Living in the 21st century, as technology grows and people become more dependent on the internet and technology, security becomes more critically important. Hence, it directly increases the demand for highly skilled cybersecurity engineers. What is cybersecurity? Cybersecurity is a vast and popular branch of IT. Protecting numerous electrical systems/devices, networks, and primary data of organizations from unreceptive attacks is known as cybersecurity. It’s also known as electronic information safety or information technology security. It may be broken down into many groups, such as network security, application security, information security, etc. Cyber Security engineering is one vast career option with high amounts of rewards and potential. Today we will be discussing various aspects of cybersecurity and the set of skills needed to become a Cyber Security engineer.
What is a Cyber Security Engineer?
Cyber Security Engineers are highly trained and educated individuals responsible for designing and executing secure network solutions to protect against hackers and other cyber-attacks. Cyber Security engineer checks and maintains the servers and security systems daily to work up to date. Most of the time, a Cyber Security Engineer is known with different names inside an organization, such as a data security engineer or IT security engineer.
Furthermore, in some firms, it isn’t easy to afford a Cyber Security specialist. Hence, the work is divided into the IT department amongst various individuals.
What are the significant roles and responsibilities of a Cyber Security Engineer?
The role of a Cyber Security Engineer is very vast and vital in organizations that have an online image. Daily, these engineers assess the organization’s security necessities and set the best rules and policies in response. A cyber security engineer designs, implements, maintains, supervises, and promotes all security measures required to secure an organization’s data and networks. Furthermore, they are in charge of responding to all network and system security risks. Concerns and events with the network and security are investigated and rectified.
Moreover, they keep an appropriate check by testing the networks 24/7. Cyber security engineers take proper actions to secure a firm’s infrastructure. The data is kept safe for a more extended period. Hence, these roles enable the organization to allow the engineer to take an active role in managing its prime assets, i.e., its primary data management.
Skills required to become a Cyber Security Engineer?
Being a Cyber Security Engineer requires extreme talent and a set of extraordinary skills. Here is a list of some skills:
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Problem-solving Skills
Problem-solving is one primary skill required in a cyber security engineer. It plays a significant role in their day-to-day tasks. The field of cybersecurity requires a person to have creative ideas to address complex and challenging information security challenges. It also includes extreme levels of mind mapping and planning to tackle the issues which emerge due to new technologies and environments.
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Technical Aptitude
As we all know, cybersecurity is a technology-related field; hence, a Cyber Security Engineer is most likely to be assigned various responsibilities. Such as troubleshooting, sustaining, and updating security systems continuously. Hence being tech-savvy is highly encouraged to perform all the roles according to the set standards.
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Knowledge of Security
A Cyber Security Engineer has to be familiar with a range of operating systems, computer systems, mobile devices, cloud networks, and wireless networks and stay up with innovations in the field for each of them.
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Communication Skills
As a Cyber Security Engineer, you will be working with individuals in various departments; hence, effectively communicating with your colleagues is crucial. It is demanded that a cybersecurity engineer should speak clearly, and explain all strategies, policies, and technical information amongst the organization to people on various levels.
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Computer Forensic Skills
Computer Forensics and Cyber security are two different branches of information technology. Still, they are very closely related to each other. If a person knows the basics of computer forensics, they can excel in the field of cybersecurity. You’ll need a thorough grasp of what happens if your efforts fail and how compromised data is recovered from securing organizations’ digital assets and avoiding security breaches properly. For this reason, most cybersecurity degree programs will include a computer forensics component.
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Hacking Skills
The key role of a Cyber security Engineer is to protect an organization’s network and infrastructure. Hence to learn this, they need to know how one can default the network an infrastructure. To discover all of this, they need to know about ethical hacking. Hence, an engineer must know how to grasp appropriately how a system might be infiltrated and, in turn, design efficient solutions to counter these attacks. In short, you need to have the same abilities as a hacker.
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Attention to detail
To properly uncover faults and threats and defend an organization from data theft, you must be extremely alert and detail-oriented. You’ll be in charge of constant network monitoring, and you’ll need to be able to spot problems immediately and devise real-time security solutions to handle them.
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Learning Skills
Cybersecurity, like any other technological subject, is dynamic. Anyone working in the area must be dedicated to staying current with quality standards and evolving industry trends. They must continually be studying and self-educating, both on and off the job.
The skills listed above are some skills that are naturally occurring as you grow. In contrast, some are that you learn from your work experiences.
Qualification & Certifications Required In This Field
A Cyber Security Engineer requires a Degree in Computer Science, IT, Systems Engineering, or a similar field, for starters. Later they can opt for a post-graduate program (Masters Program) in Cyber security engineering. Next, it is essential to have two years of work experience in a Cyber Security related department. Experience with the functionality, operation, and maintenance of firewalls and various forms of endpoint security. Proficiency in languages/tools such as C++, Java, Node, Python, Ruby, Go, or Power Shell.
Moreover, it is vital for a Cyber Security Engineer to have various certification which includes:
CCNP Security: Cisco Certified Network Professional Security
CEH v10: Certified Ethical Hacker
CISA: Certified Information Systems Auditor
GIAC: Web Application Penetration Tester
Most of the certifications listed above are very famous in the industry. In contrast, there are many more courses present that can boost your experience and skills.
A credential or degree in cybersecurity, depending on your context, is an excellent place to start: they’ll give you lots a solid foundation in cybersecurity principles, as well as an overview of security across a variety of platforms, programming and development, digital forensic investigation, and specific technical skills (such as those relating to computer and operating systems and networking) and much more.
Moreover, Cyber Security Engineers are in demand nowadays. Huge companies like Microsoft, IBM, Apple etc., hire a team of skilled Cyber Security Engineers. On average, a Cyber Security Engineer earns $74k in a year. At the same time, a high-level engineer salary range is expected to be $96k on an average annually.
Final Words
In today’s world, tools like data analytics are high in use to predict future growth trends. With this becoming a norm, companies are focusing on securing big data. Therefore, the importance of cyber secutiry engineers has increased drastically. As a result, it should come as no surprise that becoming one requires careful preparation and a great deal of effort, but the effort is well worth it.
