There are many ways companies can access the internet and store data. They can use computer networks, web applications, Cloud platforms, and databases to name a few. As businesses store more data online and operate in different locations, the threats against such data also increase. Security professionals are necessary to protect such systems and data.
A cyber security engineer creates solutions to protect systems and data. The job creates a balance between the theory of security and the practical side of security. It includes designing secure systems, creating secure networks, and safeguarding access to systems and data.
This manual provides information regarding the role, essential skills, and tools required to become a cyber security engineer.
What Is a Cybersecurity Engineer?
A cyber security engineer is someone who has a broad understanding of security and how it relates to different technologies. A good understanding of systems, networking, and security operations is vital.
There are many opportunities for specialization. Sometimes smaller organizations combine several specializations into a single role.
The main focus is to minimize risk for the organization and protect the systems and data as much as possible.
The main goal of a cyber security engineer is to ensure that system compromises and data breaches occur less frequently.
What Does a Cybersecurity Engineer Do?
Although responsibilities vary, there are a few things all cyber security engineers do.
One of the main responsibilities of a cyber security engineer is designing secure systems.
An engineer can help in configuring firewalls, determining authentication requirements, protecting cloud environments, implementing encryption, strengthening the network infrastructure, and improving the identity and access control systems.
Identify and Fix Vulnerabilities
There can be numerous vulnerabilities in different layers of the infrastructure such as applications, servers, cloud environments, network devices, or access control lists.
For identifying the vulnerabilities, a cybersecurity engineer may use scanning tools, review configurations, or perform testing. In addition, the engineer should assess the risk level and work with the relevant teams to address the issues.
Monitor Security Controls
Tools that help identify suspicious activities, such as security information and event management systems, may be managed by an engineer. The goal is to collect and retain pertinent security data to assist in subsequent analysis and forensics.
Support Incident Response
When an incident occurs, the engineer may perform activities including blocking malicious traffic, resetting compromised credentials to their defaults, restoring the system to a secure state, and improving the controls.
Automate Security Work
Security teams must deal with large volumes of data and perform repetitive tasks. Automation can help simplify and decrease the effort in dealing with large volumes of security-related data, and perform configurations.
Essential Skills for a Cybersecurity Engineer
Networking
A strong background in networking helps understand the attacks and build protections.
Operating Systems
Security professionals often work with Linux and Windows. Knowledge of macOS can also be useful.
You need to have a good understanding of users and permissions, services and processes, logs, file systems, command-line tools, system updates, and basic hardening.
Knowledge of Linux can be very helpful since it can be found on many servers, cloud infrastructures, and security tools.
Programming and Scripting
Being able to script or code can help you in your security career, even if it’s just being able to write simple scripts.
Understanding Python can help with automation and administration with Bash and PowerShell. Depending on the role and the organization you work for, knowledge of Java, C++, or Go could also be beneficial.
Coding and scripting can help you understand application vulnerabilities and help you communicate with application developers.
Cloud Security
Many organizations have key workloads running in the cloud.
A security engineer may help configure and design an environment in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, and help with IAM, logging, secrets management, storage with appropriate permissions, and other cloud services with encryption.
Beginners may be better off focusing on just AWS.
Core Security Concepts
Security principals are always going to be important.
Knowing least privilege, authentication, encryption, managing vulnerabilities, secure configuration, incident response, logging, threat modeling, and risk management is important.
Common Tools Used in Security Engineering
There is no single security toolkit. Engineers are expected to work with a variety of tools such as automation frameworks, SIEM tools, endpoint and cloud protection, vulnerability scanners, firewalls, and other security services and tools.
Understanding security concepts are more important than knowing various tools.
Security Analyst vs. Cybersecurity Engineer
A Security Analyst may be called upon to perform similar tasks as a Security Engineer. The difference is that Security Analysts often spend a greater portion of their time doing things like alert monitoring, and analyzing, investigating, or supporting investigations of security related incidents.
A Security Engineer may spend a greater portion of their time implementing, configuring and/or modifying Security Controls, or designing and/or modifying incident detection or prevention systems.
For example, a Security Analyst may conduct an investigation into repeated suspicious or unsuccessful login attempts. An Engineering solution to that incident may be modifying the authentication mechanisms to strengthen the rules, perhaps implementing 2-factor or stronger authentications, improving the identity policies, and implementing better and stronger detection logic.
In small to medium companies, one person may be required to be both the Security Analyst and Security Engineer.
How to Become a Cybersecurity Engineer
The career path to being a Security Engineer is varied. Many come from varied areas such as IT/Support, System Administration, Networking, Software Development, DevOps, Cloud Engineering and Security Operations to name a few.
