VHL IoT Penetration Testing Exam
The VHL IoT Penetration Testing Certification Exam is designed for professionals who want to validate their practical expertise in identifying, analyzing, and exploiting vulnerabilities in Internet of Things (IoT) devices and ecosystems. This hands-on, scenario-based exam focuses on hardware analysis, firmware analysis, serial communication protocols, static and dynamic analysis and reverse engineering devices firmware.
What to expect from the exam:
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A fully practical online exam that is based on real-world IoT hacking scenarios.
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A challenging and engaging learning opportunity to test your skills and complete the VHL IoT Penetration Testing Essentials course.
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An exam focused on learning and skill validation, not a high-pressure test with unrealistic time limits, artificially high failure rates and expensive retakes.
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Free retake or guided correction process if you don’t pass on the first try.
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A solid foundation to continue performing IoT security assessments and research on your own.
The exam format may differ from many traditional cybersecurity certifications. It is specifically designed to help you apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the VHL IoT Penetration Testing Essentials course in a practical, structured manner by conducting a security assessment on an IoT device. The methodology used mirrors the course content and reflects my personal approach to testing IoT devices and identifying zero-day vulnerabilities. During the exam, you will perform a complete security assessment on an IoT device where you will focus on discovering, testing, documenting, and reporting one or more vulnerabilities in the target device. You’ll follow the same steps that were originally taken to discover the vulnerability.
Target Audience
This exam is ideal for penetration testers, security researchers, reverse engineers, and embedded systems specialists looking to demonstrate their capabilities in a challenging environment. The VHL IoT Penetration Testing Certification Exam is currently only available with the VHL IoT Penetration Testing Essentials course and cannot be purchased separately from the course.
VHL Certified IoT Penetration Tester (VHL-CIPT01)
Upon successful completion, candidates will receive the official VHL Certified IoT Penetration Tester Essentials level (VHL-CIPT01) Certificate, signifying competence in performing security assessments on IoT devices.
Examination
The examination process consists of two components that you complete in the same external LMS environment as the course:
- Practical component: Security assessment on an IoT device.
- Reporting component: Security assessment and vulnerability report.
The security assessment is performed on a carefully selected IoT test device based on discovered vulnerabilities. The exam is designed in such a way that the candidate follows the same path as during the initial vulnerability discovery. This approach ensures a strong alignment with both real-world practice and the course content, while also reinforcing the methodology in identifying new vulnerabilities.
Video: VHL IoT Penetration Testing Exam Presentation
In this 10-minute presentation, I’ll walk you through the details and requirements of the exam for the VHL IoT Penetration Testing Essentials course. The exam will be available for booking starting July 2025 for all students enrolled in the course.
Exam Registration
The exam will be available for booking in July 2025. If you’re already enrolled in the IoT Penetration Testing Essentials course, you will soon receive information on how to register for the exam. If you’ve already completed the course and are ready to take the exam, just send me an email and I’ll make sure you’re among the first to take and test the exam.
More information about the exam will be available here in the upcoming weeks!
