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Penetration Testing for a Company Vs. Being Freelance

Introduction

The Cybersecurity job market has become a hot field, seeking new, highly qualified candidates. It is a diverse field with various job types, but one of the most desired positions is unquestionably penetration tester. A pen tester is an ethical or white hat hacker. Because of this, a pen tester needs to understand the sensitive nature of their job and ensure that they are always compliant with policies, procedures, laws and legislature. Becoming a pen tester is not a decision that should be taken lightly. It can, however, be a lucrative field and also personally rewarding, so if one does take this path, it can be a real life changer.

As with many IT related fields, this job has flexible options. It could be performed remotely, outside of normal office hours, as a consultant, or an employee of a larger, or small, corporation. If one is considering pen testing, it’s important to weigh the pros of cons of being a W-2 employee or 1099 freelance consultant.

What are some considerations you need to think about when becoming a pen tester?

 Being a freelance consultant in any field normally means you are a 1099 employee, thus a small business owner, versus a W-2 employee. But many people do not fully prepare for what being a freelance consultant really entails.

The first item to consider is whether you want to start an actual business, or just be a 1099. As a 1099, you normally do work for a company and they provide you a 1099 statement at the end of the year. They will pay you a set rate for services performed; however, they do not pay your taxes or provide you any level of benefits. You are 100 percent responsible for paying your own taxes and ensuring you still (Read more...)

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from InfoSec Resources authored by Tyra Appleby. Read the original post at: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/infosecResources/~3/E6mbgb29M6I/