CompTIA is expanding its portfolio of credentials for cybersecurity pros with the launch of a beta version of its PenTest+ exam.

The new certification assesses penetration testing and vulnerability assessment, and the management skills that IT professionals need to run a “successful, responsible penetration testing program,” CompTIA said.

“Penetration testing, which simulates a real-world attack on a network to assess security levels and determine points of weakness, is a valuable countermeasure that has changed significantly over time,” said James Stanger, CompTIA chief technology evangelist. “With the Internet of Things (IoT), mobile and especially the cloud, networking has transformed remarkably over the past few years. CompTIA PenTest+ validates the penetration testing skills a cybersecurity professional needs to effectively assess a modern network’s resiliency against cyberattacks.”

Examples of jobs that will benefit from this credential, CompTIA says, are penetration tester; vulnerability tester; security vulnerability assessment, network security operations and application security vulnerability analysts.

Individuals are tested in five technical areas related to penetration testing: planning and scoping; information gathering and vulnerability identification; attacks and exploits; penetration testing tools; and reporting and communication.

Registration for the PenTest+ beta exam is now open, and the exam objectives are available here.

Participants will be notified this summer – after the beta phase has concluded – whether they’ve passed he exam, and those who earn a passing score will become CompTIA PenTest+ certified.