As our society grows more reliant on the Internet and mobile computers to do many of our daily duties, security becomes more pressing. As a result, there will be greater demand for Cybersecurity engineers.
Cybersecurity is an intriguing sector of information technology that is suitable for those who appreciate a challenge. The industry is rife with opportunity, and we’re going to show you why a career in Cyber Security is a great (and lucrative!) decision.
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Who is a Cybersecurity Engineer?
Cybersecurity engineers establish and deploy secure network solutions to protect against hackers, cyber-attacks, and other persistent threats.
They also test and monitor such systems regularly, ensuring that all of the system’s defenses are up to date and functioning correctly.
A cybersecurity engineer is also referred to as a data security engineer, IT security engineer, or Web security engineer.
Furthermore, in smaller firms that cannot afford a Cyber Security expert, the work of a Cyber Security engineer is occasionally wrapped into another IT function.
It would probably sync in once we dive deeper into the role of a CyberSecurity Engineer.
Cybersecurity Engineer: Job Roles & Responsibilities
A Cybersecurity Engineer’s objectives and roles include:
- Assess the organization’s security requirements and set best practices and standards in response.
- All security measures required to secure an organization’s data, systems, and networks are designed, implemented, maintained, overseen, and upgraded.
- Responding to all network and associated system security breaches.
- All network and security concerns and events are investigated and resolved.
- Conduct penetration testing regularly.
- Taking the necessary security precautions to protect the organization’s infrastructure and existing data.
- Conducting tests and scans to discover any network and system vulnerabilities.
- Participating in the change management process.
- Assist in the investigation of any security breaches.
Managing day-to-day administrative responsibilities such as reporting and maintaining open communication lines with the necessary departments within the business.
It is worth noting that the work and responsibilities of a Cyber Security engineer are incredibly similar to those of a security analyst.
A Cybersecurity engineer creates systems, but a security analyst is more concerned with putting the system through its paces and attempting to breach it.
There is some overlap, however, because many Cyber Security engineers run stress testing on a regular basis in order to forecast and test the weak points.
It is pretty uncommon to come across job postings for a Security Engineer/Analyst, which basically combines the two jobs into one.
Let’s take a look at the prerequisites before learning how to become a cybersecurity engineer.
Cybersecurity Engineer: Career Roadmap
We have just seen the job roles and responsibilities for becoming a Cyber Security engineer, as well as the scope of their tasks.
As a result, it should come as no surprise that becoming one involves careful preparation and a great deal of effort, but the effort is well worth it.
To begin, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in a Cybersecurity-related discipline. To mention a few, these fields include computer engineering, computer programming, computer science, engineering, information security, and software engineering.
Corporations used not to care if an applicant didn’t have a degree, but a growing number of companies require one. So, first and foremost, get your official education in order.
A candidate for a master’s degree in cyber-engineering might then continue his or her study, focusing on closely related subjects to Cyber Security. If you want to work as a Senior Cybersecurity Engineer, you’ll need that master’s degree even more.
After that, you should try to gain some job experience. According to conventional thinking, an aspiring Cybersecurity engineer should work for three years before making a formal transfer.
This value varies based on the amount and quality of job experience a potential applicant has accumulated.
Last but not least, there is certification. Certification benefits you in two ways. First, it provides you with new skills and information that will be useful in the future.
Second, it gives the hiring party verifiable proof that you are well-trained for the role they are interviewing for.
If you are seeking certification, you’ll find a plethora of options, almost an embarrassment of riches. There may be many materials available, but do not worry; we will cover a fantastic choice shortly.
Cyber Crime Investigation Courses & Skills
In order to properly acquire and preserve evidence for subsequent prosecution, this is a multi-functional position that requires both investigation tactics and cybersecurity expertise.
It is crucial to be able to work in a multi-jurisdictional or cross-jurisdictional context. The nonlocal nature of cybercrime is a key feature. Illegal behavior can take place across huge distances between jurisdictions.
