Cyber security is one of the fastest-growing, most resilient career paths in tech today. At Newto Training, we’re excited to announce our new career programme: Ethical Hacking. With the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) course from EC-Council being the MVP within this career programme. In this blog, we will unpack exactly what this means for your career journey.

If you’re exploring cyber security as a career option, considering a strategic career change, or looking to upskill in your current IT role, this guide will explain what CEH is, what you’ll learn, and why it matters.

What is Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification?

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), offered by EC-Council, is a globally recognised certification that validates your ability to think like an attacker so you can defend like a professional.

But what is an “Ethical Hacker”?

Ethical Hackers—often called “white hats”—are security professionals who legally and responsibly simulate cyber-attacks to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them. They use the same tools, techniques and methodologies as cyber criminals, but within a controlled, lawful framework and always with proper authorisation.

Think of it as learning the offence to build a stronger defence, with clear ethical and legal boundaries guiding every action.

Why Does CEH Matter?

Cyber threats aren’t slowing down. Organisations across every sector—finance, healthcare, retail, government, tech—face increasingly sophisticated attacks. They need skilled professionals who can:

• Identify security weaknesses before attackers find them
• Understand how cyber criminals operate
• Test and strengthen security defences
• Operate ethically within legal boundaries

CEH certification demonstrates you possess these capabilities. It signals to employers that you’re not just familiar with security concepts—you can actively test systems, identify vulnerabilities and help organisations improve their security posture.

What You’ll Learn in CEH

While the CEH syllabus evolves to match modern threats, the core curriculum typically covers:

• Footprinting and Reconnaissance: Gathering information about target systems using search engines, public databases and social media—understanding what attackers can learn about an organisation.
• Scanning Networks and Enumeration: Using tools to discover open ports, running services and system details that could provide entry points.
• System Hacking Fundamentals: Password cracking, gaining access, escalating privileges and understanding how attackers maintain persistence.
• Web Application Security: Identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications, including the OWASP Top 10 (SQL injection, cross-site scripting, broken authentication).
• Wireless, Cloud and IoT Security: Understanding security challenges in modern, distributed environments beyond traditional networks.
• Malware Threats and Social Engineering: How malicious software works and how attackers manipulate human psychology to bypass technical controls.
• Sniffing and Traffic Analysis: Capturing and analysing network traffic to identify unencrypted sensitive data.
• Vulnerability Analysis and Exploitation: Using scanning tools to identify weaknesses and understanding how they can be exploited.
• Cryptography Essentials: Encryption fundamentals, hashing, digital signatures and how cryptography protects data.
• Reporting and Remediation: Documenting findings clearly, prioritising vulnerabilities and providing actionable recommendations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Most importantly, you’ll develop a security mindset: structured thinking, careful testing, accurate documentation and ethical responsibility.