Black Hat and The SecOps Group have teamed up to introduce a new certification exam track at the upcoming Black Hat USA conference. The exam track will offer attendees the opportunity to take a certification exam known as Black Hat Certified Pentester (BCPen), which focuses on testing individuals’ real-world knowledge of penetration testing.
According to Sumit ‘Sid’ Siddharth, the CEO of The SecOps Group, the goal of the partnership is to provide an authentic and credible certification that reflects current business risks. The BCPen exam covers a range of topics related to application and infrastructure security, including network penetration testing, Active Directory penetration testing, web and API penetration testing, and Linux and cloud security.
The practical exam will be divided into two parts: Web Hacking and Infrastructure Hacking. Both sections will carry equal weight in the evaluation process. The exam will require attendees to demonstrate their practical knowledge of penetration testing by identifying and exploiting security vulnerabilities in a simulated real-life environment. This environment will be designed to resemble a hack-lab, and the exam format will resemble a capture-the-flag hackathon. Candidates will need to capture flags as they progress through the course, identifying vulnerabilities and developing mitigation strategies.
The BCPen exam is categorized as intermediate level, and is targeted towards individuals with at least two years of professional penetration testing or bug bounty hunting experience. Attendees are required to bring their own laptops and can use any hacking tools they prefer to accomplish the tasks on the exam.
The 7-hour practical exam will be available once a day, starting at 9 am local time, during the Black Hat USA conference in Las Vegas. It will be offered on August 5, 6, 7, and 8.
Both Black Hat and The SecOps Group are confident that this new exam track will provide attendees with a comprehensive and rigorous certification process that accurately assesses their penetration testing skills. By incorporating real-life scenarios and practical demonstrations, the BCPen exam aims to ensure that certified individuals possess the necessary knowledge and expertise to tackle the ever-evolving challenges of cybersecurity.
The partnership between Black Hat and The SecOps Group also leaves room for the addition of other certification exams to the track in the future. This demonstrates their commitment to continuously improving and expanding the opportunities for professionals to validate their skills and expertise in the field of cybersecurity.
As the demand for highly skilled penetration testers continues to grow, certifications like BCPen play an essential role in setting individuals apart in a competitive job market. By obtaining this certification, professionals can demonstrate their commitment to ongoing professional development and their ability to effectively identify and address security vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, the introduction of the independent exam track at Black Hat USA, in collaboration with The SecOps Group, is a significant development for the cybersecurity community. The BCPen certification exam offers professionals the chance to prove their knowledge and skills in the field of penetration testing, with a focus on real-world scenarios. This partnership highlights a commitment to advancing the industry and providing individuals with opportunities to showcase their expertise in cybersecurity.