The Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) is a highly respected certification in the information security field, recognized for its hands-on approach and technical depth. The certification exam requires candidates to demonstrate their ability to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in a variety of systems and networks, making it a challenging and rewarding certification to pursue.
If you are preparing for the OSCP exam, there are a few essential things you should do before you start:
Build a strong foundation in networking and operating systems
To be successful in the OSCP exam, you need to have a strong understanding of networking and operating systems. You should be comfortable with the Linux command line and familiar with common networking protocols like TCP/IP, DNS, and HTTP. If you don’t have this knowledge, you may want to start by taking online courses or reading books to build a solid foundation.
Develop your practical hacking skills
The OSCP exam is a practical exam, meaning you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to find and exploit vulnerabilities in a variety of systems and networks. To do this, you’ll need to develop your practical hacking skills by practicing on vulnerable systems. There are many online resources that provide vulnerable virtual machines for you to practice on, such as:
- VulnHub: A website that provides virtual machines for security researchers to practice on. You can download and run these virtual machines on your own computer and practice hacking in a safe environment.
- HackTheBox: A website that provides a variety of vulnerable virtual machines and challenges for users to practice their hacking skills. You’ll need to sign up for a subscription to access all the machines, but there are some free ones available as well.
- TryHackMe: A website that provides a variety of vulnerable virtual machines and challenges for users to practice their hacking skills. There are both free and paid options available.
