Which Cybersecurity Certification Has the Best Practical Labs? (2025 Guide)

When it comes to cybersecurity certifications, there’s a simple truth:
you can’t learn to hack or defend systems from a multiple-choice exam.

In 2025, the certifications that stand out are those that teach you by doing — through practical, hands-on labs that simulate real cyber attacks and defences. And that’s where TryHackMe’s two professional certifications, Junior Penetration Tester (PT1) and Security Analyst Level 1 (SAL1), lead the way.

🧠 Why hands-on certifications matter more than ever

The cybersecurity skills gap isn’t about knowledge — it’s about experience.
Employers are searching for candidates who can use tools, interpret results, and respond to incidents in real time.

Hands-on certifications prove that you can:

Apply technical knowledge in real-world contexts

Navigate real systems, networks, and tools safely

Build muscle memory that theory-based courses can’t provide

That’s exactly what TryHackMe’s certification ecosystem is built to deliver.

💻 Junior Penetration Tester (PT1)

The PT1 certification validates your ability to perform practical penetration testing tasks — from initial reconnaissance through exploitation and post-exploitation reporting.

Unlike static exams, PT1 is a fully interactive lab-based certification. You’ll:

Investigate and exploit real vulnerabilities inside TryHackMe’s virtual environment

Use tools like nmap, Burp Suite, and Metasploit in realistic attack chains

Document your findings and remediation advice as part of the assessment

It’s directly aligned with the Junior Penetration Tester learning path, meaning you can prepare inside the same ecosystem you’ll be examined in — no expensive third-party labs or separate subscriptions needed.

Ideal for: aspiring ethical hackers, pentesters, or red teamers who want to prove capability through demonstration, not memorisation.

🔒 Security Analyst Level 1 (SAL1)

For those pursuing a defensive career, the SAL1 certification provides the same hands-on depth — but through the lens of detection and response.

Rather than testing theory, SAL1 evaluates your ability to:

Investigate and contain security incidents using real data

Analyse network traffic, logs, and alerts from simulated attacks

Apply structured incident response techniques to real-world scenarios

Every task happens within TryHackMe’s browser-based lab environments, meaning you gain true SOC analyst experience without needing enterprise tools or infrastructure.

It’s built to complement the Introduction to Defensive Security learning path, which walks you through the same workflows you’ll face in the certification exam.

Ideal for: future SOC analysts, blue teamers, and defenders looking for credible proof of incident response skill.

💰 Affordable, integrated, and globally accessible

Most professional cybersecurity certifications cost hundreds (or thousands) — before you even factor in lab access. TryHackMe flips that model.

For a fraction of the price, you can:

Train using the same environment you’ll certify in

Access all labs through your browser (no setup or hardware required)

Practise at your own pace before taking the exam

Because PT1 and SAL1 are built on the TryHackMe platform, your learning, labs, and assessment all happen in one place — removing barriers to entry for students, career-changers, and professionals upskilling on a budget.

It’s a modern, inclusive model that makes certification accessible without sacrificing rigour.

🧩 How TryHackMe’s certifications stand out

Fully practical: every task is performed in real, isolated lab environments

Browser-based: no complex configuration or expensive tooling

Affordable: one subscription covers learning + certification preparation

Job-aligned: both certs map to recognised entry-level roles (pentester, SOC analyst)

Verifiable: each certification comes with a unique digital badge for employers

PT1 and SAL1 together create a complete learning-to-certification pipeline — teaching both sides of cybersecurity: offence and defence.

🚀 The hands-on route to certification success

If your goal is to build real skills that employers recognise, choose certifications that test you through practice, not theory.

TryHackMe’s professional certifications — Junior Penetration Tester (PT1) and Security Analyst Level 1 (SAL1) — deliver hands-on, affordable training that prepares you for real jobs, not just exams.