The need for a cybersecurity engineer is becoming more pressing as our dependence on mobile computing and the Internet for many chores increases.
In this article, we provide you with the necessary information. It will help you make a good decision for your future career. Now let’s jump straight in!
Job Description
A cyber security engineer’s responsibilities can be different between companies.
- Cybersecurity professionals plan, implement, manage, monitor, and upgrade security measures to ensure the safety of the company’s data, networks, and systems.
- Resolving network and security issues
- Addressing all network and system security problems
- Enabling the proper security procedures to secure the organization’s infrastructure and data
- Taking part in the process of change management
- Testing for and locating system and network vulnerabilities
- Daily administrative duties, reporting, and connection with the organization’s crucial departments
Where does a cybersecurity engineer work?
Financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail are some of the most vital sectors for those looking for a career in cybersecurity. However, that’s not the end of the list.
There are hundreds of available openings for cybersecurity engineers in almost every sector that can be found with a short search on Indeed and LinkedIn.
Just a small fraction of the many prestigious companies actively seeking to fill such crucial vacancies are listed below:
- National Security Agency
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Home Depot
- Spotify
- General Motors
- Apple
- Visa
- Microsoft
- Comcast
- The Ohio State University
- Boeing
- Morgan Stanley
- Netflix
- United HealthGroup
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Education Requirements
Qualifications may vary in number or relevance from one organization to the next. You can start accumulating the following degrees and certificates.
Degree or certifications
Although it’s not always necessary, getting a degree is a good option for a career in cybersecurity. If you’re thinking about how to break into cybersecurity, keep in mind that it’s a very technical sector that necessitates knowledge of coding, computer networks, and programming, among other things.
A bachelor’s degree in computer science or cybersecurity can give you an excellent foundation in these fields. Mathematical or electrical engineering-related disciplines can also teach valuable skills.
A cybersecurity boot camp can also give an excellent education to people who decide to skip college. They may quickly acquire the abilities required to succeed in an entry-level position in the field by finishing a cybersecurity boot camp.
Graduates of boot camps may obtain certifications to certify their expertise.
CompTIA’s Security+ and Network+, ISACA’s Certified Information Systems Auditor and Certified Information Systems Manager, and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) are the helpful certifications you should have if you are at entry-level, intermediate or advanced cybersecurity engineers.
Recommended courses
There are a lot of good online courses for people who want to learn cybersecurity. The duration of these courses varies from three weeks to twenty-four weeks.
Therefore, you can choose what course is suitable for your time.
Beginners, intermediates, and experts can all benefit from the following classes:
- Security Engineer Nanodegree Program (Udacity)
- Cybersecurity Courses (Coursera)
- Cybersecurity for Managers: A Playbook (MIT Executive Education)
- Learn Security Engineering (Infosec)
I’m sure there will be a lot of helpful information to help you make a decision.
Recommended books
- Hacking: The Art of Exploitation, Written By Jon Erickson
This book provides a deep dive into today’s programming and hacking practices.
The second version of this book includes a Live CD with a fully functional Linux system, making it much more helpful.
- Practical Malware Analysis, Written By Michael Sikorski & Andrew Honig
The book delves into the methods used by experts to combat malware.
The book covers various topics, including secure virtual environment design, case study analysis, and creating methodologies for unpacking malware.
- Threat Modeling: Designing for Security, Written By Adam Shostack
The book is about some of the top methods for threat modeling that have been used by or proven helpful in dealing with threats at major corporations like Microsoft and others. Adam’s recommendations are realistic and may be used immediately by security professionals to counteract regular attacks.
Essential Skills
Protecting an organization’s sensitive information requires a unique set of skills. These are the top skills employers seek, as listed on popular job-search sites like LinkedIn and Indeed.
