Accordion Content

• The HTB Certified Active Directory Pentesting Expert (HTB CAPE) certification is not designed for beginners in cybersecurity. It assumes prior knowledge and experience in network penetration testing and foundational principles of Active Directory (AD) environments. To succeed, candidates should already possess a solid pentesting foundation.
• Obtaining the HTB Certified Penetration Testing Specialist (HTB CPTS) certification is highly recommended before pursuing HTB CAPE. The HTB CPTS ensures that individuals have a robust understanding of key penetration testing concepts, which are critical for navigating the advanced topics assessed in HTB CAPE.

A certification is not a mandatory prerequisite to become an Active Directory Penetration Tester or practice any other cybersecurity role, but a great asset if you are looking to learn new skills in a structured way and prove your knowledge to potential employers.

Hack The Box is a trusted, highly respected, and community-backed IT security training vendor, with a long history in the domain. The training standards of the company are set quite high and this applies to all offerings, machines, challenges, Pro Labs, and now, the certifications.

Through the years, Hack The Box has been a training partner of major organisations, government/military agencies, and academic institutions worldwide. We plan to continue being a trusted training partner, and also provide certification services from now on, while retaining the same level of content-excellence, quality, and integrity.

To prepare effectively for the HTB CAPE program, consider the following recommendations:

Access to HTB Academy’s content is vital for your participation in this course. A discount voucher will be provided to you upon registration via e-mail, which you can use to activate your subscription to HTB Academy.

The following modules are specifically chosen to provide a strong foundational understanding and skill set, which are critical for your success in the seminar and future endeavors in penetration testing:
1. Introduction to Academy: This module provides an overview of the Academy platform and guides on how to effectively utilize it for self-training, setting the foundation for your learning journey.
2. Linux Fundamentals: Essential for cybersecurity, this module offers in-depth training in Linux, covering its structure, shell usage, and system administration, complete with practical exercises and an assessment to solidify your understanding.
3. Learning Process: Focusing on the learning journey, this module covers aspects such as mindset, efficiency, organization, and coping with frustration, crucial for excelling in the information security field.

Unfortunately we don’t record our sessions therefore you’ll need to catch up with the rest of the group. The support team can help you to catch up with the previous sessions and guide you on the materials that you need to read.

To obtain the HTB Certified Active Directory Exploitation (HTB CAPE) certification, all individuals must complete the entire Active Directory Penetration Tester job-role path, which consists of 15 comprehensive modules. Each module includes hands-on exercises and a skills assessment at the end, designed to validate your understanding of the covered topics. Completing these modules is a mandatory step before being eligible to take the certification exam.

For those subscribed to the Gold Annual certification, solutions for the modules are provided. This ensures the learning process is more guided and efficient, reducing unnecessary frustration while allowing candidates to focus on mastering the content. This subscription makes completing the modules a manageable and rewarding experience.

Find below the facts that differentiate HTB Certified Active Directory Pentesting Expert (HTB CAPE) from standard certifications::

• Continuous Evaluation – To be eligible to start the examination process, one must have completed all modules of the “Active Directory Penetration Tester” job-role path 100% first. Each module in the path comes with its own hands-on skills assessment at the end that students must complete to prove their understanding of the presented topics. The answers to the skills assessment exercises are not provided. Evaluation takes place throughout the journey, not only during the examination!

• Hands-on & Real-world Exam Environment – HTB Certified Active Directory Pentesting Expert (HTB CAPE) candidates must perform advanced Active Directory penetration tests in realistic Active Directory environments, encompassing real-world Active Directory environments, demanding a full understanding of how Windows and the Active Directory environments work and assessing the candidate’s ability to execute complex attacks without relying on multiple-choice questions!

• Focus on Advanced & Applicable Skills – The “Active Directory Penetration Tester” job-role path advances the competencies acquired in the “Penetration Tester” job-role path. It emphasizes the development of sophisticated skills crucial for Active Directory exploitation. The curriculum emphasizes practical, high-stakes scenarios involving Active Directory enumeration, exploiting trust relationships, misconfigured DACLs, and leveraging specialized tools. This path is enriched with practical demonstrations encompassing a wide range of contemporary Windows and Active Directory implementations, allowing them to understand Active Directory authentication protocols deeply.

• Outside-the-box Thinking – HTB Certified Active Directory Pentesting Expert (HTB CAPE) candidates will be required to think outside the box and utilize the various skills and techniques they learned throughout the path to achieving the exam’s objectives. Like in real-world engagements, creativity and in-depth knowledge will be necessary for a successful outcome.

• Commercial-grade Report Requirement – Successfully attacking and exploiting a complex Active Directory environment is not enough to obtain the HTB Certified Active Directory Pentesting Expert (HTB CAPE) certification. As part of their assessment, candidates must explain the process of identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities. Additionally, candidates are expected to propose remediation for identified vulnerabilities. HTB Certified Active Directory Pentesting Expert (HTB CAPE) candidates must prove they are market-ready and client-centric professionals.

• Seamless Experience Powered By Pwnbox – The entire exam and certification process can be conducted through the candidates’ browser from start to finish. All penetration test attacks can be performed via the provided and in-browser Pwnbox. There are no infrastructural or tool requirements.

HTB certifications are on Credly!

By the time you successfully complete the HTB CAPE exam and claim your certificate, HTB CAPE’s digital badge will arrive on your email. Accept it and share it on your social media, so that third parties can verify your obtained skills!