This lesson covers the offensive side of cybersecurity. While there isn’t a single dedicated timestamp, this content complements Lesson 6 on the defensive side. Feel free to watch the full video or jump to relevant sections.

Now let’s talk about the fun side — the red team. These are the people breaking into systems to help organizations find their weaknesses before the bad guys do.

Penetration Tester — You’re hired to hack into networks, applications, and systems. Then you write a report telling the client what you found and how to fix it. This is mid-level work. You need solid technical skills and you need to be comfortable with tools like Burp Suite, Metasploit, Nmap, and more.

Red Teamer — A step above pentesting. Red team engagements simulate real adversary tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). You’re not just finding vulnerabilities — you’re simulating a full attack campaign to test the organization’s detection and response capabilities. Advanced work.

Application Security — If you like code, this is your lane. You’re reviewing source code, doing dynamic testing, and helping developers build more secure applications. Huge demand as organizations shift left on security.

Security Researcher — Finding zero-days, publishing CVEs, presenting at conferences. This is specialized, deep work. If you love puzzles and can sit with a problem for weeks, this might be your path.

I always say: get the defensive fundamentals first, then decide if you want to cross over to offense. Understanding how defense works makes you a better attacker, and understanding how attacks work makes you a better defender.

What you’ll take away:

• Penetration testing is mid-level work requiring strong technical skills and tool mastery
• Red teaming simulates full adversary campaigns — advanced work beyond single vulnerabilities
• Application security bridges development and security — high demand right now
• Start with defense, then transition to offense for the strongest skill foundation

Something to think about:
Do you see yourself more as a defender protecting systems, or an attacker testing defenses? Or does the idea of moving between both paths appeal to you?

— Tyrone | Cover6 Solutions

Ready to go deeper? Enroll in Intro to Cyber — your next step after this course.