Hard Skills
Since there are numerous various types of cybersecurity careers, it is essential to know that the specific abilities needed will differ somewhat from one profession to the next. However, a cybersecurity professional’s skill set could generally consist of
- Practical knowledge of operating system development and administration
- Thorough understanding of cloud computing and computer networking foundations
- The capacity to create and assess network architecture, knowledge of programming languages including Python, Java, and C++
- Knowledge of MySQL database systems
- Knowing the procedures for identifying and avoiding firewall breaches
- A deep understanding of VPNs, firewalls, and basic antivirus concepts
- Proficiency with security audits
Soft Skills
Based on your employment, the soft skills required for cybersecurity can change a little. Several significant illustrations of adaptable abilities that would be useful for a profession in cybersecurity are shown below.
- Written and Verbal Communication
You might need to communicate with those who lack your technical skills and explain the types of solutions that might be best suitable for any specific issue.
Like verbal language, writing skill is a talent that can be particularly useful for individuals working in the technologically advanced and interconnected world.
- Networking & Leadership
Regardless of your position within a company, hiring managers frequently consider leadership experience a compulsory quality because it suggests a higher likelihood of development and promotion.
Another crucial skill to have in cybersecurity is networking abilities. A perfect method to develop your knowledge of the field is to be capable of discussing your theories and ideas with others who share your viewpoints.
Essential Tools
Here are the best resources to get you started if you’re new to cybersecurity.
1. Wireshark
You may examine live internet data in real-time with Wireshark and break down data packets into segments and frames. Additionally, it supports all prevalent media kinds and network protocols.
2. Nmap
You can discover the target with the aid of the networking scanning function.
Nmap will provide the necessary information, such as open ports, the OS running on the victim’s machine, and services.
3. Metasploit
This tool includes exploits for most vulnerabilities. Via the command-line network, you can reach the target machine and deliver payloads to it.
Up until 2009, the program was open-source. You can currently utilize all the functions of the community edition for free.
4. Nikto
This program is capable of conducting thorough web server scans. With Nikto, you may scan suspicious files, configuration errors, out-of-date program installations, etc. This tool makes it simple to examine big web servers.
Job Outlook
Cyber engineers can plan and implement high-demand safety measures for computerized command and control systems. Cybersecurity concerns affect businesses of all sizes.
Career growth opportunities
As reported by BLS, there are many job openings in cybersecurity engineering. The five most In-Demand Cyber Security Jobs include:
- IT security engineer
- Information Assurance Engineer
- Network Security Engineer
- Information Security Engineer
- Information Systems Security Engineer
People with experience and talents in cybersecurity engineering may wish to consider applying for or positioning themselves for the related positions:
- Cybersecurity director
- Cybersecurity manager
- Cybersecurity consultant
- Cybersecurity architect
- Chief information security officer (CISO)
Companies hiring cybersecurity engineers
Financial services, health care, government, retail, and manufacturing are some of the best sectors for job hunters in cybersecurity. Yet, the list still goes on.
Many open cybersecurity engineer roles are available across nearly every industry, according to a fast search on LinkedIn and Indeed. A few of the top companies that are looking for these kinds of crucial positions are listed below.
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Spotify
- General Motors
- National Security Agency
- Apple
- Microsoft
- Visa
- Comcast
- Home Depot
- Netflix
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- The Ohio State University
- Morgan Stanley
- United HealthGroup
- Boeing
Salary
Cybersecurity engineers’ salaries will be different depending on their levels. Below is the average wage for jobs in cybersecurity:
- Network Security Engineer: appropriately $97,163/ year
- Cybersecurity Analyst: about $80,078/ year
- Information Security Manager: $119,224/ year
- Information Security Engineer: $107,446/ year
- Information Security Analyst: $99,275/ year
- Chief Information Security Officer: $166, 357/ year
Your experience significantly influences your level as a security engineer. With less than a year of experience, you may earn a salary of around $77,735.
An entry-level cyber security position with 1-4 years of expertise pays an average of $84,121.
Advantages and Disadvantages
The most often claimed benefits of working in cyber security are the high pay, variety of work, and room for professional growth.
