Certified Connections

Previously a software tech engineer at a payroll company, Anita Mason wanted to switch to a cybersecurity environment. With a B.S. in computer science from Southern Polytechnic State University, she began searching for a program that would help her pursue her goal.

“Cybersecurity is one of the hottest career fields,” she said. Anita learned about our Ethical Hacker program from our catalog and knew this was the right program for her. “I thought that CPE was an excellent learning institution because of the professionalism of the staff,” she said.

Our certificate program helps prepare students to earn the Certified Ethical Hacker designation. This credential authorizes individuals in the specific network security discipline of ethical hacking from a vendor-neutral perspective. More information can be found by visiting eccouncil.org.

Getting started
Initially she was surprised at the amount of class material that was covered, but the thoroughness of the instructor, Meenaxi Dave, proved helpful when it came time for the certification exam. In preparation for it, she made sure to review class notes and answer the instructor-given practice questions.

“When I found I passed the exam, I felt elated!” she said. “It is the first certification I have received in the computer field.”

With CEH behind her name, Anita plans to pursue a career in the field either as a red team member, where she would be a part of an independent group challenging an organization to improve its effectiveness, or a network security professional for a company. In this industry, she enjoys the technical challenges and constant changes that occur in in the software. She has learned that through all the changes, security is a crucial part of IT since everything is being developed to run in the cloud.

For future students, she advises to study each week and attend all the classes — simple steps she feels prepared her the most. Anita said, “It has given me the confidence I need to change direction in my IT career. I have the knowledge and skills, plus connections in the security field that I did not have before.”