Cybersecurity

Lead Pen Test Professional

This four-day training builds the capability to lead or participate in professional penetration tests by combining hands-on technical techniques with the planning and management skills required to run engagements effectively.

4 daysExam includedPhysical classroomOnline classroomSelf-study
2,500+ professionals trained99% pass rate120+ countries600+ organisations
Confirmed
PECB
Available year-round
Language
EN
Format
Self-study
Self-study
  • Lifetime access to official PECB training course material (PDF)
  • Official PECB online certification exam
  • Official PECB certification
  • One free retake exam
No date works for you?
Request a private or flexible session

Key takeaways

Define clear, risk-based scope and rules of engagement that protect business operations
Run infrastructure, web, mobile, social engineering, and physical security testing in a structured way
Select and use appropriate tools and techniques to execute efficient testing
Produce reports that translate findings into prioritized remediation actions
Scale an engagement by managing time, resources, and stakeholder expectations

Your trainer for this course

Alexis HIRSCHHORN
Alexis HIRSCHHORN

ISO 22301 Lead Implementer · ISO 27001 Lead Implementer · CISSP® Exam Bootcamp · CISM® Exam Bootcamp · ISO 27701 Lead Auditor

Expert in Information and Cyber Security, Cloud Security, Risk Management and Governance Consulting for large multinational corporations, government entities and international organizations Management Systems Certified Lead Auditor

25 years of hands-on experience in information security, cloud cybersecurity, and AI governance. Advisory work with major multinationals, government bodies, and international organizations across multiple countries. Certified ISO 42001 Lead Implementer, CAIP, CISSP®, CISM®, CISA®, and PECB Certifying Auditor. PECB Certified Trainer.
100+ISO 27001 implementations
200+Organisations audited
25+Years of experience
12Certifications
Meet all our trainers →
PECB
Lead Pen Test Professional · Titanium Partner — highest PECB accreditation levelTitanium Partner

Page contents

Course Description

Penetration testing has evolved from ad-hoc technical exercises into a governed security activity expected to deliver measurable value. In the 2024–2025 landscape, organisations face regulatory pressure, expanding attack surfaces, and increasing scrutiny of testing scope, ethics, and outcomes. A penetration test is no longer judged only on findings, but on how it was planned, executed, documented, and followed up.

This training is designed for professionals who need to operate credibly at that level. Participants do not study penetration testing as an abstract discipline. They actively work through how a penetration test is commissioned, scoped, conducted, and reviewed in real organisational conditions. The course addresses infrastructure, web applications, mobile technologies, social engineering, and physical testing as integrated components of a single engagement, not isolated technical silos.

Throughout the course, participants apply tools and techniques in hands-on exercises while also managing the practical realities of a test: legal boundaries, ethical constraints, limited time, stakeholder expectations, and reporting obligations. Particular attention is given to risk-based scoping, test prioritisation, and evidence handling, ensuring that technical actions remain defensible and relevant.

Abilene Academy’s approach reflects how professional penetration testing is delivered by experienced consultancies. Trainers draw directly on field experience to demonstrate trade-offs, common failure points, and decision rationales that are rarely addressed in purely technical courses. The result is a training that prepares participants to lead or contribute to penetration tests that support security improvement, audit readiness, and informed management decisions.

    • Learn how to interpret and illustrate the main Penetration Testing concepts and principles;
    • Understand the core technical knowledge needed to organize and carry out an effective set of Pen Tests;
    • Learn how to effectively plan a Penetration Test and identify a scope which is suitable and appropriate based on risk;
    • Acquire hands-on practical skills and knowledge on relevant tools and techniques used to efficiently conduct a Penetration Testing;
    • Learn how to effectively manage the time and resources needed to scale a specific Penetration Test.

Professional Testimonials

★★★★★
“Had a great experience learning with Abilene Academy, it has been an extremely long time since I have attended an external formal training outside of the business organization I work in. I found this training to be truly beneficial for me to attend. the overall delivery of the course by Henri was superb, he kept us well engage despite having half of the room online and half face to face. The communication from the advisors from the initial enquiry regrading the course up until now has also been great! definitely recommending to my colleagues. Thank you!”
TG

Tracey Gillett

Crisis and Operations Management

TUI
★★★★★
“Henri and Alexis conducted a focused, intensive four-day ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer Course of immediate relevance to The Global Fund. Participants representing both IT and Risk are now better prepared to design and operationise a corporate ISMS.”
AT

Andreas Tamberg

Senior advisors enterprise risk management

The Global Fund
★★★★★
“Another stellar training course run by Abilene, thank you for the outstanding organization and logistics. The PECB training material is very rich, well presented with clear explanations and notes.”
SB

Simon Baynes

BCMS Manager

MSC MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY SA

Frequently Asked Questions

What will you be able to do after completing this penetration testing course?

You will be able to plan, scope, execute, and report a professional penetration test across common testing areas while managing time, resources, and stakeholders.

“A professional pen test is measured by outcomes: safe execution, credible evidence, and actionable remediation.”

Christophe MAZZOLA

ISO 27001 Lead Implementer • ISO 27001 Lead Auditor

penetration testingengagement deliveryscopingtools and techniques

How should you scope a penetration test based on risk?

Risk-based scoping prioritizes the assets and attack paths with the highest potential impact and defines clear rules of engagement to test them safely and legally.

“Scope is the control plane of a penetration test: it determines value, safety, and credibility.”

Phani SRIPADA

ISO 27001 Senior Lead Implementer • Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional

scopingrisk managementrules of engagementpenetration testing planning

When is penetration testing the right choice compared to vulnerability scanning?

Penetration testing is best when you need to validate exploitability and real attack paths, while scanning is best for broad, continuous coverage of known issues.

“Scanning finds what might be vulnerable; penetration testing proves what can be compromised and how.”

Christophe MAZZOLA

ISO 27001 Lead Implementer • ISO 27001 Lead Auditor

vulnerability scanningpenetration testingsecurity assuranceexploit validation

What makes penetration test reporting actionable for remediation teams?

Actionable reporting connects evidence to impact, prioritizes fixes, and provides clear remediation guidance aligned with ownership and timelines.

“The best report is one that engineering can fix without a meeting.”

Alexis HIRSCHHORN

ISO 22301 Lead Implementer • ISO 27001 Lead Implementer

reportingremediationevidencerisk prioritization

Who is this course best suited for, and who may need a different starting point?

It is best for professionals who will lead or contribute to real penetration tests, while those without basic security foundations may benefit from preparatory learning first.

“Role fit matters: the course is built for people who will run or govern real-world pen tests.”

Alexis HIRSCHHORN

ISO 22301 Lead Implementer • ISO 27001 Lead Implementer

target audiencecareer alignmentpenetration testerethical hacker

Last updated:

Train with practitioners. Pass with confidence.

Abilene Academy is the only PECB Titanium Partner in Switzerland — the highest accreditation tier in the industry — delivering certified training in information security, data protection, AI governance, and GRC compliance. 99% exam pass rate. 2,500+ professionals trained across 120+ countries and trusted by 600+ organizations. Multilingual programmes available.

99%
Exam pass rate
2,500+
Professionals trained
120+
Countries reached
Titanium
The only PECB Titanium Partner in Switzerland
✓
Certification included
Multilingual
EN · FR · ES · DE · IT and more

Trusted by 600+ organisations in 120 countries

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