The concept of pentesting or ethical hacking might sound cool or ‘exotic’, especially if you’re a fan of Sci-fi or tech movies. But in cybersecurity, it’s more complex as it’s just one part of the larger IT security umbrella.
Today, more than 70% of organizations are seeing a rise in cyber risks. As threat actors constantly evolve, the industry needs pen testers who can find hidden vulnerabilities in networks, applications, and systems.
Penetration testing is the attempt to simulate real-life attack scenarios, and as threats are getting more sophisticated, you won’t be valued just for knowing it, but also for understanding and practising it.
In this guide, I’ve identified six courses that will help you become the pen tester that companies need. Before that, let’s understand why its demand is rising.
Why Learn Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing is an offensive security practice in which Red Team security professionals identify the weaknesses in the system. It’s legally authorized by the company, after which the pen tester attempts to breach the security controls within the organization, for example, weak passwords, misconfigured Firewall, etc.
This is to check for gaps in security implementation or perimeter defence mechanisms that may be exploited by unauthorized entities with malicious motives. Since companies are using AI for managing and automating tasks, their vigilance has increased. More than 60% of organizations think AI will affect cybersecurity the most, which means more demand for penetration testers.
Now, you can have the best solutions like EDR, XDR, SIEM, Firewall, etc, but if they are misconfigured, they become a liability rather than an asset (if you get a lot of false positive alerts, then it becomes a burden).
To keep a check on this, an effective pen tester:
- Validates the security controls and return on investment (ROI)
- Follows compliance requirements and regulations like PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard), ISO 27001 for security testing and auditing
- Helps build trust and reputation with the client (many clients demand a pen testing report before proof of concept)
- Safeguards sensitive data and avoids costly breaches (ransomware attack costs both money and reputation)
These six courses are a practical step into the pen testing world, introducing you to tools and skills you’ll need to advance in the industry. But why should you trust my judgment?
Why Should You Trust Us and This Guide?
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I’m a Senior Security Analyst, overseeing security operations of clients in the banking, healthcare, and automobile sectors. I have a post-graduate certification in Cybersecurity from the Great Lakes Institute. I complete at least one certification in cybersecurity every few months to stay updated in the field.
Throughout my career, I’ve seen candidates get hired, get trained in cybersecurity, and advance in their careers. I noted skills that employers value the most, and I’ve picked these courses based on:
- Industry acceptance: Some courses offer a certification that hiring managers recognize and value
- Practical approach: Since aspiring security professionals need to show they’ve practiced pen testing, I’ve included such courses
- Goals: I’ve considered different goals while picking the courses — if you want to get hired, become a better pen tester at your job, or pass a certification exam
Here are the top six vulnerability assessment & penetration testing courses:
| Course Highlight | Time to complete |
| Best for CompTIA Security+ Exam SYO-701 Prep (Udemy) | ~20 Hours |
| Best for Operating System Fundamentals (Coursera) | ~3 Hours |
| Best to Go from Beginner to Pro (Udemy) | ~8 Hours |
| Best for Hacking Lab Setup for Beginners (Udemy) | ~1.5 Hours |
| Best Guide to Pen Testing & Ethical Hacking (Udemy) | ~10.5 Hours |
| Best Technical Security Guide (LinkedIn Learning) | ~2.5 Hours |
Best for CompTIA Security+ Exam SYO-701 Prep (Udemy)
- Level: Intermediate (Beginner-friendly)
- Rating: 4.6 (36000+ ratings)
- Duration: 20.5 hours
- Cost: Paid (varies)
Security fundamentals Alert triage basics Security controls Exam blueprint Industry practices Many entry-level cybersecurity jobs demand prior experience, which can deflate your confidence as an aspiring security professional. But this CompTIA Security+ certification validates your knowledge across key domains like threats, vulnerabilities, security architecture, operations, and risk management. I liked that the instructors, Mike Meyers and the Total Seminar team, have used live animation to explain core concepts, and have mapped the modules to the latest exam pattern. The course goes beyond cryptography fundamentals, covering hashing, symmetric/asymmetric encryption, which ensures the integrity and confidentiality of the data. You get hands-on learning in the three A’s (authentication, authorization, and accounting), followed by network scanning for assessing weaknesses. You’ll also learn how an attacker deploys methods like phishing, social engineering, and malware exploits. This is followed by how the security team detects, blocks, and contains the incident. Note: Many learners have claimed to pass the CompTIA Certification using this course, but it isn’t enough. Supplement the course with at least three mock tests (this one, for example) and a Sybex book. Operating system foundations Windows command line foundation Linux command line foundation Penetration testing demo I would highly recommend this course to aspiring cybersecurity professionals, especially those from a non-IT background. OS fundamentals are grossly neglected in most courses, and I often see freshers freeze at the sight of Windows/Linux CLI(Command Line Interface) or doubt themselves