Are you a cyber professional looking to enter the world of penetration testing? Bring a competitive edge to the job market with the technical skills for which employers are looking. As demand for improved cybersecurity solutions continues to grow amongst employers, you can meet the demand with relevant technical skills through specialized training as a penetration tester or related offensive cybersecurity role.
The updated CompTIA PenTest+ training and certification exam is one avenue to gain those specialized skills, PenTest+ best aligns with job roles that relate to penetration testing and as a penetration tester, you'll have the ability to assess, manage, and tackle security threats head-on.
With CompTIA PenTest+ you'll know how to determine what a system’s physical and digital security weaknesses are and how to patch up those weaknesses. Additionally, with the PenTest+ certification, you can validate that you have the most up-to-date, hands-on penetration testing and security skills today’s businesses, organizations, and government agencies need.
The CompTIA PenTest+ certification exam is undergoing its three-year update, ensuring that you’re equipped with the latest strategies, vulnerability scanning tools, and assessment methods needed to help an organization keep their systems secure.
Let's take a closer look at what the updated exam has to offer, and how it can help you plan a fulfilling future towards a rewarding tech career.
CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-002 vs PenTest+ PT0-003: What are the updates?
CompTIA routinely updates certification exams to ensure that the content covered accurately reflects updates in today’s technology and industry standards. Specifically, CompTIA PenTest+ undergoes content updates every three years.The CompTIA PenTest+ certification will reflect the skills required to plan and scope a penetration test within compliance requirements. The exam also covers how to analyze vulnerabilities, launch attacks, conduct enumeration and reconnaissance, and how to exfiltrate data and create written reports with remediation techniques.
The PenTest+ (PT0-003) exam will continue to combine a mixture of both performance-based and multiple-choice questions. While the previous exam had a maximum of 85 questions, the updated exam can have a maximum of 90 questions.
PenTest+ PT0-003 will continue to be approved for the same U.S. DoD Directive 8140.03M work roles as the previous version, PT0-002. Learn more about 8140, click here.
PenTest+ PT0-003 introduces new domains that reflect current needs in today's security systems landscape. Below are the new domains you'll find in the updated CompTIA PentTest+ PT0-003 exam and their correlating coverage.
CompTIA PentTest+ PT0-002 exam domains | CompTIA PentTest+ PT0-003 exam domains |
Planning and Scoping (14%)
Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning (22%)
Attacks and Exploits (30%)
Reporting and Communication (18%)
Tools and Code Analysis (16%) | Engagement Management (13%)
Reconnaissance and Enumeration (21%)
Vulnerability Discovery and Analysis (17%)
Attacks and Exploits (35%)
Post-exploitation and Lateral Movement (11%) |
Job roles candidates are prepared for with CompTIA PenTest+
CompTIA PenTest+ is globally recognized for its comprehensive curriculum, covering a variety of aspects regarding offensive security solutions. As such, many of the roles that map to the skills covered in CompTIA PenTest+ are hands-on, frontline defense roles. While some roles that align with the skills covered on the exam may require you to work directly with people outside of your tech team, most of your workday involves tackling the technical aspects of an organization's cybersecurity solutions.
Let’s take a closer look at job roles that map out to the domains covered on the CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003 exam.
Penetration Tester
The skills, concepts, tools, and approaches to security solutions covered in CompTIA PenTest+ will prepare you to become a skilled penetration tester. As a Penetration Tester, you'll be an active participant in the front lines of helping keep an organization's digital infrastructure secure.
Some job duties you'll engage in on a day-to-day basis as a penetration tester might include:
Applying appropriate tools for penetration testing
Performing social engineering tests and reviewing physical security where appropriate
Keeping up to date with latest testing and hacking methods
Collecting data and deploying testing methodology
Locating, assessing and managing vulnerabilities
Making suggestions for security improvements and preparing technical responses to security questions
Vulnerability Analyst
Vulnerability Analysts are another type of highly technical cybersecurity related roles that require you to stay up to date with current trends and tactics used by today’s threat actors. As a Vulnerability Analyst, you'll work to determine what vulnerabilities exist in a system including within its network and software. You’ll also map out approaches to strengthen these defenses.
A Vulnerability Analyst will generally work within an organization, but they can also fall into a consultation type role. In both settings, you'll be providing valuable insight for the organizations you serve.
An average day for a vulnerability analyst might involve:
Developing risk-based mitigation strategies for networks, operating systems, and applications
Compiling and tracking vulnerabilities and mitigation results to quantify program effectiveness
Creating and maintaining vulnerability management policies, procedures, and training
Reviewing and defining requirements for information security solutions
Organizing network-based scans to identify possible network security attacks and host-based scans to identify vulnerabilities in workstations, servers, and other network hosts
Cybersecurity Analysts
While penetration testers are highly specialized roles, Cybersecurity Analysts play a more generalized role in helping an organization's digital systems remain secure. Cybersecurity Analysts are found in organizations across all industries. And unlike Penetration Testers who take a more offensive role, Cybersecurity Analysts balance both offensive tactics and defensive tactics.
The objectives of a Cybersecurity Analyst are to monitor systems, assess risk, and develop mitigation tactics and strategies to defend against unauthorized user access. Cybersecurity Analysts can wear many hats throughout their careers, but some of the major job duties you'll find within this role include:
Managing and configuring tools to monitor activity on the network
Analyzing reports from those tools to identify unusual behavior on the network
Proactively identifying network vulnerabilities through penetration testing, vulnerability scans, and vulnerability assessment reports
Planning and recommends changes to increase the security of the network
Applying security patches to protect the network
How to train for CompTIA PenTest+
CompTIA PenTest+ boasts a full suite of CompTIA training products from which aspiring specialized security professionals can choose. Whether you prefer to study alone or thrive in a classroom-style environment, there is an option for you.
Explore our training products and find the right fit as you prepare for your PenTest+ certification.
CertMaster Perform
CertMaster Perform is the newest addition to CompTIA's online learning portfolio. CertMaster Perform combines instructional content, videos, skills assessments, and both simulated and live labs for a comprehensive learning experience.eLearning with CertMaster Learn
CertMaster Learn offers structured learning with instructional content, videos, skills assessments, flash cards, and performance-based questions.Interactive labs with CertMaster Labs
Acquire the necessary hands-on skills for your certification exam with CertMaster Labs. CertMaster Labs provides hands-on practice in a remote, browser-based environment aligned with CompTIA PenTest+ exam objectives.Exam prep with CertMaster Practice
CertMaster Practice is an adaptive online companion tool that assesses your knowledge and exam readiness. CertMaster Practice confirms strong areas and fills knowledge gaps in weak areas, helping you feel more prepared and confident when you go into your certification exam.
Instructor-led training
Whether you’re looking for in-classroom or live online training, CompTIA’s vast network of authorized training partners offers best-in-class instructor-led training for both individuals and teams.
Bundle and save
Save on your certification when you shop PenTest+ training bundles. Our bundles allow you to mix and match the right training materials for your learning style, preparing you to pass with confidence.
Ready to get started? Learn more about CompTIA PenTest+ PT0-003 and prepare for your next step as a skilled cybersecurity professional.
Start planning for your future when you read our blog to discover Penetration Testing roles and how they fit in the cybersecurity landscape.
