Where to Find the Best Online Penetration Testing Courses, Classes, and Training

Technology advancement can be used for beneficial or malicious purposes. This is why organizations massively invest in cyber security solutions and security professionals to protect and maintain their IT infrastructure. In this article, you’ll learn about some of the best online penetration testing courses, classes, and training programs that can prepare you for this field.

What Is Penetration Testing?

Penetration testing involves mimicking cyber attacks to find potential vulnerabilities before hackers do. This is an essential part of ensuring your security can withstand real-world applications. This routine procedure helps companies to predict and prevent malware, as well as offer solutions to potential security threats. 

Why Online Penetration Testing Courses Are Important for Professional Development

Online penetration testing courses provide a platform for students to master modern penetration testing methodologies and concepts. It also provides an avenue for cyber security professionals to refresh their knowledge and stay updated on the latest penetration testing trends and techniques. 

Should You Attend a Coding Bootcamp to Learn Penetration Testing?

Coding bootcamps provide an excellent way to learn penetration testing. They use focused curricula and project-based training to help the students kickstart their penetration testing careers. Some of the best cyber security bootcamps are Flatiron School, Springboard, Tech Academy, Coding Dojo, and Fullstack Academy

Overview: The Best Online Penetration Testing Courses, Classes, or Training

Listed below are some of the best penetration testing courses, classes, and training programs that can help you become a security expert. When deciding which program is right for you, it’s helpful to consider the program provider, price, length of time, and whether it includes a certificate. 

In Detail: The Best Online Penetration Testing Classes, Courses, or Training

Penetration Testing, Incident Response, and Forensics | Coursera

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training.
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered:  Approaches to penetration testing, incident response, digital forensics, scripting

This course is offered by Coursera in collaboration with IBM, as part of the Cybersecurity Security Analyst Professional Certificate Program. Throughout the course, you will learn about the different phases of penetration testing, data collection, and popular ethical hacking tools. Students also learn about incident response and incident response policy. 

Key Takeaway: This course is ideal for students who are interested in pursuing penetration testing within the forensics field. 

Advanced Penetration Testing | Cybrary

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Advanced
• Subjects Covered: Pen-testing tools, bash scripting, Python scripting, advanced exploitation tactics, Kali and Metasploit, web testing, advanced penetration testing techniques

This advanced penetration testing course is offered by Cybrary and covers advanced techniques and popular penetration testing tools used by hackers. Students learn how to attack from the web through penetration testing methods such as cross-site scripting, SQL injection attacks, and remote and local file inclusion. 

The course also includes the post-exploitation processes such as backdoor Secure Shell logins, data exfiltration techniques, and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). This prepares students with the skills and problem-solving techniques needed in their careers.

Key Takeaway:  The course is specifically designed for students with knowledge of TCP/IP and web terminologies. 

Certified Penetration Testing Professional | EC-Council

• Learning Format: Certification course
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Penetration testing, web application penetration testing, wireless penetration testing, IoT penetration testing, cloud penetration testing

This training teaches students the fundamentals of penetration testing. EC-Council utilizes a regularly updated curriculum to keep up with the latest penetration testing requirements. Students learn how to perform a practical penetration test on web applications and enterprise networks.

This certification course is meant to prepare students for the Certified Penetration Testing Professional certification exam. To learn about EC-Council’s pricing and schedule options, you can contact them through their website. 

Key Takeaway: After completing the course, students are fully prepared for the Certified Penetration Testing Professional certification exam. 

Cyber Security Certification Training Course | Edureka

• Learning Format: Full course
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Cyber security, CIA Triad, security architecture, security auditing, pen testers, regulations, framework

In this course, students learn crucial cyber security concepts such as ethical hacking, application security, vulnerability analysis, SQL injection, computer networks, security, and session hijacking. In addition to these concepts, the course includes core topics such as security governance, audit, compliance, and security architecture. 

Key Takeaway: This course acts as a strong foundation for students interested in roles, such as a network administrator, system administrator, security analyst, security engineer, ethical hacker, and penetration tester.

