While companies often employ penetration testers to focus on one or a few potential vulnerabilities in the network, ethical hackers have a much broader role. Similarly, ethical hacking skills-which are nearly identical to those employed by cyber criminals-are invaluable to organizations that want to spot weaknesses and fortify their networks and improve their processes. Secret shoppers may even stage shoplifting incidents to test a store’s security. In many ways, an ethical hacker is not unlike a secret shopper who visits retail stores incognito in order to spot problems and provide feedback on needed improvements.
What Does it Mean to be an Ethical Hacker? By stress-testing an organization’s networks and procedures, they can spot weak points and better anticipate cyber attacks before it’s too late. Ethical, or “white hat” hackers are able to think like the bad actors their organizations are trying to stop. That’s why ethical hacking skills are so vital to any business with a substantial digital footprint. Cybercrime, particularly data breaches, can damage a company’s reputation with customers and clients, and can even lead to legal action. Recovering from a cyberattack costs time and money, and there’s no guarantee a hacked organization will recover at all. Whatever the motivation, cybercrime is expected to cost the world $6 trillion by 2021, with one business falling victim to ransomware every 11 seconds. Some hackers use their skills to commit fraud, theft, or other nefarious acts, while some simply enjoy the challenge. The term “hacker” is broadly used to describe anyone with advanced computer technology skills who’s able to deceive organizations or bypass security and infiltrate networks without proper authorization.