Advantages of Hands-On Learning with CEH: Interview with Himanshu Srivastava
With the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals, having job-ready and practical skills is an added advantage. To understand how CEH bridges the gap between knowledge and job-ready skills, EC-Council reached out to Himanshu Srivastava, an ethical hacker and CISO. This interview highlights his cybersecurity journey and the transformative impact of CEH. It also examines how the certification refined his expertise, accelerated his career growth, and shaped his professional mindset. With hands-on labs, global recognition, and strong industry relevance, CEH has been a cornerstone of his success.
Tell us about your journey as a cybersecurity professional
My cybersecurity journey began during my B.Tech studies in 2012, when the field was emerging rapidly and attracting significant interest.
During my third year, I delivered a cybersecurity workshop for final-year students, which marked a significant turning point that strengthened my interest for the field. Over time, I continued building my expertise and recently earned the CCISO certification.
Cybersecurity is a domain that requires continuous learning. You must understand how systems operate, the different dimensions of risk, and how incidents unfold to protect organizations effectively.
What caught your attention about the CEH program?
The CEH program immediately stood out to me because of its balanced structure. It combines strong theoretical foundations with hands-on, practical learning, unlike many certifications that focus primarily on theory.
CEH lets you experience the mindset of a real ethical hacker. It starts with fundamentals and gradually progresses toward practical, real-world scenarios.
How did CEH benefit your career?
CEH was a game-changer for me. It not only validated my technical skills but also expanded my ability to handle critical roles across the industry.
Whether someone wants to enter blue teaming, red teaming, purple teaming, digital forensics, machine learning security, or IoT/IIoT domains, CEH provides a strong foundation. It is suitable for beginners, intermediates, and senior professionals alike.
For me, CEH became the key pillar that helped accelerate my career growth and strengthened my credibility in the cybersecurity community.
How recognized is CEH in your organization and the industry?
CEH is highly recognized across various industries, including manufacturing, automotive, operations, retail, telecom, FMCG, and technology. Organizations such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, T&T, P&G, and many others actively seek CEH-certified professionals.
Based on my experience traveling to multiple countries, both government and private sector organizations consistently require cybersecurity skills, making the CEH a valuable and widely accepted credential.
Today, CEH is considered a global gold standard for ethical hacking. For anyone working in VAPT or aspiring to enter the field, CEH delivers essential fundamentals and strong industry credibility.
Did CEH help you get higher pay, a promotion, or the job you wanted?
Absolutely. After earning CEH, I saw significant improvements not only in my own profile but also in the profiles of participants I trained as a Certified EC-Council Instructor (CEI). Many achieved higher salaries and secured better roles because organizations truly value CEH v13 skills.
CEH enhances both your competence and professional credibility, enabling you to negotiate more favorable pay and roles. Employers who understand the value of CEH certification recognize it as a premium skill set, making it one of the most in-demand certifications that brings not only financial growth but also respect and confidence.
How has the CEH certification impacted you?
CEH has boosted my confidence both technically and professionally.
It allowed me to interact with cybersecurity experts globally and sharpened my problem-solving abilities across offensive and defensive domains. Over time, it has shaped my mindset as a cybersecurity professional.
Beyond the technical skills, CEH connected me with global communities, CTFs, bug bounty groups, and professional networks, which helped expand my knowledge and opportunities. It elevated my profile, enhanced my capabilities, and contributed to career advancement and salary growth.
Did CEH help you give back to the community in any way?
Yes, very much. CEH inspired me to become a CEI, enabling me to train and mentor cybersecurity professionals worldwide. I have delivered workshops and webinars across regions including Dubai, the UAE, Africa, the UK, Australia, Malaysia, and Bangkok.
Training professionals from different cultures and backgrounds has been a rewarding learning experience. Helping others upskill and achieve their cybersecurity goals gives me immense satisfaction.
Many of my students have gone on to earn CEH and advance in their careers, making this one of the most fulfilling aspects of my journey.
What was your favorite part of the CEH program? Why?
My favorite part of CEH was the hands-on labs. With more than 200 practical labs, CEH gives you real-world scenarios rather than just theory. These labs teach you how to identify vulnerabilities, secure systems, understand databases, and manage real attack vectors you will face in an actual job.
The CEH practical exam, which is a six-hour, fully hands-on assessment, further sharpens skills and provides a realistic feel for real penetration testing. The lab environment simulates real-world threats, including viruses, privilege escalation, and evasion techniques and teaches you how to effectively detect and secure systems. It’s truly the part where learning becomes real.
Do you attribute any part of your success to EC-Council? If so, do you have a message to share?
Without a doubt. EC-Council has played a significant role in my career success. Their programs provide not just certifications, but a complete framework for transforming learners into cybersecurity professionals.
The curriculum evolves in response to emerging technologies, including AI, cloud, IoT, SCADA/IIoT, and OT environments, making it highly relevant to today’s challenges.
My message to EC-Council:
Conclusion
CEH serves as a strong catalyst for career growth, helping build confidence, credibility, global exposure, and professional development. Its practical approach, industry relevance, and supportive community ecosystem enable cybersecurity professionals to advance their skills and make meaningful contributions to the broader security community.
About the Interviewee
Himanshu Srivastava
Himanshu Srivastava is a seasoned information security leader with 10+ years in cybersecurity risk management, ISMS, and VAPT. A CCISO and EC-Council-certified expert, he drives ISO 27001 compliance at Tech Mahindra, delivers global cybersecurity training, and publishes research on AI and emerging threats, advancing security resilience worldwide.
