Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) – Complete Guide

1. What Is a Certified Ethical Hacker?

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is a professional certification offered by the EC-Council. It is one of the most popular credentials in the field of cybersecurity and ethical hacking.
A CEH-certified professional is trained to think like a hacker—but instead of exploiting systems illegally, they use their skills to defend organizations.

The certification covers topics such as penetration testing, malware analysis, vulnerability assessments, network security, and social engineering.

2. Why CEH Is Important

Growing demand: With cybercrimes rising globally, organizations need professionals who can proactively test defenses.
Employer recognition: CEH is globally recognized and often listed in job requirements for security roles.
Career growth: It opens doors to high-paying jobs like penetration tester, SOC analyst, and security consultant.
Hands-on learning: The CEH exam focuses not just on theory but on applying hacking techniques in real scenarios.

3. Levels of CEH

The CEH program has two main versions:

CEH (ANSI) – Standard certification with knowledge + scenario-based questions.
CEH Practical – A hands-on exam in a live, simulated lab environment.

Many professionals pursue both, which shows not only theoretical knowledge but also practical skills.

4. Topics Covered in CEH

The syllabus is broad and includes:

Footprinting & Reconnaissance – Gathering information about a target.
Scanning Networks – Identifying active devices, ports, and services.
Enumeration – Extracting information like usernames, shares, and machine details.
System Hacking – Exploiting vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access.
Malware Threats – Understanding Trojans, worms, rootkits, and backdoors.
Sniffing & Session Hijacking – Capturing and manipulating network traffic.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks.
Social Engineering – Manipulating people to gain access.
Web Application Hacking – SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, etc.
Wireless Network Attacks.
Cloud Security & IoT Security – Protecting modern tech environments.

5. Eligibility and Requirements

Basic knowledge of networking, operating systems, and security is expected.
EC-Council recommends having at least 2 years of IT security experience, but beginners can still apply after completing official training.

6. Exam Details

Exam Format: Multiple-choice (125 questions) for CEH ANSI, practical lab for CEH Practical.
Duration: 4 hours (ANSI).
Passing Score: Around 70% (varies by exam).
Cost: Typically between $950–$1,199 (can be higher depending on region).

7. Career Opportunities After CEH

Once certified, you can pursue roles like:

Ethical Hacker
Penetration Tester
Security Analyst
SOC Specialist
Security Consultant
Network Security Engineer
Information Security Officer

8. Salary Expectations

The salary for CEH-certified professionals varies by country, role, and experience.

India: ₹4–10 LPA for entry/mid-level, senior roles ₹20+ LPA.
USA: $70,000–$120,000 annually.
Middle East / Europe: Salaries are competitive, often ranging from $50,000–$90,000.

9. Advantages and Criticisms

Advantages

Globally recognized certification.
Strong foundational knowledge for cybersecurity.
Good balance of theory and practice.

Criticisms

Some experts argue CEH is too theoretical compared to more advanced certs like OSCP.
CEH holders sometimes need additional training to become job-ready.

10. Alternatives to CEH

Other certifications to consider:

OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) – Highly practical, respected among penetration testers.
CompTIA Security+ and Pentest+ – Beginner-friendly, vendor-neutral.
CISSP – For experienced professionals focusing on management-level security.

Conclusion

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) remains one of the most valuable entry-to-mid level cybersecurity certifications. It is ideal for IT professionals who want to enter ethical hacking, penetration testing, or defensive security. While not as advanced as OSCP, CEH provides an excellent starting point for anyone who wants a recognized and structured path into cybersecurity.

Would you like me to also prepare a comparison blog: CEH vs OSCP vs CompTIA Pentest+, so your readers can see which certification best suits their career path?