgia Weidman
Students Enrolled	52740
Skill Gained	Learn how to use common hacking tools, manipulate network traffic, and carry out web attacks
Total Review	4.8/5

Why Choose Advanced Penetration?

• The course is taught by Georgia Weidman. She is a recognized expert in penetration testing and author of a well-regarded book on the subject.
• The course covers various topics, such as network exploitation, SQL injection, social engineering, cross-site scripting, and advanced exploitation techniques.
• You will get practical experience with widely used penetration testing tools, such as Nikto, Metasploit, etc., and techniques like WEBDAV to enhance your ability to identify and exploit vulnerabilities.
• Upon finishing the course, you will receive a certificate that can enhance your resume and professional credentials.
• The course is available in online mode. Hence, you can learn at your own pace and as per your own schedule.
• No prerequisites are required. While familiarity with IT security best practices is recommended, there are no strict prerequisites, making it accessible to a broader audience.

 

IBM - Penetration Testing, Incident Response and Forensics

The IBM - Penetration Testing, Incident Response and Forensics is a beginner-level course that provides you with the background required to gain Cybersecurity skills as part of the Cybersecurity Security Analyst Professional Certificate program. You will learn about the different phases of penetration testing, widely used penetration testing tools, how to gather data for your penetration test, phases of an incident response, components of an incident response team and policy, etc.   

IBM - Penetration Testing, Incident Response and Forensics Course Highlights

Course Name	Penetration Testing, Incident Response and Forensics
Duration	17 hours
Provider	Coursera
Mode of Learning	Online
Course Fee	Course fee depends on the time that you need to finish the course.  1 month: INR 4,091 3 month: INR 8,182 6 month: INR 12,274
Trainer	IBM Skills Network Team
Students Enrolled	85,283
Skill Gained	Learn about the various phases of an incident response, phases of penetration testing and tools available for penetration testing, forensic process, different sources of forensic data and the chain of custody, etc.
Total Review	4.4/5

Why Choose Advanced Penetration?

• The course is designed for beginners and requires no prior experience, making it accessible to broader audience.
• You can learn at your own pace, allowing you to balance your studies with other commitments.
• The course consists of 13 assessments and hands-on projects that help reinforce the concepts learned throughout the course.
• Experts at IBM teach the course. Hence, you can ensure that the content is relevant and up-to-date with current practices.
• The course covers various important topics, such as types of penetration testing tools, incident response techniques, and the forensic process.
• The course has received positive feedback, with a 4.6 rating out of 5 from 2,300+ reviews.
• If cost is a concern, financial aid options are available. Thus making it more accessible for learners.
• Upon finishing the course, you will receive a certificate that enhances your resume and LinkedIn profile, showcasing your new skills to potential employers.

 

Offensive Penetration Testing

The Offensive Penetration Testing is an intermediate-level course. It will help you prepare you for offensive penetration testing certifications such as the OSCP certification. By the end of this course, you will be able to set up Kali Linux and understand its available tools, conduct a full penetration test, write a comprehensive penetration test report, understand the hacker mindset, and help develop it. Before starting the course, you should know TCP/IP networking, have Windows and Linux administration experience, be familiar with the Windows and Linux command line, and use Bash scripting with basic Python.

Offensive Penetration Testing Course Highlights

Course Name	Offensive Penetration Testing
Duration	21 hours and 49 minutes
Provider	Cybrary
Mode of Learning	Online
Course Fee	Free
Trainer	Clint Kehr
Students Enrolled	25,593
Skill Gained	Learn how to set up Kali Linux and use the tools within it to perform a penetration test, scan targets, conduct enumeration, modify exploit code, etc.
Total Review	4.8/5

Why Choose Offensive Penetration Testing?

• The course covers various topics, from basic hacking concepts to advanced exploitation techniques, ensuring a thorough understanding of penetration testing.
• The course is well-organized and guides you through essential topics, such as Kali Linux setup, network scanning, web application testing, and privilege escalation.
• Offensive Penetration Testing is taught by Clint Kehr. He is a seasoned expert with extensive experience in ethical hacking and cybersecurity.
• The course prepares you for the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification. A recognized credential in the industry that can significantly boost your career prospects.
• The online format allows you to learn at your own pace, making it easier to fit into your schedule.
• Offensive Penetration Testing focuses on cultivating a hacker's mindset, crucial for effective penetration testing and understanding attacker methodologies. nvfwq1`
• Upon finishing the course, you will receive a certificate that enhances your resume and showcases your new skills to potential employers.

 

Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking

The Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking course is an intermediate-level course. It introduces you to a "n" number of cyber attacks, such as password cracking, DDoS, SQL injection, social engineering, session hijacking, and many more. You also learn about ethical hacking concepts and web server and web application hacking. Optional labs are available with this course that teaches you the hands-on hacking skills necessary to infiltrate a network successfully. 

Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking Course Highlights

Course Name	Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking
Duration	6 hours and 31 minutes
Provider	Cybrary
Mode of Learning	Online
Course Fee	Free
Trainer	Bill Price
Students Enrolled	36,356
Skill Gained	Cyber Kill Chain concepts, hacking and ethical hacking concepts, Network Footprinting, Sniffing, Cloud Computing, Cryptography, etc.
Total Review	4.8/5

Why Choose Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking?

• The course covers various topics, such as intrusion detection, vulnerability analysis, and hacking techniques (e.g., SQL injection and DDoS attacks).
• This course comes with optional labs to practice real-world hacking skills.
• The course equips you with the knowledge needed to pursue certifications like Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
• Bill Price teaches this course, and he is an experienced professional with more than 16+ years of experience.
• The course is available in online mode. Hence, you can learn at your own pace.
• You earn a certificate after completing the course. The certificate helps validate your skills and knowledge.

Palo Alto Networks Network Security Fundamentals

The Palo Alto Networks Network Security Fundamentals is an intermediate-level course that is part of the Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. By pursuing it, you will understand the fundamental principles of network security and the general concepts of maintaining a secure network computing environment. Upon completing this course, you will be able to implement network security configuration techniques.

Palo Alto Networks Network Security Fundamentals Course Highlights

Course Name	Palo Alto Networks Network Security Fundamentals
Duration	11 hours
Provider	Coursera
Mode of Learning	Online
Course Fee	Course fee depends on the time that you need to finish the course.  1 month: INR 3,256 3 month: INR 6,512 6 month: INR 9,769
Trainer	James Dalton
Students Enrolled	9,771
Skill Gained	Network and Endpoint security technologies including encryption, certificate management and hashing, etc.
Total Review	4.6/5

Why Choose Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking?

• The course is offered by Palo Alto Networks, a leader in cybersecurity, which enhances its credibility.
• The course provides a solid understanding of key topics such as packet encapsulation, network security technologies, and security principles, providing a well-rounded education.
• The Palo Alto Networks Network Security Fundamentals course allows you to develop practical skills through hands-on projects, making the learning experience applicable to real-world scenarios.
• The course allows for a flexible schedule, enabling you to learn at your own pace.
• Upon successfully completing the course, you get a shareable career certificate, which can enhance your resume and LinkedIn profile.
• Options for financial assistance make the course accessible to a wider audience.