Hacking has become quite common these days and has always been a cause of concern for organizations. The reason is quite simple – they have a lot at stake – be it data, money, or anything else for that matter. Therefore, all such companies perform ethical hacking techniques, and this has led to a rapid increase in the demand for ethical hackers. The pay scale of ethical hackers is extremely attractive. If you are keen to become an ethical hacker and are looking for a road map, you have landed at the right place. In this article, we will talk about the top 10 ethical hacking skills that will land you a six-figure job. Have a look!

Networking skills

This is nothing but having a fair understanding of networks like Suoernetting, DHCP, Subnetting, etc. With this knowledge, you can explore the various interconnected computers in a network and the potential security threats that this might create. Being familiar with routers, servers, clients, Transmission Media, access points, Shared Data, Network Interface cards, etc. also helps to a great extent.

Programming

Well, programming and ethical hacking go hand in hand. You just cannot become a successful ethical hacker if you do not have programming skills. Yes, there are many programming languages out there and you need not be well aware of all of them. Some of the most important programming languages that play a pivotal role in ethical hacking are Ruby, C++, Python, Java, etc.

Computer skills

Hacking has a lot to do with exploiting computer systems to locate potential threats. It is because of this very reason that having a firm and sound knowledge of computers is one of the skills needed for ethical hacking. Major computer skills that you need to have to hang on include processing data, computer file management, creating presentations, managing databases, programming, and doing calculations in spreadsheets.

Cloud

Majority of the organizations are highly dependent on the cloud in order to collaborate on documents, run applications, and back up their data. However, what is to be noted is that hackers can use the cloud to conduct reconnaissance and build an attack platform. Therefore, you should be thorough with the cloud and how to protect it, as an ethical hacker.

Reverse engineering

Not many are aware of this but reverse engineering is yet another crucial area that ethical hackers need to master.  This engineering aims to speed up the maintenance work by enhancing a system's understandability and generating the requisite documentation for a legacy system, evident enough as to why it is so important.

Problem solving skills

Well, this skill, is extremely important and that absolutely goes without saying. As an Ethical Hacker, you should be a strategic thinker and creative problem solver. With problem-solving skills in place, an ethical hacker can assess and find an appropriate solution to the root of a problem in the best possible manner.

Analytical skills

No wonder hacking requires a creative and analytical mind. This is why Ethical hackers need to come up with unique ways to break into a network. Analytical skills are all you need to think out of the box and gain access to restricted areas.

Cryptography

Having crypto knowledge is important and an ethical hacker should be skilled in the same. This is because it involves creating and analyzing protocols that prevent the exchange of information between two entities by malicious third parties, thus pursuing the various aspects of information security. No wonder why this is one of the must-have skills for an ethical hacker.

Database skills

Yet another vital skill set that an Ethical Hacker need is "database" skills. Database Management Systems, development and management of all databases, is extremely important. An ethical hacker must clearly understand the Database and various database engines and data schemes to be able to help the organizations against Hacking.

Ethical Hacking software and tools

Well, this goes without saying. As hackers use various tools to scan, analyze, and break into applications and systems quickly and efficiently, ethical hackers need to have a grip on the various tools and software used.  Most ethical hackers will have a go-to "toolkit" of programs they are highly familiar with.