I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with the pentest.tv community: the long-awaited 3rd edition of my book, Professional Penetration Testing: Creating and Learning in a Hacking Lab, is finally here – in print and ready to become your newest resource for all things hands-on in the world of offensive security! The book walks the reader through the entire process of setting up and running a pen test lab. Penetration testing – the act of testing a computer network to find security vulnerabilities before they are maliciously exploited – is a crucial component of information security in any organization. Chapters cover planning, metrics, and methodologies, the details of running a pen test, including identifying and verifying vulnerabilities, and archiving, reporting and management practices. The material presented will be useful to beginners through advanced practitioners.
What’s New in the 3rd Edition?
- Designed for New Pentesters
Helps users find out how to turn hacking and pen testing skills into a professional career - Real-world Knowledge
Covers how to conduct controlled attacks on a network through real-world examples of vulnerable and exploitable servers - Covers all Topics of Professional Penetration Testing
Presents metrics and reporting methodologies that provide experience crucial to a professional penetration tester - Will Stay Up-to-Date
Includes test lab code that is available on the web - Updated Testing Tools & Methodologies
Dive deep into the updated arsenal of techniques and utilities used by professional penetration testers today. From specialized reconnaissance tools to hacking cloud environments, you’ll learn about the latest solutions shaping the offensive security landscape. - Refined Lab Setup & Deployment Guides
The lab environment is at the heart of any pen tester’s skill development. New step-by-step instructions cover diverse environments (cloud, local virtualization, and container-based), ensuring you can build exactly the lab you need—no matter your experience level. - Enhanced Hands-On Exercises & Walk-throughs
Roll up your sleeves with additional practice labs and detailed walk-throughs. You’ll gain stronger insights on exploitation techniques, privilege escalation, and post-exploitation maneuvers—ready to apply them in safe, controlled lab environments.
Why You’ll Love It
Professional Penetration Testing: Creating and Learning in a Hacking Lab has always been focused on empowering readers to learn by doing. By setting up your own hacking lab, you get to:
- Build Confidence: There’s no substitute for hands-on practice. Setting up and tinkering with your own lab environment lets you experiment and gain practical experience without fear of breaking production systems.
- Develop Problem-Solving Skills: Encountering errors or unexpected results in a test lab isn’t a bug—it’s a learning opportunity. You’ll sharpen your troubleshooting abilities and become a more resourceful tester.
- Stay Ahead of the Curve: Cyber threats evolve daily. By working through exercises and staying engaged with the lab, you’ll be poised to adapt quickly to emerging vulnerabilities and exploit techniques.
Where to Get Your Copy
The 3rd edition is available in print now! Head over to your favorite bookstore or online retailer to grab a copy. You can grab a copy from the publisher or from Amazon.com. If you prefer digital versions, eBook formats are also available, so you can bring the book’s insights with you on your laptop, tablet, or phone.
Share Your Feedback
I’d love to hear what you think about this new edition. Your feedback shapes future content, whether it’s in upcoming blog posts here on pentest.tv, webinars, or updates to future editions. If you find something particularly helpful, or have ideas on areas I could expand on next time, feel free to drop a comment below or shoot me a message.
Thanks for your continued support and happy hacking! This community has been instrumental in making Professional Penetration Testing: Creating and Learning in a Hacking Lab the comprehensive guide it is today. I can’t wait for you to dive into the new 3rd edition and take your skills to the next level.