Penetration Tester jobs in United Kingdom

What Is a Penetration Tester?

A penetration tester, also known as pentester or ethical hacker, has the authority to stimulate a cyber attack on a computer system in order to test the security of the device or systems in place. Pentesters will mimic the actions of cyber attackers who aim to hack into security systems thus uncovering any vulnerabilities in place.

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As cyber attacks are becoming a frequent occurrence, penetration testers are being sought out, with this job being in high demand in the cyber security field. It is a challenging but rewarding career, and in order to succeed a broad range of technological knowledge and skills is expected from anyone considering a career in this field.

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Main Duties of a Penetration Tester

Penetration testers, or ethical hackers, have a wide range of duties at work. The most common ones cover:

• Reconnaissance - gathering data and intel of systems

• Searching and scanning open ports

• Exploiting systems using advanced tools

• Preparing reports

• Running virtualisation softwares

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Main Required Skills for a Penetration Tester

• Analytical

• Adaptable

• Good decision-making skills

• Great oral and written communication skills

• Quick thinking

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United Kingdom

​The United Kingdom is the amalgam of Great Britain (which comprises England, Wales and Scotland) and the northern portion of Ireland. Its capital, London, is known as Europe's financial hub, and one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. The United Kingdom is also known for other major cities, like Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cardiff.

The UK has made significant contributions to the world, most of them being cultural. Literature, theatre, musicals, film, television, music - many big names in these fields are from the United Kingdom.

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Financial Services Sector in the UK

The United Kingdom - and more specifically, its capital London - has always been considered a world financial hub. Its financial services sector is quite massive: in 2018, it contributed £132 billion to the overall UK economy. It is known to be London's largest sector, with 1.1. million jobs in 2018. The city is also known for its huge amount of foreign banks: in the beginning of the 20th century, London had more foreign banks that any other city in the world.

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Getting around

Traveling and getting around the UK is easy for anyone, thanks to its extensive and efficient public transport system, which allows you to go anywhere in the blink of an eye. Because the country is relatively small, journey times are always reasonable: for example, getting from London to Edinburgh is a 4-hour journey if you decide to take the train.

In major cities like London or Manchester, you will also find an extensive public transport system, which includes bus, tube, train, boats, and other alternatives. Getting from one point to another is extremely easy, especially if you have a traveling application like Citymapper or Google Maps on your phone to help you find the fastest - or cheapest! - journey.