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Penetration Tester Skills Matrix — £5.00
The complete Ethical Hacker and Penetration Tester career roadmap in one spreadsheet. Every skill, tool, certification, and project mapped across 5 phases with timelines, costs, and free resources.
Covers: networking and Linux fundamentals, Python scripting, web application testing (OWASP Top 10, Burp Suite), Active Directory attacks (Kerberoasting, Pass-the-Hash, BloodHound), privilege escalation, lateral movement, Nmap, Metasploit, enumeration methodology, report writing, and hundreds of practice machines on TryHackMe and Hack The Box.
Certification path: Security+ → PNPT (Practical Network Penetration Tester) → OSCP (the gold standard, 24-hour exam). Includes OSCP reality footer with honest preparation expectations (300–500 hours). Timeline: 12–18 months. Total cost: £1,870–£2,270. The longest, most expensive, and most rewarding path in cybersecurity.
Includes salary trajectory from £45K entry to £120K+ senior, with a clear note that 50% of pentesting is writing reports and communicating findings to clients.
The hardest career path in cybersecurity. This matrix makes it achievable.
Pairs with the Ethical Hacker / Penetration Tester Blueprint video on YouTube (free).
Penetration Tester Skills Matrix — £5.00
The complete Ethical Hacker and Penetration Tester career roadmap in one spreadsheet. Every skill, tool, certification, and project mapped across 5 phases with timelines, costs, and free resources.
Covers: networking and Linux fundamentals, Python scripting, web application testing (OWASP Top 10, Burp Suite), Active Directory attacks (Kerberoasting, Pass-the-Hash, BloodHound), privilege escalation, lateral movement, Nmap, Metasploit, enumeration methodology, report writing, and hundreds of practice machines on TryHackMe and Hack The Box.
Certification path: Security+ → PNPT (Practical Network Penetration Tester) → OSCP (the gold standard, 24-hour exam). Includes OSCP reality footer with honest preparation expectations (300–500 hours). Timeline: 12–18 months. Total cost: £1,870–£2,270. The longest, most expensive, and most rewarding path in cybersecurity.
Includes salary trajectory from £45K entry to £120K+ senior, with a clear note that 50% of pentesting is writing reports and communicating findings to clients.
The hardest career path in cybersecurity. This matrix makes it achievable.
Pairs with the Ethical Hacker / Penetration Tester Blueprint video on YouTube (free).