Students in this post-graduate certificate program are advanced students who have undergone intensive training in ethical hacking, vulnerability analysis, and offensive cybersecurity.

They are capable of:

• Conducting professional-grade penetration testing and vulnerability assessments
• Applying the seven phases of penetration testing to identify, document, and remediate real-world security threats
• Analyzing Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) used by malicious actors
• Installing, configuring, and using offensive security tools across web apps and OS environments
• Creating detailed technical reports and security risk ratings with strategic recommendations
• Working in teams to simulate real-world threat scenarios, leveraging professional tools and workflows

Over the course of this capstone project, student teams will apply their offensive cybersecurity skills in a real-world or simulated setting. They will assess systems, identify vulnerabilities, and produce formal documentation and recommendations based on professional standards.

Deliverables include:

• Penetration Testing Plan – detailing scope, methodology, and goals
• Vulnerability Assessment – findings from testing including identified risks and impacted assets
• Exploit Analysis – demonstration or documentation of successful exploit attempts (in sandbox)
• Remediation Strategy – prioritized recommendations for fixing vulnerabilities
• Risk Rating Report – formalized using an industry-standard scale (e.g., CVSS)
• Capstone Presentation – walkthrough of findings and recommendations

Note: All assessments will respect legal, ethical, and institutional boundaries (no live production systems tested without written approval).