Penetration Testing- Discovering Vulnerabilities | edX

• Learning Format: Full course
• Level: Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: Penetration testing methodology, Recognizance, enumeration for penetration testers, scanning, app vulnerabilities, vulnerability enumeration

This course is offered by edX in collaboration with New York University. It’s part of the MicroBachelor’s Program in Cybersecurity Fundamentals, but can be taken independently of that program. Students learn concepts of penetration testing and gain hands-on experience in scanning for targets and vulnerabilities in web systems. This course also prepares students to take the CompTIA Security+ certification exam.

Key Takeaway: This class is offered by one of the most prestigious universities in the US and is widely recognized by employers. Through this course, students are prepared for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam and are given a 36 percent exam discount.

CyberSecurity Engineering | Flatiron School

• Learning Format: Bootcamp program
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Vulnerability scanning, intelligence gathering, Metasploit framework, security tools, post-exploitation techniques, web application penetration testing, report writing

This course ranks as one of the best online penetration courses for students. It teaches students how to use advanced penetration testing tools and techniques, report findings, and make security reports. The course exposes students to various vulnerabilities in web applications making use of real-life scenarios caused by black hat hackers for practical understanding. 

Key Takeaway: The curriculum utilizes interactive training sessions, quizzes, and tutorials, all organized under the guidance of expert instructors.

Penetration Testing 10-Day Bootcamp | InfoSec

• Learning Format: Bootcamp program
• Level: Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: Linux LKM rootkits, reverse engineering, vulnerability scanning, discovery, defensive techniques, Integer overflows, vulnerability identification

InfoSec’s online course is regarded as one of the most comprehensive penetration testing courses available. As the name implies, it covers everything you need to know about penetration, in just ten days. Students start by using network reconnaissance tools before advancing to more technical aspects like writing custom zero-day buffer overflow exploits.

At the end of the program, students gain in-demand hacking skills and four certifications, including Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA PenTest+, Certified Penetration Tester (CPT), and Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT). InfoSec also allows students 90-day online access to program materials so they can prepare for the exams.

Key Takeaway: This program fully trains and certifies intermediate learners, so that they are prepared for their cyber security careers. Participants should have basic knowledge of cyber security concepts.

Mastering the Penetration Testing Distribution | Kali Linux

• Learning Format: Certification course
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Kali Linux operating system, data protection, penetration testing

This is a unique ethical hacking course specially designed by Kali Linux operating system developers. It is a professional hacking course for students looking to become penetration testers and cybersecurity analysts. Students learn through hands-on experience with the latest ethical hacking tools and techniques to monitor cyber threats. 

Key Takeaway: This course prepares students for the Kali Linux Certified Professional (KLCP) certification exam and includes an exam voucher. It is most ideal for beginners who are pursuing entry-level cyber security positions.

Ethical Hacking: Penetration Testing | LinkedIn Learning

• Learning Format: Class
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Organizational penetration testing, penetration testing techniques, penetration testing blueprint, outsourcing penetration testing

Specially designed by Lisa Brock, a cyber security expert, this course introduces students to the basics of penetration testing. Students learn ethical hacking through practical penetration tests, vulnerability scans, audit systems, and attack points that a hacker may target. The instructor also defines the types of penetration tests and techniques used for web applications. 

Key Takeaway: After completing the course, students get a certificate of completion that can be added as a merit badge on their LinkedIn profile.

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Penetration Testing Essential Training | LinkedIn Learning

• Learning Format: Class
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Pen-testing tools, Bash scripting, Python scripting, Kali and Metasploit, web testing

The curriculum includes the Kali Linux penetration testing toolbox, approaches to web testing, Bash and Python scripting, modifying exploit code and other penetration testing concepts. At the end of the program, students will have developed a solid foundation to pursue advanced training and the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification exam.

Key Takeaway:  The certificate offered upon completing this course can be added as a merit badge to your LinkedIn profile. Students will also be prepared for the associated certification exam.

Web App Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking | Sans Technology Institute

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: Interception proxies, common vulnerabilities, open-source intelligence, target profiling, application discovery, authentication and authorization, automated exploitation

In this course, students learn the art of exploiting web applications to find vulnerabilities in a company’s web apps. The study utilizes detailed, hands-on exercises to teach students the mode of operations of the various tools and methods. You’ll also be trained in various web application vulnerabilities using proven techniques and structured testing processes.

Key Takeaway:  This course emphasizes in-depth, hands-on experience, so students practice as they learn. It also teaches students to study and prepare for Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) with online lab access.

