Cpts Exam
You will begin with limited information and must enumerate services, gain a foothold, and map the network.
: You must gather specific flags across multiple machines and submit a professional, commercial-grade penetration testing report. CPTS vs. OSCP: How Do They Compare?
The cybersecurity landscape demands validated, hands-on expertise. Among the elite certifications for ethical hackers, the Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (CPTS) by Hack The Box (HTB) has rapidly emerged as a gold standard.
You are given 10 consecutive days of environment access. This window accommodates both full infrastructure exploitation and comprehensive reporting. cpts exam
The 10-day format allows you to take breaks, reducing the intense burnout often associated with 24-hour, "live" proctored exams. Preparing for the CPTS Exam
The has historically served as the cybersecurity industry standard. However, the CPTS has shifted the landscape by emphasizing methodical, deep dive technical skills over time-restricted testing windows. OffSec OSCP Exam Duration 10 Days total (Simultaneous testing & reporting) 24 Hours testing + 24 Hours reporting Lab Coverage 28 Modules (Penetration Tester Path) Guided course text and standalone lab boxes Environment Style Large, interconnected Active Directory forests Small standalone targets + 1 Active Directory set Primary Metric Professional methodology and pivoting Enumeration speed and exploitation execution Proctoring Unproctored (Trust-based) Live proctored via webcam and screen-share Reporting Standard Commercial-grade, formal technical report Basic compliance reporting of compromised hosts 3. Core Technical Pillars Evaluated
CPTS Exam: The Definitive Guide to Passing the Hack The Box Certified Penetration Testing Specialist You will begin with limited information and must
This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the certification, specifically the one offered by Hack The Box (HTB) .
Modern corporate networks run on Active Directory, and the CPTS heavily tests this. Expect to encounter LLMNR/NBT-NS poisoning, Kerberoasting, AS-REP roasting, pass-the-hash, pass-the-ticket, and complex ACL exploitation. 4. Pivoting and Lateral Movement
CTF-style standalone machines, Active Directory, limited pivoting Professional assessment simulation High-speed, endurance-based challenge Reporting Standard Commercial, highly thorough Structured technical walkthrough Prerequisite Training Extremely detailed, text-and-lab based (HTB Academy) Video-and-lab based (PEN-200) OSCP: How Do They Compare
: Write a high-level overview for non-technical executives explaining the overall risk posture.
Unlike traditional multiple-choice exams, the CPTS places you in a simulated, multi-layered corporate infrastructure. Your job is to discover vulnerabilities, exploit them, pivot through networks, and ultimately document your findings in a professional report. Key Exam Details
CPTS training (via HTB Academy) and the exam voucher offer immense value compared to competitors.
Hack The Box provides an official CPTS Track on their main platform with 16 machines designed to bridge the gap between Academy modules and the exam.
Do not wait until day 6 to start writing the report. Start drafting the executive summary and executive findings as you compromise machines on days 1 through 5. The Professional Report: The Make-or-Break Element
