Ethical hackers must embrace AI to stay competitive

• EC-Council offers training programme to equip professionals with AI-powered capabilities essential for modern defense mechanisms.
• Training encompasses over 550 attack techniques and more than 4,000 commercial-grade security tools, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the evolving threat landscape.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybercrime presents an ever-increasing threat, compelling ethical hackers to continuously adapt to stay competitive.

A recent announcement from EC-Council—a prominent American cybersecurity certification and training organisation—highlights the pressing need for ethical hackers to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into their skill sets.

According to their findings, the adoption of AI can double an ethical hacker’s productivity and enhance their effectiveness by up to 40 per cent. This statistic underscores a pivotal shift in the cybersecurity paradigm, where AI is not merely an adjunct tool but a central component of effective cyber defense strategies.

Ethical hackers play a crucial role in combating cyber threats by anticipating and mitigating security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious entities.

As cybercriminals increasingly harness advanced AI tools to amplify their malicious operations, the necessity for defenders to adapt accordingly becomes evident.

The newly updated Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v13) programme by EC-Council aims to equip cybersecurity professionals with AI-powered capabilities essential for modern defense mechanisms.

The training encompasses over 550 attack techniques and more than 4,000 commercial-grade security tools, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the evolving threat landscape.

Additionally, it focuses on the ten most critical AI attack vectors identified by the Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP), including methods such as prompt injection and training data poisoning. This curriculum not only aims to improve technical skills but also encourages a proactive mindset towards cybersecurity challenges.

The learning framework established by EC-Council consists of four stages: Learn, Certify, Engage, and Compete. The initial stage includes twenty modules and 221 hands-on labs to facilitate skill acquisition.

To earn certification, participants must complete a rigorous examination involving multiple-choice questions and practical challenges that simulate real-world scenarios. Optional stages further enhance learning through experiential engagement and competitive simulations.

As Jay Bavisi, Group President of EC-Council, aptly states, AI is radically transforming the cybersecurity landscape. Employers increasingly recognize that AI proficiency is essential for any aspiring cybersecurity professional.

“Thus, ethical hackers must embrace AI technologies not merely to augment their existing skills but to ensure they remain relevant in an arena defined by relentless innovation and adaptation.”