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“To catch a criminal, think like one.”

In the rapidly evolving world of cybersecurity — where almost any average casual criminal can now leverage AI to launch attacks and hacking skills are for sale to the highest bidder on the dark web — network and security engineers need more than just technical expertise. They need to step into the shoes of a hacker.

The best defense is a good offense, and understanding the tactics of cybercriminals is essential for staying one step ahead. But how do you act like a hacker — including learning to implement full-on cyberattacks — without breaking the law? The answer: By attaining new, cutting-edge hacking skills and testing them in a real-world competitive simulation with bright people from all over the globe.

Stand out with an official ethical hacking certificate from Cisco

The new Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking is now available, offering candidates a streamlined, structured way to demonstrate their workforce readiness for associate-level offensive security roles, such as ethical hacker or penetration tester.

Here are the skills and knowledge you gain through the program:

  • Ethical hacking basics: Learn how to ethically test and secure digital infrastructures by thinking like a hacker.
  • Penetration testing: Learn the techniques hackers use to find weaknesses and vulnerabilities—and how to mitigate them.
  • Red teaming tactics: Simulate advanced threats to proactively stress-test your defenses.
  • Advanced threat response: Master the tools needed to detect and mitigate sophisticated cyberattacks.

How to get the Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking 

To earn the Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking, you must satisfy the following two requirements with a minimum score of 70%.

  1. Ethical Hacker – free course
    First, you’ll need to complete the Ethical Hacker training for this new certificate through Cisco Networking Academy—free of charge. Once you have completed the free Ethical Hacker course, you are ready to move into the final phase of your ethical hacking cert journey: Capture the Flag (CTF).
  2. Capture the Flag (CTF) Challenge
    For your second requirement, you must complete one Capture the Flag (CTF) Challenge in Cisco U. (US$100). Challenges are updated quarterly with new, domain-specific challenges that reflect the current threat landscape. that test your hands-on skills—not rote memorization. The challenges and certificate allow you to prove to yourself and employers that you have the practical experience to support red-teaming activities.

By earning the Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking and collecting domain-specific themed digital badges, you demonstrate not only your expertise but also your commitment to maintaining current offensive security skills, thus helping organizations proactively discover and mitigate their weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

Round out your cybersecurity skills with a defensive security certification from Cisco or Splunk

In this ever-changing threat landscape, hackers are using AI to make exponential technology advances. Therefore, the Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking isn’t just about reacting to threats— it is about proactively identifying and fortifying weaknesses before attacks happen.

After earning your ethical hacker credentials, consider pursuing the Cisco Cybersecurity Associate or Cybersecurity Professional certification.* With the integration of predictive AI in the Cybersecurity Associate certification, and advanced AI-powered analysis in the Cybersecurity Professional certification, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the latest trends and job roles in AI-driven cybersecurity. Additionally, the Splunk Certified Cybersecurity Defense Analyst certification is an excellent pathway to a SOC analyst role, showcasing your skills in building the SOC of the future.

These cybersecurity certifications serve as valuable pathways toward positions like security analyst, incident responder, or security operations center (SOC) analyst. When paired with the new Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking, they create a strong foundation for anyone aspiring to build a successful career in cybersecurity.

Start your journey to become an ethical hacker with Cisco

Are you ready to think like a hacker, defend like a pro, and build an exciting career in the evolving world of cybersecurity? We know you are. Find out everything you need to know about the Cisco Certificate in Ethical Hacking in our recent expert-led, info-packed livestream. Watch the replay


* Formerly known as the Cisco CyberOps Associate and CyberOps Professional, Cisco CyberOps certifications were renamed Cisco Cybersecurity certifications. (Effective: January 21, 2025)

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Authors

Ryan Rose

Director of Product Management for Skills & Certifications

Cisco Learning & Certifications