Journey to OSCP -10 Things You Need to Know

“OSCP is not about clearing the exam. It’s all about working deeply on labs.”
–Ramkisan Mohan (Check out his detailed guide to OSCP Preparation)

I began my OSCP journey in the late fall of 2018. So far, I’ve rooted 23+ machines in the PWK labs, and I am still plugging away, hoping to get as many as possible, learn as much as possible and, of course, pass the exam itself.

I want to give a brief description of what the OSCP is and how it is different than other certifications. I also want to provide some advice that may help you along the way if you choose to pursue it.

The quote above says it all. The Offensive Security Certified Professional is primarily about the PWK labs and is where the magic happens.

Lab time is bought in in one- to three-month increments, which gives you VPN access to a shared lab.

https://www.offensive-security.com/pwk-syllabus/

30 days access including exam:  $800.00
60 days access including exam:  $1,000.00
90 days access including exam:  $1,150.00

You are also able to buy lab extensions at very affordable rates. These prices include the exam itself.

As far as certification and training goes, the OSCP is very affordable. Much more affordable than just about any other training program or certification. Where the OSCP is very expensive is in terms of time. It takes most people hundreds of hours of time, but the good news is the labs are actually quite fun (well, at least most of the time.) At times, it is a bit like playing a video game. In terms of value for both your time and money, really nothing beats the return that the OSCP provides.

In addition to VPN access to the PWK labs, the (Read more...)