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Penetration Testing: The Big Picture

by Keith Watson

Penetration testing is a highly sought after consulting service and a needed information security professional skill set. This course defines penetration testing and highlights its role in the context of a security management program.

What you'll learn

As more businesses create, collect, and manage large volumes of customer data and provide access to that data through mobile apps, the Web, and IoT devices, there are more opportunities for that data to be compromised and stolen by nefarious individuals, criminal groups, and even governments. Organizations are struggling to improve the accessibility to and increase the value of their intellectual property while simultaneously protecting it from unauthorized exposure. As news in the past few years has shown, this is a significant challenge and many organizations lost control over their customer's data and their own intellectual property. Penetration testing is one technique that organizations use to find and correct weaknesses in their network and systems before someone else does. First, you will learn how penetration testing serves as key component in an organization's information security management program. Next, you will learn about the penetration testing process and techniques used to discover and exploit vulnerabilities. Finally, you will have a good understanding of the software tools, certifications, and other courses that can help you build your technical skills. When you finish this course, you will have the knowledge of how penetration testing is used to improve the security of a network and the techniques and tools used to conduct the testing.

About the author

Keith Watson has been an information security professional since 1997. He started as a software developer for security tools and moved into more advanced roles as a product manager for operating system security, a consultant, a security researcher, an enterprise security architect, a team leader, and a trusted advisor and director for threat management solutions. Keith has a degree in Computer Science and an MBA. How also holds the CISSP-ISSAP, CCSP, CISA, and other certifications.

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