Topic: Breaking Barriers: Inside the Mind of a Penetration Tester
Abstract: In an era of rapidly evolving cybersecurity threats, understanding the mindset of a penetration tester is crucial for building robust defense mechanisms. This webinar offers a comprehensive walkthrough of both strategic and technical dimensions of ethical hacking. The session demystifies the penetration testing process—from initial scoping to exploiting vulnerabilities in diverse environments such as networks, web applications, IoT, and cloud infrastructures.
Drawing on global experience and advanced expertise in domains like AI security and reverse engineering, the speaker will highlight the critical thinking, tools, and ethical considerations that define a modern penetration tester’s role. Attendees will also gain insights into the attacker’s perspective and the importance of proactive, practical defense strategies grounded in risk awareness.
Key Takeaways:
- Holistic understanding of penetration testing
- Strategic scoping and engagement
- Human factor exploitation through OSINT and social engineering
- Comprehensive network and perimeter testing
- Web application security techniques
- Specialized testing in emerging domains
Speaker:
Himanshu Srivastava, Associate Manager – Information Security, Tech Mahindra
Bio: Himanshu Srivastava is a seasoned information security professional with over a decade of experience in cybersecurity risk management, ISMS implementation, vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT), and strategic training delivery. At Tech Mahindra, he leads information security assessments and ensures compliance with ISO 27001 and global data protection standards, along with pentesting.
Himanshu is a Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO) and holds numerous cybersecurity certifications, including CEH, CHFIv3, CTIA, CCT, EDRPv3, and CNDv2 from EC-Council. He has trained over 1,000 government personnel globally in advanced cybersecurity and incident response, significantly strengthening national cybersecurity resilience.
He is also a published researcher with six international and one national research paper in areas spanning cybersecurity, image processing, and applied artificial intelligence. His research demonstrates a strong intersection of academic depth and industry relevance, particularly in emerging threat landscapes and algorithmic optimization techniques.
He is a regular contributor to the cybersecurity community through his technical blog and ongoing mentorship efforts.
Himanshu holds an MBA and continues to advance the field through training, research, and applied innovation.
