IBM Ethical Hacking with Open Source Tools

Hands-on penetration testing with the tools professionals actually use

This intermediate Professional Certificate from IBM gets learners into real ethical hacking tooling fast — Kali Linux, Wireshark, Metasploit, and OpenVAS all feature, aimed at building genuine penetration testing and vulnerability assessment skills within a two-month timeframe. It's attracted 18,549 students.

Beyond the tools, the program builds the governance side too: GDPR compliance, cyber security policy, and cyber governance sit alongside technical assessment work, reflecting how ethical hacking actually operates inside regulated organizations.

Who it's for

• IT or security professionals moving toward penetration testing roles
• Learners who want direct experience with industry-standard tools, not just theory
• Anyone needing to understand both the technical and compliance sides of security assessment

The intermediate level assumes baseline IT or networking knowledge before diving into these tools.