The Importance of Ethical Hacking for Cybersecurity

Cyberthreats are dynamic, ever-evolving problems across any industry. It's imperative for organizations to adopt proactive security measures to keep their data safe.

To counter these threats, businesses and other groups rely on ethical hacking, also called "white-hat" hacking. These industry professionals use the same techniques as malicious, or "black-hat," hackers to identify and fix security issues before they can become a problem.

Why learn ethical hacking? This fast-growing field offers strong salaries, job security and the opportunity to engage in complex problems.¹ Read on to learn more about how ethical hackers help organizations stay safe, ethical hacking techniques and career opportunities in this field.

What Ethical Hacking Is—and Isn't

Ethical hacking is the authorized practice of testing computer systems, networks, and applications to identify and fix security vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can exploit them. Unlike cybercriminals, ethical hackers work with the permission of an organization to strengthen its defenses. Ethical hackers are bound by explicit contracts and written rules from system owners. When working as an ethical hacker, you'll have a clearly defined scope regarding the systems you can test and the tests you can perform. Ultimately, you'll be expected to follow a professional code of ethics that emphasizes trust, integrity and responsibility.²

In contrast, malicious hackers are beholden to no one. These cybercriminals break the law and operate without any form of permission or authorization.²

A third group, so-called "gray-hat" hackers, falls somewhere in the middle.² Although they don't operate with malicious intent, they don't necessarily ask for permission or follow best practices when searching for vulnerabilities. "Gray-hat" hackers can sometimes have a positive impact, but it's best to avoid their practices, as you can inadvertently break the law and open yourself up to liability.

Core Benefits to Organizations

The importance of ethical hacking lies primarily in identifying vulnerabilities before they become problems. This is important from a business perspective because a data breach can result in an average loss of nearly $5 million per incident.³ Proactive testing costs just a tiny fraction of that.⁴

Ethical hacking is about building stronger defenses by thinking like an attacker but acting in the best interest of the organization. Other than avoiding financial consequences, ethical hackers help organizations with the following:

• Protect sensitive data from theft or misuse
• Maintain compliance with industry regulations
• Build trust with customers, clients, and stakeholders

To ensure systems meet the highest possible security standards, businesses can regularly test their systems with ethical hacking. Such tests help ensure that an organization stays compliant with data privacy laws and regulatory standards, including the following:⁵

• The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security requirements protecting credit card holders
• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a U.S. law that protects patient privacy
• The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union law that regulates how businesses collect, store and use personal data
• The International Organization for Standardization 27001 (ISO 27001) is an international framework for data security

Common Ethical Hacking Engagement Types

The most common types of ethical hacking include network and web-application penetration tests.⁶ Network tests check the security of perimeter defenses and internal segmentations. In contrast, web application tests focus on validating inputs and the safety of authentication mechanisms.

Other forms of ethical hacking include social engineering attempts. For example, an ethical hacker may send out a phishing attempt via email or text to employees. This gives the employees the opportunity to engage with a simulated threat that mirrors real-world malicious activity and practice resistance.

Finally, in emerging areas of concern such as wireless technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), ethical hackers can look for threats that traditional security tools might miss. For example, an ethical hacker might identify all IoT devices on a network through specialized discovery techniques.

Ethical Hacking Methodology

At base, ethical hackers operate by gathering information about complex systems. They start by looking at publicly available data to identify potential attack opportunities. This may involve both passive and active scanning techniques.

Ethical hackers will also model threats and system vulnerabilities to find potential weak points. For this, they will use automated tools to find known vulnerabilities. Complementing this approach, they may create custom attack scenarios to simulate potential attacks.

At completion, ethical hackers will create a report with risk ratings and suggestions for how to make security improvements.

Skills, Tools and Certifications for Ethical Hackers

To succeed as an ethical hacker, it helps to have a full suite of skills and formal certifications. These include a deep understanding of TCP/IP networking, cloud platform security and operating system internals. In addition, you'll generally need to be proficient in several programming languages.

It's also vital to have a deep familiarity with popular tools such as Nmap (network discovery), Metasploit (exploit development), Burp Suite (web application testing) and Wireshark (traffic analysis).

Finally, gaining one or more certifications will help you break into the industry and gain promotions. Consider starting with the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) to get foundational knowledge.⁷ Then, move on to the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) for more hands-on skills.⁷ The CompTIA PenTest+ proves your knowledge of methodology and compliance, and the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC ) and Certified Penetration Tester (GPEN) demonstrate advanced technical skills.⁸

Limitations and Responsible Use

Everyone working in these roles must understand the limitations of ethical hacking. For example, false positives can waste an organization's resources and lead to a “boy who cried wolf” situation in which actual threats are discounted. That's why you need to take steps to minimize the quantity of false positives your team accrues.

You also need to coordinate with operations staff to avoid costly system disruptions. Balancing between organizational needs means you may have to limit your testing during maintenance windows. Appreciating your limitations and responsibilities is part of the importance of ethical hacking.

Advance Your Cybersecurity Career Through Ethical Hacking Expertise

With business increasingly moving into the digital sphere, there's no shortage of opportunity for ethical hackers. The online master’s degree in cybersecurity from Yeshiva University’s Katz School of Science and Health will give you the skills you need to position yourself at the forefront of this exciting and rapidly evolving field.

Get in touch with an admissions outreach advisor today to explore how Yeshiva University's online cybersecurity program can transform your career.