This presents significant difficulties for cybercrime investigators, as these crimes sometimes necessitate international collaboration.
Is it, for example, a crime if a person views child pornography on a computer in a country that does not prohibit it from being accessed in a country where such materials are not permitted?
The cybercrime investigator must be able to ask and answer questions in order to determine the specific location of the cybercrime.
The majority of cybercrime bachelor’s degree programs will include a similar set of core subjects that bridge the gap between computer science and law enforcement. For a better understanding, below is a sample curriculum:
Cyber Training Academy of the Department of Defense
The DC3 Academy, which offers online education, is attended by many cybersecurity aspirants within the Department of Defense. With this highly specialized training in digital forensics and security, you may gain certification or boost your profession.
Cybercrime Assistance Network
The CSN was created to assist victims of cybercrime by providing students with cybercrime prevention materials.
Cybersecurity Training
This website contains information on resources available to students studying cybercrime.
Links to professional organizations in cybercrime and cybersecurity, cybercrime educational possibilities, and valuable career development information are also available on the CISA website.
National Cybersecurity Careers and Studies Initiative
This portal, which the Department of Homeland Security developed, connects students to training opportunities, NICCS tools and resources, and the Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE).
Qualified workers can get more than 800 hours of cybercrime and cybersecurity training from the FedVTE.
Computer Emergency Readiness Team of the United States
The National Cyber Awareness System, a database of threat information, is also hosted by US-CERT, founded by the Department of Homeland Security. It provides computer security specialists’ alerts, advice, bulletins, reports, and other information.
Cybercrime Professional Organizations
Joining a professional association can help new cybercrime students and grads. Most organizations provide chances for networking, and some even link fresh graduates with veterans in mentorship partnerships.
Many provide career assistance, job boards, and continuing education opportunities. Cybercrime professionals’ interests are also represented through organizations.
The International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the IACIS, which is made up of security specialists from over 60 nations and offers members a variety of training options as well as a venue for exchanging knowledge on new cyber dangers.
The Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS) is a non-profit organization that is a membership organization, which is a world leader in financial crime detection and prevention and offers certification, training, and networking opportunities.
The American Society of Digital Forensics and eDiscovery is a non-profit organization dedicated to digital forensics and electronic discovery.
The professional computer forensics community is represented by the American Society of Digital Forensics and eDiscovery.
This organization offers scholarships, and training and disseminates the most up-to-date information on opportunities and risks in the field of digital forensics.
The International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts is a non-profit organization that brings together law enforcement intelligence analysts from around.
Based in Richmond, Virginia, this global group provides law enforcement analysts with training, certification, networking, mentorship, research, and advocacy.
Why The Demand For Cybersecurity Engineers?
According to this employment outlook analysis, demand for Cybersecurity engineers is expected to expand at a pace of 12.1% between 2019 and 2029, which is faster than the average for all other occupations.
As corporations, governments, and other organizations become more reliant on digital platforms, the demand for Cyber Security engineers will continue to rise.
According to Cyber Security Ventures, by 2021, there will be 3.5 million employment vacancies in the Cyber Security field.
The bad news is that there will be a comparable expanding skill gap in Cyber Security specialists (at least from a business owner’s standpoint).
According to a Forbes story from a few years ago, Cyber Security is “the fast-growing job with a massive skill gap.”
According to ISACA research, by 2019, there will be a global shortfall of two million Cyber Security specialists. And now we were in 2019, and things are just getting worse. 40,000 Cyber Security analyst positions are vacant in the United States alone.
Cyber Security Ventures also anticipates that the yearly expenses of cyber-crime damages would rise considerably, from $3 trillion in 2015 to $6 trillion by 2021, according to Cyber Security Ventures.
As a result, cyber-spending is expected to exceed $1 trillion between 2017 and 2021.
Despite the fact that many organizations are employing Cybersecurity engineers, these ten organizations are at the top of the list.