when they have to check “Sysmon” or “tail auth.log”. I use CLI to troubleshoot, by running an SSH command (secure shell used to connect to the remote system) into a VM (Virtual Machine, to check if it’s up and running), checking if the logs are forwarding from the firewall or to check network connectivity, which provide the RCA (Root Cause Analysis) to the client. CLI helps to pivot into hosts immediately, list processes, grab logs, and verify the config. In three hours, the instructor, Keatron Evans, paints a clear picture of the OS overview, Windows/Linux CLI, and a pen test demo. His classes are engaging, and his stunning diagrams make it easy to understand the concepts. Note: The quizzes seem elementary, and the course is limited in depth, so it’s better for beginners rather than security professionals. Wireshark for defenders Defensive strategies Cyber range Pen testing fundamentals Intrusion analysis + handling This course covers both offensive and defensive, ranging from foundations to building a cyber range to intrusion analysis and handling. It has a more hands-on lab (cyber range) so you can actively practice instead of passively watching. Beyond strengthening the security controls, as a VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing) professional, you’re expected to share remediation measures in client reports. The incident analysis module in the course will help you write better remediation measures in client reports. Another USP of this course is Wireshark coverage that gives insight into Network Triage, followed by intrusion analysis. Note: It only introduces you to penetration testing, so I recommend planning for separate labs. This one’s best for aspiring cybersecurity professionals, career switchers, or junior SOC/NOC analysts. Setting up the lab Basics of ethical hacking Recon/footprinting & scanning Light networking prerequisites It’s a short course, which makes it ideal for someone looking to get a quick hands-on Kali Linux training. You’ll start with installing VirtualBox, then download the Kali Linux image (downloading the image instead of the file allows you to entirely skip OS installation and use it immediately). You’ll also work on some terminal commands, which require initial practice and memorization, but are faster than a user interface. The course also covers footprinting, i.e., gathering data about the target, which is then used to exploit IP ranges, open ports, etc. You also get to work on Wireshark by setting up an FTP Hacking lab, capturing passwords & files with Wireshark. Note: A drawback of the course is that it is outdated (last updated in Aug 2019) and only covers recon/scanning. It skips other tools, OWASP Top 10, and web application basics. Setting up a virtual lab using VirtualBox Conduct a penetration test on the network Reconnaissance techniques
Network and Vulnerability Scanning using Nessus and OpenVAS This course is a great pick for aspiring ethical hackers, as it focuses on interactive, tool-based learning. It’s for beginners, and yet it includes essential tools and strategies used in professional pen testing like Kali Linux, Nessus, OpenVAS, Wireshark, and Nmap. The instructor, Prof. K, also gives a walkthrough of the penetration testing lifecycle — reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, and reporting. And he iterates the best ethical and legal practices in security. The course starts with setting up your Virtual lab using VirtualBox, followed by troubleshooting VirtualBox. Then it moves on to active scanning using Nmap (it covers scanning for WannaCry Ransomware), Nessus, and OpenVAS. Note: The tools taught are actively used in the industry, making this course valuable among employers. Fundamentals of technical security assessment Run core reviews Discover and size up targets Report and recommendations This is one of the few courses that gives you an idea of how audits are done in the industry. It kicks off with how to evaluate your organization’s network security, detect security weaknesses, take exact steps to secure it, and assess compliance with security standards like PCI DSS, ISO 27001. The course is designed using NIST special publication 800-115, developing strategies for mitigation and to audit network security. It also delves into review techniques: The assessments help you keep track of trends and remediation progress. For instance, the security assessment is pivotal in understanding and improving security posture. This course, which is ideal for security analysts and engineers (or anyone who wants to conduct security audits), gives you clarity and a checklist in mind on how to plan and execute assessments, recommend mitigation actions, and implement remediations. Getting into VAPT or auditing can be overwhelming, as there’s a lot to learn out there — from tools to labs to certifications. What I like about these six courses is that they give you a strong starting point. The shorter courses are great for building confidence, and once you’re comfortable, courses like Security+ get you closer to the skills companies want. No single course will make you an expert overnight, but it will get you moving in the right direction to become a solid pen tester.
What You’ll Learn
Best for Operating System Fundamentals (Coursera)
What You’ll Learn
Best to Go from Beginner to Pro (Udemy)
What You’ll Learn
Best for Hacking Lab Setup for Beginners (Udemy)
What You’ll Learn
Best Guide to Pen Testing & Ethical Hacking (Udemy)
What You’ll Learn
Best Technical Security Guide (LinkedIn Learning)
What You’ll Learn
DIPLOMA
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advanced levelDIPLOMA
3-4hrsbeginner levelDIPLOMA
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Intermediate LevelDIPLOMA
3-4hrsbeginner levelDIPLOMA
5-6hrsbeginner level
