Here's how you can advance your career by developing network penetration testing skills.

Building a career in network penetration testing? Start with the fundamentals! A strong understanding of basic networking concepts like TCP/IP, firewalls, and VPNs is essential. Learn how networks are structured and function, and you'll be well-prepared to identify potential vulnerabilities. Think of this foundational knowledge as the blueprint for a secure network - it's the starting point for building a robust defense and detecting weaknesses. With a solid grasp of the basics, you'll be able to dive deeper into pen testing and develop the advanced skills that will set you apart as a skilled security professional.

The basics are fundamental, a lot of beginners skip over the basic networking principals, only to later realize they need a deeper understanding. I suggest anyone new to network security really study the fundamentals carefully, make sure you have a firm understanding how network communication works. Start with understanding basic networking concepts (TCP/IP, protocols), common ports, then move on to key security principles like encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and secure coding practices. Certifications like CompTIA Security+ can be beneficial as well.

I suppose using YouTube and free online courses can completely cover the basics and fundamentals of security, focusing more on networking, how the infrastructure/network/web/device works, and basic scripting with Bash or Python.

Although I completely agree with having a solid understanding of network protocols and architecture is essential, I've seen people take a different approach. If you have web development skills you have a leg up as a web application penetration tester more than others. If you know how to create a dynamic web site you likely understand where the cracks are and how to uncover them. By knowing and understanding code and insecure code you then know how to exploit it. You need to learn the different attacks and common payloads from injection to file disclosures, and beyond; learn the OWASP top 10. Many times exploiting a server starts with exploiting the web application. Enjoy the journey :)

Mastery of network security tools requires understanding their effective context. For instance, knowing when to use specific Nmap scan types is crucial for effective reconnaissance. Additionally, integrating tools like Nmap with Metasploit or exporting Wireshark data for deeper analysis enhances efficiency and effectiveness in real-world security scenarios.

There are so many tools you can learn for network pen testing. Nmap is a great one that I have personally used. You are able to scan a network for machines, see what IP addresses are alive, try to find out the operating system that it is running, scan for vulnerabilities, and even try to exploit some of the vulnerabilities. It is an amazing tool. Wireshark and Metasploit are other great tools to understand when it comes to network pen testing.

Just try playing around with the open source tools on a Linux distribution like Ubuntu and have fun with it. You'll see yourself learning a lot along the way.

There are a lot of certifications that are valuable long-term for your network security career. One is the Network+ and Security+, both by CompTIA. These are both a multiple choice test to see what you know. They are both well known certifications. One certification I did that helped me understand networking was the eJPT. This was more for pen testing. However, it did go over in a hands-on way networks. The CEH and the OSCP are also well-recognized and sought after certifications.

Networking should be fun. It should be something you would like to do to talk with people who are in the same field as you and find things that you find interesting. There are countless communities online and in person that you can join.

Sometimes, showing the value of topics is challenging. Security should not be one of those topics. Showing how much is at stake when it comes to security is very important.