PentestHint Certified Enterprise Security Professional (PH-CESP)

About PH-CESP

PentestHint Certified Enterprise Security Professional, PH-CESP, is the Level 3 professional certification in the PentestHint pathway. It is designed for learners who have already built practical penetration-testing foundations and want to progress into enterprise security assessments, configuration reviews, Active Directory security, cloud security, controlled red teaming, DevSecOps, purple teaming, professional reporting and security consulting.

The program runs for six months with four months of advanced live training and two months of project-based internship. The delivery model includes Monday to Friday one-hour live online classes, approximately 80 live classes during the training phase, approximately 40 internship or project working days, lifetime recording access, guided practical labs, assignments, assessments, enterprise-style projects, final capstone and viva.

Certification Progression

The PentestHint certification path now has three levels: PH-CSF for cybersecurity fundamentals, PH-CPTA for practical penetration testing, and PH-CESP for advanced enterprise security assessment and consulting capability. PH-CESP is the highest professional-level PentestHint certification in this progression.

• PH-CSF: build cybersecurity fundamentals
• PH-CPTA: learn practical penetration testing
• PH-CESP: advance into enterprise security assessments, configuration reviews, cloud security and red teaming

Advanced Curriculum

• Advanced Security Assessment Methodology: enterprise lifecycle, rules of engagement, threat modelling, attack-surface mapping, MITRE ATT&CK and evidence management
• Enterprise Security Configuration Review: CIS Benchmarks, Windows and Linux review, firewall, router, switch, VPN, WAF, database and web-server hardening
• Active Directory Security Assessment: AD architecture, Kerberos, NTLM, BloodHound, Kerberoasting, delegation, Group Policy, LAPS, privilege relationships and hardening
• Cloud Security and Cloud VAPT: AWS and Azure assessment methodology, IAM, storage, compute, logging, Security Hub, Defender for Cloud, CIS benchmarks and cloud attack paths
• Enterprise Red Teaming: controlled engagement lifecycle, safe infrastructure, initial access methodology, credential scenarios, lateral movement, IOCs and attack narratives
• Container and DevSecOps Security: Docker, Kubernetes, RBAC, CI/CD, SAST, DAST, software composition analysis and Infrastructure as Code security
• Purple Teaming and Detection Validation: SIEM concepts, EDR concepts, MITRE ATT&CK detection mapping, visibility gaps and attack-versus-detection matrix
• Security Consulting, Reporting and Capstone: engagement management, risk rating, root-cause analysis, remediation, revalidation, executive presentations and viva preparation

Project-Based Internship

The two-month project-based internship is structured around approved project environments, client-like labs, internal projects and controlled scenarios. Delivery may be onsite, remote or hybrid depending on project availability and operational requirements, but PH-CESP does not promise access to confidential production environments or guaranteed client projects.

• Week 1: onboarding, authorization, rules of engagement and project assignment
• Weeks 2-3: enterprise configuration review project
• Week 4: cloud security assessment project
• Week 5: Active Directory security assessment project
• Week 6: controlled red-team simulation
• Week 7: purple-team validation and remediation revalidation
• Week 8: final technical report, executive presentation, capstone and viva

Tools, Deliverables and Assessment

• Tools and frameworks include Kali Linux, Nmap, Burp Suite, Wireshark, PowerShell, BloodHound, Impacket, NetExec, Metasploit, MITRE ATT&CK, CIS Benchmarks, AWS, Azure, ScoutSuite, Prowler, Docker, Kubernetes, Trivy, Semgrep, Git, SIEM concepts and EDR concepts
• Practical deliverables include enterprise assessment plan, configuration checklist, Windows or Linux review report, firewall or network-device review, AD attack-path report, cloud assessment, controlled red-team report, MITRE ATT&CK mapping, detection-coverage matrix, revalidation report, technical report, executive presentation and capstone portfolio
• Assessment includes labs and assignments, configuration review project, Active Directory project, cloud project, red-team or purple-team project, internship performance, final capstone and viva
• Eligibility includes minimum attendance, overall score, mandatory project submissions, internship-task completion and capstone/viva completion

Pricing and Enrollment Details

PH-CESP pricing has not been finalized publicly. Candidates should contact PentestHint for the latest program, enrollment and schedule details. The brochure URL is configured for /assets/img/pdf/PH-CESP.pdf and can be used once the official PDF is uploaded.

Frequently Asked Questions

Talk to PentestHint

Contact PentestHint to discuss scope, business context, timelines, evidence requirements, and practical next steps for improving security posture.