Pentester
This intrusion expert is the company's ethical hacker, who safeguards IT security by attacking existing flaws. Level of education: Bac+3 - Starting salary: €3,000 - Experienced salary: €5,000
- Why is the pentester essential?
- What is a pentester?
- The pentester job on video
- Main duties of the pentester
- Essential skills to become a pentester
- Which training to become a pentester?
- What is the salary of a pentester?
- Career prospects for a pentester
- Why is the pentester in high demand?
- FAQ: answers to students’ common questions
Level of education: Bac+3
Employability: Very good
Starting salary: €3,000
Experienced salary: €5,000
Mobility: Good
ROME code: M1802
FAP code: M2Z
Why is the pentester essential?
The pentester, or penetration tester, is a key player in the fight against cyber threats. By simulating real attacks on information systems, the pentester detects vulnerabilities before cybercriminals exploit them. The role is essential to strengthen infrastructure security and protect companies’ sensitive data against a growing number of cyberattacks.
What is a pentester?
A pentester, or penetration tester, is a cybersecurity specialist who assesses the security of an organisation’s information systems by simulating real attacks. Their aim is to find security flaws, vulnerabilities and weak points in networks, applications or infrastructure before malicious hackers exploit them. Pentesters are often hired by companies to carry out security audits and improve the resilience of their systems.
The pentester job on video
Main duties of the pentester
The pentester has a wide range of responsibilities covering several stages of a security audit:
- Security audit: carrying out an overall assessment of the security of the information system.
- Penetration tests: running tests with techniques similar to those of hackers to identify vulnerabilities.
- Exploiting flaws: trying to break into systems by exploiting the flaws detected to assess their potential impact.
- Writing detailed reports: providing a full report on the vulnerabilities found, with recommendations to fix them.
- Meetings with security teams: discussing the results with the technical teams to implement suitable security solutions.
- Cybersecurity watch: keeping up with the latest vulnerabilities, new attack techniques and pentesting tools.
Essential skills to become a pentester
A pentester must have sharp technical skills as well as certain personal qualities that make them an effective professional:
Technical skills:
- Command of pentesting tools: using tools such as Metasploit, Burp Suite, Wireshark or Nessus to carry out penetration tests.
- Knowledge of network protocols: an in-depth understanding of TCP/IP, HTTP, DNS and networks in general.
- Programming and scripting: knowing how to code, in particular in Python, Bash or PowerShell, to automate certain tests and scripts.
- Vulnerability analysis: knowing how to analyse and assess security flaws using vulnerability analysis tools.
- Knowledge of operating systems: being able to work on various operating systems, especially Linux, Windows and sometimes macOS.
Personal qualities:
- Curiosity: always being curious and looking for new flaws.
- Creativity: thinking like a hacker to find innovative ways round protections.
- Analytical mind: analysing test results in depth and identifying the real risks for the company.
- Clear communication: explaining complex technical concepts simply and precisely, especially when writing reports.
Which training to become a pentester?
The pentester job requires solid technical training. Here are some recommended academic paths and certifications:
| Training | Description |
|---|---|
| Bac+2 to Bac+5 in IT | BTS, BUT or university master’s degree in IT, networks or cybersecurity. |
| Professional certifications | CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), eJPT (eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester). |
| Specialised training | Online courses on pentesting tools, exploitation techniques, etc. |
What is the salary of a pentester?
A pentester’s salary varies with experience, location and business sector. Here is an overview:
| Experience | Gross annual salary (in France) |
|---|---|
| Beginner (0-3 years) | €35,000 – €45,000 |
| Experienced (3-5 years) | €50,000 – €65,000 |
| Senior (5+ years) | €70,000 – €90,000 |
| Independent consultant | €100,000 and over |
Career prospects for a pentester
The pentester can move on to several roles in cybersecurity, with greater responsibilities:
Cybersecurity consultant: advising several companies on IT security.
Security architect: designing robust security solutions to protect IT infrastructure.
Chief information security officer (CISO): managing the security of systems within an organisation.
Trainer or speaker: sharing cybersecurity expertise in specialised training courses or conferences.
Why is the pentester in high demand?
Demand for pentesters is growing fast because of the continuous rise in cyber threats. Companies large and small are realising how important cybersecurity is and how necessary it is to test the security of their systems continuously. With attacks and vulnerabilities constantly evolving, pentesters have become essential to anticipate risks and protect sensitive data.
FAQ: answers to students’ common questions
Q: What are the main techniques used by a pentester?
A: A pentester uses various techniques such as SQL injection, denial of service (DoS) attacks, brute force, session manipulation and the exploitation of zero-day flaws.
Q: Do you need to be a programming expert to become a pentester?
A: A good command of programming basics (Python, Bash, etc.) is useful, but you do not need to be a development expert. What matters is understanding how flaws are exploited and being able to automate certain tasks.
Q: Do you have to work for a company to do this job?
A: No, pentesters can also work as freelancers or consultants for several clients, which offers great flexibility.
Q: Is pentesting legal?
A: Pentesting is perfectly legal when carried out with the explicit consent of the owner of the system being tested. Pentesters are often hired by companies to test their own security.
Description of the profession in the ANSSI directory
The technical security auditor carries out technical security assessments of IT environments. They identify vulnerabilities and propose remediation actions. They can carry out different types of audits depending on their scope (penetration tests, code audits, configuration reviews, etc.).
How to get into the job of Pentester?
To become a pentester, you first need a good level in IT. This can range from a bachelor's degree specialising in IT to a master's degree in cybersecurity.
Bachelor Cybersecurity specialist
The ideal path into the technical professions of cybersecurity. Bridges exist for people who have already completed IT-related programmes (BTS in IT, IUT in IT...) as well as for those from backgrounds wrongly seen as “far removed” from cyber (law degree, IAE business school...).
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This programme is designed for positions of responsibility and for highly specific cybersecurity needs. It lets you deepen and refine your knowledge and skills in one of our three specialisations: Industrial (OT), Security Operations Management (SOC) or Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC).
The complete career guide
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