Many students and professionals have been asking me about certifications lately, even though I am not a huge fan of certifications. However, I do like some of them, which promote practical learning.
๐๐ฒ๐โ๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐โthere are a few pain points in the way things are done today:
- ๐๐ป ๐ข๐๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น: A 24-hour window to complete an exam is intense, especially in an era where work-life balance and mental well-being are crucial. *ย ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น-๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐ง๐ผ๐ผ๐น๐: Restricting candidates from using their preferred tools (like Burp Suite or Metasploit) strips away a lot of the real-world applicability.
- ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต ๐๐ผ๐๐๐: Letโs not ignore the steep cost barrier that many face in pursuing these certifications.
- ๐ข๐๐๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐: Rapidly evolving threats require certification content to be updated frequently, which isnโt always true.
This is where I see The SecOps Group by Sumit Siddharth (Sid) taking a much-needed step in a different direction. Instead of following the typical playbook, theyโre decoupling training from exams entirely. They offer a well-defined exam syllabus, free and paid resources, and even a free mock exam to help candidates prepare. I think thatโs a breath of fresh air.
What also stands out is their structured exam levels: Essentials (entry-level), Professional (for 2-5 years of experience), and eXpert (for those with over 5 years in the field). This segmentation allows people to choose what truly matches their skill level.
For me, #pen-testing should always involve creativity and “out-of-the-box” thinking. When training and exams are tied together, there’s often only one “correct” way to solve a problem. Decoupling them allows for different approaches and encourages true problem-solving skills.
I plan to try a few of their exams myselfโthe AI/ML and CAPenX ones look particularly niche and intriguing. Iโll share my experience soon, but I genuinely think this approach is a step toward shaking things up for the better. ๐
๐ฅ๐ฃ.๐ฆ: I noticed a 75% discount code (INDEPENDENCE-DAY-OFF-75) floating around LinkedIn for those interested! ๐ฅ
#students #pentesting #certification