1. Acquire Baseline IT Skills
First, it is good to have a baseline understanding of how the core technologies and systems work. This includes: networking, databases, web, basic Cloud, and basic programming. Security becomes more intuitive when you have an understanding of the systems and how the technology works that is being protected.
2. Learn Security Basics
Learn the basics of security related technologies including: network security, access control, cryptography, vulnerability management, web security, malware, logging, incident response, and the basics of social engineering and risk management.
3. Start a Home Lab
Create a small lab environment and create a virtual machine for Windows and Linux and practice assigning and managing user accounts, configuring firewalls, logging, patching and vulnerability scanning, securing configurations and more.
Learning the basics is often the hardest part, but with persistence and tenacity one can achieve mastery and a career in security engineering.
Cloud training environments are also great for practicing identity policies and infrastructure security.
Security testing should be done only to systems you own or have been authorized to test.
4. Learn Scripting
Once you have the fundamentals, learning scripts can help you produce results quickly.
Start with simple projects. Write a script that parses a log file, checks a lab configuration, organizes security findings, or automates a repetitive task.
5. Real World Experience
While your first job title may not be “Cybersecurity Engineer,” your first job in IT can provide a ton of experience you will be grateful for later.
Here are just a few examples: IT support, junior systems administration, networking, SOC analysis, cloud support, DevOps and junior development.
Certifications That Can Help
While certifications aren’t necessary for all Cybersecurity Engineering roles, they can help structure your learning and provide guidance.
For a beginner, the CompTIA Network+ or Security+ are popular choices. For individuals more focused on the cloud, AWS, Microsoft or Google security certifications may provide value.
Experienced individuals may consider the CISSP, or other advanced certifications, based on their professional goals.
Do Certifications Replace Experience?
Practical experience is more valuable than any certification. Passing an exam gives you little insight into real-world configuration and troubleshooting.
Do You Need a Degree?
Degrees can definitely help, especially if your target employer has degree requirements, but there are other avenues to the field.
Self-directed learning, internships, entry-level IT positions, cloud projects, or other various paths are options as well. Look at your local market to identify any trends to determine if certifications, a degree, or a mixture is preferred.
Salary and Career Growth for a Cybersecurity Engineer
There is no specific salary for a security engineer.
The amount is dependent on location, experience, industry, company size, specialization, certifications, management, and clearance requirements.
Security engineers often specialize in areas such as cloud security, application security, identity security, and DevSecOps, among others.
For senior security engineers, career opportunities may be in architecture and consultation with security team leads and management.
While pursuing different opportunities is advisable, be sure to take into consideration your benefits and responsibilities, along with your long-term career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cybersecurity Engineering
Can Cybersecurity Engineers Work Remotely?
Yes, there are plenty of cybersecurity engineering jobs that allow for remote work, including cloud security, application security, and automation.
Vulnerability management, for example, can be remote, but some employers may require on-site work if they have a data center, for example.
Is a Career in Cybersecurity Engineering Worth It?
It can be a great career for those who are interested in protecting and defending systems and enjoy solving problems and are continuous learners. The demands of the job can be high, as people sometimes rely on you to protect important systems. The nature of the job can also be fast paced with long hours.
Is Cybersecurity Engineering Hard?
Yes. It is hard because it encompasses a broad scope of knowledge ranging from, but not limited to, networking, operating systems, cloud technologies, and security. Having a strong base in the aforementioned areas and consistent practice makes learning easier.
Can I Become a Cybersecurity Engineer Without Experience?
You can certainly start learning without experience, but many engineering jobs expect practical IT or security experience. Obtaining experience may come from Labs, internships, entry level IT jobs, personal projects, etc.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Cybersecurity Engineer?
It really depends. If you’re already working in networking or development for example, you may be able to make the transition faster than a true beginner. Ultimately it really comes down to your current knowledge and experience, as well as the requirements of your employer.
Is a Cyber Security Engineer the Same as a Hacker?
No. Cyber Security Engineers build and maintain defenses for organizations. Sometimes they have to use various security-testing techniques, but in a professional setting, they should only perform tests if they have proper authorization to do so.
Final Thoughts
It’s not about the number of tools or certifications you have to collect to be a cyber security engineer. The best professionals are the ones that fully understand how networking, different operating systems, applications, different authentication methods and cloud infrastructure work.
You should start with basic IT skills, learn about security fundamentals, practice in hands-on labs, learn basic scripting, and gain as much real-world experience as possible. You can always specialize in areas like Cloud Security, AppSec, Identity and Access Management, InfraSec, IoT, Automation, or any other security-related field that interests you.
. If you are passionate about technology and love solving puzzles and have an interest in protecting the system that helps society, then cyber security can be a fulfilling career.
