Is The CEH Exam Hard?
CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) is a certification based on every little detail you need to know to become a security professional. CEH is considered a stepping stone in mastering hacking technologies and it is designed to help you master every needed technique for breaking into an organization. However, is the CEH exam difficult?
Becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker includes many responsibilities and the possession of a great set of skills is crucial. To become an expert in securing systems and networks, and prevent attacks does not come easy, but it is not impossible. Hard work and good guidelines will help you get there.
In this guide, I have elaborated the details about the CEH exam, along with its perks and benefits. I have also made a comparison between CEH and OSCP, and CEH and Security+, therefore you can see the differences and determine which certification you actually require. Also, I have provided some tips on how to make your CEH preparation easier, so you could know where to start.
CEH vs. OSCP: Which Is Harder?
Since cybercrime has been growing as technology and the digital world have been developing and expanding, the necessity of having a secure network has risen. Therefore, the need for experts in the hacking field has never been more wanted, so many companies and firms are hiring Ethical Hackers to protect their businesses.
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
This exam includes 125 questions and you have 240 minutes to answer them. To pass the examination you would have to obtain 70% marks.
In order to get the 70%, you would need to have sound knowledge of networks, malware threats, hacking web applications and servers, evading honeypots, IDS and firewalls, and similar stuff. Luckily, there are a lot of resources available along with EC-Council training that will prepare you for this exam.
The CEH certification is for those people concerned about the integrity of their network infrastructure. Therefore, the exam is suitable for auditors, site administrators, security officers, etc.
Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
The OSCP is a well-recognized certification that helps the candidate get practical knowledge of attack techniques on systems and networks. This is crucial documentation for those who want to work in security teams. This exam is focused on problem solutions and analytical thinking, therefore it enables acquiring high-level skills and methods.
Before you can take the OSCP examination, it is mandatory to take the Penetration Testing with Kali (PWK) course. If you do not take the course, you are not going to be an eligible candidate for the OSCP exam.
However, the course does not teach you everything that you will need for the exam, so you will need to provide yourself with additional resources. To pass the exam you will need an excellent understanding of security principles and concepts, and the capability to act in case of attack or invasion.
The exam is intended for those who need to defend systems and networks from attacks and get a better understanding of how an organized attack is controlled. Once you obtain the certification you will not only have a fascinating theoretical background knowledge but also excellent practical skills.
Which Is Harder?
The difficulty of an exam can be hardly determined since it always depends on the individual. Some say that the OSCP is the most difficult exam when it comes to IT certifications, but it is all about the way you prepare for it. If you have the appropriate resources and the proper guidelines, nothing is impossible.
In other words, every examination is difficult and it has certain obstacles, but with a lot of hard work and studying, you can achieve the wanted goal.
CEH vs. Security+: Which Is Harder?
Security+
The exam does not differ a lot from any other written exam. The examination is focused on the basics of security, such as risk management, threat analysis, and response, and securing networks, systems, applications, and devices.
Before you take the exam, you need to provide yourself with a good set of resources, because passing the exam depends on prior knowledge as well. So, self-preparation is mandatory.
The CompTIA’s website includes all of the information you need regarding the resources needed for preparation. However, some candidates might feel that the given resources are not enough. Therefore, for those candidates, there are preparatory courses given in classrooms by multiple academic institutions.
The preparation time might last for days or for months, and that depends entirely on the candidate. If a candidate has a strong prior knowledge of security concepts then the preparation period would be way shorter. On the other hand, for those who are not so familiar with the security principles, the preparation might take even months.
Which Is Harder?
When it comes to comparing CEH and Security+, there is no right answer about the difficulty of the exams. Every written exam has its own levels of difficulty, but it is up to the candidate to assess what they find hard about a certain exam. The difficult points come usually when a certain concept was not learned well, or it was way complex for the individual.
Therefore, how well you prepare determines the difficulty of your exam. If you get 100% ready for the test, then you will not find anything hard.
How To Ease The Difficulty Of The CEH
To make your preparation easier, you should follow some guidelines that are proven to work. For instance, you should check out the resources given on the EC-Council website. These resources give much background information about security concepts.
Furthermore, you can take CEH Assessment to test your skills and check your level. Finally, you should follow blogs about CEH that give you updates about the exam, and the experiences of other people. This way, you will be well-prepared and nothing will surprise you.
Every exam that you take in your life has easy and difficult points. The CEH exam is considerably hard, but it is not impossible to pass. Therefore, you only need proper preparation and resources and you will be on the right path.
