We have all heard about hackers, and if we are really
unfortunate, we may have even been victims of criminal hacking activity. From
stealing financial details of individuals through to theft of data from big
businesses, hackers are experts at infiltrating computer systems for fraudulent
purposes. It’s for this reason that “hacking” normally has many negative
connotations.

But there is a flip side to the world of hacking that is
altogether different. In fact, there is such a thing as an “ethical hacker”. The
term may sound oxymoronic, but actually the advanced practices of hackers can
be used for good as well as bad.

How so? Ethical hackers infiltrate computer systems in covert
ways (just like their criminal counterparts), but instead of hacking in order
to take individuals and corporations down, they hack computer systems in order
to find weaknesses that need to be protected.

The skills of ethical hackers are extremely sought after. By
leaning on the expertise of “white hat” hackers, organizations can
identify the weaknesses within their systems, and ensure that they have robust
security measures in place to protect their data. In our world of “big data”,
where so much sensitive and valuable information is stored online, system
security is more important than ever before.

For example, if a bank has security issues that can potentially
lead to financial data being exploited, this could have extremely negative
repercussions. Another instance may be if a government branch has security
problems that could lead to sensitive security information being leaked; this
could have major effects on civic safety. For this reason, organizations that
need to protect their data and sensitive information often employ ethical
hackers.

Because we are used to thinking about hacking in such a
negative way, it can be difficult to think of hacking as a skill, but in fact,
it takes a great deal of expertise, learning, and experience to be a great
ethical hacker. As hacking requires such an advanced and niche skill set,
ethical hackers can find themselves in great demand, but getting to a point of
employability can be a long process. 

Of course, as a first step, people who want to become ethical
hackers should study for a relevant qualification in related fields, such as
information security. But beyond this, it is experience and a solid reputation
that makes ethical hackers experts in their field. Working as a network
engineer and building a repertoire of security certifications is a great way
for aspiring ethical hackers to prove their worth to prospective employers.

There
are various certifications are available in market. For people who
already have a few years of experience working in internet and network
security, this certification is a great way to advance and hone hacking skills,
greatly improving the chances of employability as an ethical hacker. The
five-day course (which can be taken on-site or online) covers all of the
ethical hacking fundamentals such as trojan horses, viruses, and system
hacking.

As our world continues to migrate online, “big data” is only
going to grow. As the potential or fraud rises, so will the need for people who
can protect systems against that fraud. As a result, the future looks very
bright for ethical hackers.

Camille McClane is
an online journalist with a passion for developing technology for business. As
a contributor to 1800-Number.com’s blog, she also enjoys covering the topics
of globalization and corporate telecommunications.