- BAE Systems is a defense contractor based in the United
- Symantec is a security software company.
- Software from Check Point
- Lockheed Martin is a defense contractor.
- FireEye is a character in the game FireEye.
- Amazon is a company that sells books (Amazon Web Services)
- Microsoft is a company that specializes in
- IBM is a company that specializes in
- Cisco is a company that specializes in
- CyberArk is a company that develops software.
Taken together, these projections provide a rosy picture for anybody interested in pursuing a career as a Cybersecurity engineer. Cyber Security engineering (and similar occupations) might be considered a “recession-proof job.”
So now that you know what a Cyber Security engineer does, what they make, and how safe the job is, you’re probably wondering how to get started.
Career Outlook: Would you like to become a Cybersecurity Engineer?
With so many options, it is easy to become overwhelmed. Fortunately, Simplilearn is here to help you learn faster and easier! The training will teach you how to hack using sophisticated step-by-step approaches.
Writing viral codes and reverse engineering are two examples of how you may better safeguard your company’s infrastructure against data breaches.
This ethical hacking course will teach you sophisticated network packet analysis and sophisticated system penetration testing techniques so you can improve your network security skills and outsmart hackers.
For starters, A typical online course includes 40 hours of instructor-led instruction, six months of free CEH v10 lab access, and a pass guarantee on the test!
Hackers are a Cybersecurity Engineer’s worst nightmare, so by completing this course and earning your certification.
You will be better prepared to halt them in their tracks and keep your company’s systems safe.
Even if you have no plans to become a Cybersecurity Engineer, this is a beautiful resource for upskilling your current role and boosting your worth and reputation at your employer or company. Join the battle for a more secure Internet by taking the course!
Cybersecurity Engineer: Salary in the U.S
When it comes to the cybersecurity sector, the expanding skills gap gets a lot of attention. The fact that this might equate to the massive potential for professionals is often overlooked.
We break down the plethora of highly-paying and gratifying positions available, as well as compensation statistics for today’s cyber workforce, for the second week of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM).
The cybersecurity industry is anticipated to reach $170 billion by 2022. According to 2019 data from Burning Glass Technologies Research, cybersecurity engineers earn around 9.5% more than other IT workers.
However, there is still a shortage of experienced people in the industry. According to the Center for Cyber Safety and Education Center and ISC2, the cybersecurity workforce shortfall is predicted to reach 1.9 million by 2024, according to the 2017 Global Information Security Workforce Study (GISWS).
There is a wealth of information about cybersecurity incomes accessible, with a wide variety of results; yet, cybersecurity employment may be lucrative.
Cybersecurity experts, for example, earn an average of $116,500 per year or $55.78 per hour, according to CIO.
Still, PayScale believes that the average income for computer security specialists is about $74,500, with geography playing a significant role in pay structure.
According to a January 2018 Forbes article by Steve Morgan, top cybersecurity wages in big U.S. metros may approach $380,050 a year, based on several sources.
According to Glassdoor.com, a cybersecurity engineer earns an average of $85,300 per year, according to Glassdoor.com, while an incident responder earns an average of $81,500 per year, according to the Infosec Institute.
However, the figure varies by region, with roughly $83,600 in San Francisco and approximately $70,009 in Georgia. The average yearly compensation for a vulnerability research engineer is roughly $96,970.
Salaries vary by region and firm size, but the data has been adjusted for inflation. A senior cybersecurity engineer’s compensation in San Francisco, for example, can range from $122,700 to $207,080. In Atlanta, salaries vary from $72,200 to $107,600.
Concluding Thoughts
While prices vary depending on a variety of factors such as location, experience level, job, and organization, one thing is clear: cybersecurity engineers are in great demand and well-compensated, and that is unlikely to alter in the near future if projections are correct.
Experienced security specialists with up-to-date knowledge of the threat environment and advanced hacking techniques will continue to be helpful to the new company as the threat landscape becomes increasingly sophisticated and complicated.