Cyber security: Immediate Immersion | Texas University

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, penetration testing techniques, authentication attacks

This six-week course is the first in a three-course certificate program. The course utilizes hands-on experiences which engage the students in a progressive series of tasks to build their skills. Students learn how to identify security weaknesses, analyze suspicious user behavior, analyze network traffic, and use penetration tester tools.

Key Takeaway: This is the first course in a three-course certificate program. Upon completing this course, students are prepared to take the second course, if they want to earn the professional certificate. 

Website Hacking/ Penetration Testing & Bug Bounty Hunting | Udemy

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Websites basics, information gathering, file upload vulnerabilities, code execution vulnerabilities, SQL injection vulnerabilities, local file inclusion vulnerabilities, remote file inclusion vulnerabilities

This course starts from the basics of bug discovery and penetration testing to advanced concepts like web hacking and post-exploitation. The course is split into three sections including information gathering, discovery, exploitation & mitigation, and post-exploitation. Students have access to more than 10 hours of on-demand video, 13 downloadable resources, and one article.

Key Takeaway: This online course utilizes a process-oriented approach, which is perfect for students who enjoy interactive classes and hands-on learning.

Hacking Web Applications and Penetration Testing | Udemy

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Beginner
• Subjects Covered: Ethical hacking, information gathering and configuration management,  input-output manipulation, authentication and authorization, security testing

This course is perfect for beginners who do not have prior knowledge of hacking, penetration testing, and application development.  Students learn about the vulnerabilities of web applications, usage of Linux OS, and authentication and authorization management. It also covers cyber security terminology, such as HTML, URL, web application, and SQL. 

Key Takeaway: Students learn through hands-on training and practical implementation of penetration testing techniques.

Linux Privilege Escalation for OSCP & Beyond | Udemy

• Learning Format: Full course with hands-on training
• Level: Beginner/Intermediate
• Subjects Covered: Privilege escalation in Linux, privilege escalation tools, methods of privilege escalation, privilege escalation techniques

This online penetration testing course is especially ideal for students looking to become Offensive Security Certified Professionals (OSCP). Students learn practical ways to escalate privileges on Linux systems alongside an in-depth explanation of why these methods work. 

The course also trains students on the various tools to identify potential privilege escalation vulnerabilities on a Linux system. The curriculum utilizes over 170 slides and an intentionally misconfigured Debian Virtual Machine, which students use to test their skills.

Key Takeaway: This course includes penetration testing projects and is specially designed for students who plan to take the OSCP exam.

Online Penetration Testing Classes, Training, or Courses: Which is the Right Option? 

The best program option fully depends on your preferences and needs. While classes are typically more affordable and require less time, courses and training programs provide more hands-on learning opportunities and often include a certificate of completion. One option isn’t better than the other. It just depends on what you’re looking for in a program.

How to Choose the Right Online Penetration Testing Course, Class, or Training Program

Peer Interaction

Peer interaction isn’t always facilitated by program providers. This is a platform or forum that serves as a support system for helping students throughout the course. Some courses even have live classes and video conference rooms to help you interact with your peers. 

Reviews

Reviews are an excellent way to gauge how students experience a particular program, versus how the provider advertises the program. Reading reviews can help you determine if the course is right for you. Check the course ratings and see real-world responses from previous students.

Provider

Program providers cater to different audiences. When researching providers, assess the course outline, platform, and instructor. Does the platform or institution have a good reputation? How many students have they trained? This information will help you make an informed decision.

Penetration Testing Course Certificates vs. Certifications 

Penetration testing course certificates and certifications are both valuable but in different ways. Certificates are awarded to students who complete the related course, are act as proof of completion. Alternatively, certifications are earned through passing an associated exam and act as proof of eligibility for the related role or field. 

Importance of Penetration Testing Certifications 

Earning a penetration testing certification is an excellent way to demonstrate your expertise and help you earn industry recognition as an ethical cyber security hacker. These certifications are also recognized and valued by employers, which increases the importance of earning one. 

Why You Should Take Online Penetration Testing Courses or Classes

The tech industry evolves rapidly, which means professionals must find ways to broaden their skills and develop expertise in a variety of tools and techniques. Enrolling in online penetration testing courses or classes is fundamental to your professional preparation and advancement.