Introduction

In an era of escalating cyber threats, the integration of ethical hacking methodologies into the internal audit function is no longer a niche skill but a strategic imperative for proactively identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening an organization's digital defenses. This essential training course focuses on Ethical Hacking for Internal Auditors, equipping participants with the specialized knowledge and practical techniques to understand attacker mindsets, simulate real-world cyberattacks, and effectively evaluate the robustness of security controls from an adversarial perspective. You will gain expertise in identifying critical security weaknesses, assessing the true impact of potential breaches, and providing actionable recommendations that significantly enhance an organization's cybersecurity posture and reduce overall risk exposure.

Target Audience

• Internal Auditors
• IT Auditors
• Cybersecurity Auditors
• Risk Management Professionals
• Compliance Officers (IT Security)
• Information Security Analysts
• Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) Specialists
• Security Consultants

Course Objectives

• Understand the core concepts of ethical hacking and its relevance to internal auditing.
• Learn the mindset and methodologies of malicious attackers and penetration testers.
• Master techniques for conducting vulnerability assessments and identifying security weaknesses.
• Develop skills in performing various types of ethical hacking tests (e.g., network, web application).
• Understand the legal and ethical boundaries of ethical hacking in an audit context.
• Learn about common cyberattack vectors and their impact on organizational assets.
• Explore best practices for securely documenting and reporting ethical hacking findings.
• Master techniques for validating the effectiveness of existing security controls.
• Understand the integration of ethical hacking insights into audit recommendations.
• Learn about tools and technologies used in ethical hacking for audit purposes.
• Apply practical ethical hacking techniques to simulated audit scenarios.

Duration

5 Days

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Ethical Hacking for Auditors

• Defining ethical hacking and its purpose within the internal audit function.
• Understanding the role of an ethical hacker in proactive security assessment.
• Exploring the benefits of an offensive mindset for identifying true vulnerabilities.
• Overview of the phases of ethical hacking (reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, post-exploitation).
• Setting the ethical and strategic context for auditors to perform security testing.

Module 2: Attacker Mindset & Methodologies

• Learning the mindset of malicious attackers and their common objectives for your module.
• Understanding various attack methodologies, from social engineering to sophisticated malware.
• Exploring the Kill Chain framework for analyzing cyberattacks.
• Identifying common entry points and weaknesses exploited by adversaries.
• Developing a structured approach to thinking like an attacker.

Module 3: Reconnaissance and Footprinting Techniques

• Mastering reconnaissance techniques to gather information about target systems for your module.
• Utilizing open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools and methods.
• Understanding network footprinting and scanning to discover active hosts and services.
• Identifying potential attack vectors through passive and active information gathering.
• The importance of thorough reconnaissance in ethical hacking engagements.

Module 4: Vulnerability Assessment and Scanning

• Techniques for conducting comprehensive vulnerability assessments of systems and networks for your module.
• Utilizing automated vulnerability scanners and interpreting their results.
• Identifying common vulnerabilities (e.g., misconfigurations, unpatched software, weak credentials).
• Understanding the difference between vulnerabilities and exploits.
• Prioritizing vulnerabilities based on risk and potential impact.

Module 5: Web Application Hacking & API Security Testing

• Developing skills in ethical hacking for web applications and APIs for your module.
• Understanding common web application vulnerabilities (e.g., OWASP Top 10).
• Techniques for injecting malicious code (SQL Injection, XSS) and bypassing authentication.
• Testing the security of APIs and web services.
• Tools and methodologies for web application penetration testing.

Module 6: Network Penetration Testing Fundamentals

• Introduction to network penetration testing concepts and methodologies for your module.
• Understanding common network attack techniques (e.g., sniffing, spoofing, denial-of-service).
• Assessing firewall rules, intrusion detection systems, and network segmentation.
• Exploiting network weaknesses to gain unauthorized access.
• Best practices for securing network infrastructure from internal and external threats.

Module 7: Reporting & Remediation

• Strategies for securely documenting and reporting ethical hacking findings to management for your module.
• Presenting technical vulnerabilities in a business-centric language.
• Providing actionable remediation recommendations and mitigation strategies.
• Tracking the remediation process and validating control effectiveness.
• Integrating ethical hacking insights into the continuous audit cycle.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org  Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 10 working days before commencement of the training.