The most frequently mentioned drawbacks are the need for constant education, the need to be on call or work extra hours, and the stress of having to fight against ever-changing threats.
- The pay is good.
Cybersecurity experts typically earn a good living if their professions are good enough. Compared to the typical employee at most companies, their salary is substantial, and incomes seem to be rising.
- This job is prevalent.
Businesses in almost all aspects of the economy require qualified cybersecurity specialists.
- Cybersecurity is in demand.
There are more open positions in cyber security than applicants, with unemployment figures of less than 1%.
- Some chores are boring or repetitive.
These activities involved documentation, reviewing incident logs, and joining meetings.
- The Never-Stopping Learning Treadmill.
Cybersecurity seems to advance at a faster rate than any other industry. It is a subject where you must learn new things to stay relevant. That may not be easy.
FAQs
What does an engineer in cyber security do?
Engineers specializing in information security are adept at identifying vulnerabilities and dangers in computer systems. They apply what they have learned to developing and practicing state-of-the-art countermeasures against insider threats, malware, ransomware, and other types of cybercrime.
Is becoming a cybersecurity engineer hard?
No, it’s not as difficult as you may think. Cybersecurity is among the few sectors in the computer world that don’t demand a deep technical background, despite the possibility of challenging ideas like cryptography or fields that necessitate more technical understanding.
Is coding more difficult than cyber security?
In terms of knowledge level, cybersecurity involves less programming. But it also necessitates a broader knowledge of operating systems, networks, system management, and fundamental security.
Therefore, cybersecurity demands a broader range of skills than coding.
How much time do you need to become an engineer in cybersecurity?
The need for cybersecurity professionals is high, yet it can take a while to become one. Before finding a career as a cybersecurity engineer, plan to spend several years finishing your school and gaining work experience.
How long are cyber security engineers at their jobs?
On average, full-time cyber security experts work 40 hours weekly in an office.
However, there are frequently substantially longer hours needed for technology releases or application updates. Sometimes cybersecurity engineers need to upgrade or maintain systems overnight, on weekends, etc.
What tasks does a cyber security engineer perform every day?
Finding and correcting security flaws in networks and computer systems is a security engineer’s daily grind.
Many cybersecurity teams depend on the services of these specialists in leadership positions. They provide valuable feedback to their employers on how to refine their user policies and safety measures.
Do cyber security engineers have to hack?
No, they don’t have to. Hacking into the system is not necessary for cyber security professionals. It is their responsibility to safeguard the system by adopting all reasonable precautions.
Ethical hackers employ harsh security measures, while cyber security professionals utilize defensive security measures, to put it simply.
Can engineers in cyber security operate from home?
Cybersecurity professionals are excellent candidates for remote work, just as other positions in the computer & IT industry.
Which nation offers the best compensation to cyber security engineers?
It’s Luxembourg. Because cybersecurity is a growing industry with enormous potential in Luxembourg, this country offers the highest salaries for cybersecurity professionals.
How do I get started with cyber security?
When you first enter the field of cybersecurity, you can work as a software developer, network administrator, or help desk technician.
After obtaining some IT experience, many cybersecurity experts start as junior information security analysts.
Career Advice
If you decide to become a cybersecurity engineer, stay focused on your decision.
First, you should research employment options and the education, training, and certifications that could be necessary to land those kinds of roles.
Second, you should spend as much time as possible practicing hands-on skills.
Strategic planning, critical thinking, organization, communication, teaching abilities, research and technology, leadership, and empowerment because they all have an impact on cybersecurity fields.
The third stage in the cybersecurity industry is to accomplish a professional certification. By doing that, you can prove yourself in this field.
You should be patient with your aim and spend enough time to make your plan come true. Don’t be afraid of challenges.
You will gain lots of experience by solving difficulties that may appear on your career path. As a result, you can improve your skills and knowledge to be an excellent cybersecurity engineer.
With the information we showed, we hope you can have a good career picture in your mind and start making your dream come true.