Meta description: Learn what to look for in a pentesting provider, including the most important penetration testing certifications. Discover the top 5 essential certifications every business should prioritize to ensure effective security testing, and 20 certifications that also indicate skill-readiness. 

When selecting a penetration testing provider, businesses often weigh factors like market reputation, credibility, testimonials, pricing, scalability, and support. That’s the correct way to go about it.  However, an important factor you should not overlook is the penetration certifications held by the business or individuals involved. Certifications validate a pentesting firm’s expertise and adherence to industry standards. This blog will delve into the importance of penetration testing certifications and outline 25 key certifications, highlighting the top 5 must-haves.

Why are penetration testing certifications important? 

Penetration testing certifications serve as a benchmark for evaluating a pentesting provider’s capability and reliability. They ensure that the testing team has undergone rigorous training and demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of penetration testing principles and practices. With the growing sophistication of cyber threats, ensuring that your pentesting partner is certified can help mitigate risks and enhance the security posture of your organization.

5 Must-Have Penetration Testing Certifications: Verify Whether Your Provider Possesses These 

These are essential pentesting certifications for any business you intend to hire: 

EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) 

The CEH certification is one of the best penetration testing certifications for a company —it is widely recognized and respected in the industry. It validates a tester’s ability to understand and identify vulnerabilities within a system, just like a malicious hacker would. CEH covers a broad range of topics, including footprinting, scanning, and enumeration, making it a comprehensive certification for ethical hacking. 

This certification is crucial because it ensures your provider’s team is skilled in the latest hacking techniques and methodologies. 

Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) 

Known for its rigorous hands-on examination, the OSCP tests a pentester’s practical skills. It requires candidates to exploit vulnerabilities in a controlled environment and provide a detailed report of their findings. This certification is highly regarded because it demonstrates a tester’s ability to perform real-world attacks and provide actionable insights. 

The OSCP ensures that your provider can deliver thorough and effective testing. 

Burp Suite Certified Practitioner (BCP) 

The BCP certification focuses on proficiency with Burp Suite, a popular tool used for web application security testing. This certification is essential for pentesting providers that specialize in web application security. 

BCP ensures that your provider’s team can effectively use Burp Suite’s features to identify and exploit web application vulnerabilities, providing a deeper level of insight into potential security issues. 

Web Application Penetration Tester eXtreme (eWPTx) 

The eWPTx certification is tailored for those who specialize in web application security. It goes beyond basic penetration testing and involves advanced techniques for exploiting web application vulnerabilities. 

An eWPTx certification indicates that your penetration testing provider can address complex security challenges and provide a detailed analysis of web application security. 

Certified Red Team Professional (CRTP) 

The CRTP certification demonstrates expertise in red teaming, which involves simulating advanced persistent threats (APTs) to test an organization’s defensive capabilities. This certification is crucial for pentesting providers that focus on simulating real-world attacks to assess an organization’s security measures.

The CRTP ensures that your pentesting provider can perform in-depth assessments and offer actionable recommendations to improve overall security. 

Other Important Penetration Testing Certifications

While the five certifications above are essential, there are several other valuable certifications that can enhance a pentesting provider’s credibility and may be used to evaluate pentesters. Some of these are specific to web apps, or networks, and may be suitable add-ons to seek out, in addition to the must-haves listed above. Let’s take a look at 20 other certifications that you can use as a filter when evaluating individuals and companies:

CompTIA PenTest+

Recognized for its broad coverage of penetration testing techniques, this certification demonstrates general proficiency in the field. 

Certified Penetration Tester (CPT): 

This penetration testing certification focuses on the core skills needed for penetration testing, making it a valuable credential for any pentesting team.

Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT): 

This advanced certification signifies a deeper level of expertise in penetration testing. 

Certified Cloud Penetration Tester (CCPT)

Specializing in cloud security testing, CCPT is ideal for providers working with cloud-based environments. 

Certified Mobile and Web Application Penetration Tester (CMWAPT)

This certification focuses on mobile and web application security and is good to have for providers testing these specific types of applications. 

Certified Red Team Operations Professional (CRTOP)

This penetration testing certification validates skills in red team operations, enhancing your provider’s ability to simulate sophisticated attacks. 

EC-Council Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT) Master: 

An advanced penetration testing certification from the EC-Council, the LPT Master, as the name indicates, demonstrates mastery in penetration testing. 

Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) Penetration Tester (GPEN): 

Provides a thorough assessment of penetration testing knowledge and skills. Source

Licensed Penetration Tester Master (LPT) Certification

The LPT is an advanced certification focusing on complex penetration testing scenarios. 

GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester (GXPN) Certification

This certification, too, specializes in advanced exploitation techniques. 

Certified Penetration Tester (CPENT)

This wide-scope penetration testing certification covers a range of penetration testing skills and methodologies. 

OffSec Experienced Pentester Certification (OSEP)

Another certification that focuses on advanced penetration testing techniques and strategies. 

Redteam Ops (Zero-Point Security)

This certification specializes in red team operations and advanced attack simulations. 

Practical Web Penetration Tester (PWPT – TCM)

This certification ensures your provider comes with the requisite practical skills in web application penetration testing. 

Practical Network Penetration Tester (PNPT – TCM)

Similar to the above certification, but focusing on network penetration testing skills. 

CREST Registered Penetration Tester (CRT – Crest)

This certification demonstrates that the holder comes with core penetration testing skills. 

CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA – Crest)

Validates foundational knowledge in security analysis and penetration testing. 

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): 

This certification offers a general security overview and ensures your pen testers understand how cybersecurity systems are built. 

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM):

Like the above, it focuses on security management, useful for understanding the broader context of security strategies. 

Choosing The Right Partner Impacts Your Penetration Testing Outcomes 

Penetration testing certifications play an important role in ensuring that the business you hire has the requisite skills and knowledge to protect your organization from cyber threats. They validate the provider’s expertise and adherence to industry standards, reducing the risk of security breaches and enhancing your overall security posture. When selecting a pentesting partner, prioritize companies with the essential penetration testing certifications to ensure you receive high-quality, reliable testing services.

At Siemba, we understand the importance of these certifications and are proud to hold all the essential penetration testing credentials. Contact us today to learn how our certified team can help safeguard your business with expert penetration testing services.