How to Become a Cybersecurity Engineer?

What is a Cybersecurity Engineer?

A cyber security engineer designs and implements secure network solutions designed to defend against hackers, cyberattacks, and other persistent threats. They also engage in continually testing and monitoring these systems, making sure that all the system’s defenses are up to date and working correctly.

Often, a cybersecurity engineer’s position is called something else, like data security engineer, IT security engineer, or Web security engineer. Furthermore, sometimes, the role of a cyber security engineer is rolled into a different IT position, especially in smaller companies that can’t afford a cyber security specialist.

Let us get to know how to become a cybersecurity engineer after we learn what one does in the role.

What Does a Cybersecurity Engineer Do?

The roles and responsibilities of a cybersecurity engineer include:

• Evaluating the organization’s security needs and establishing best practices and standards accordingly
• Designing, implementing, maintaining, overseeing, and upgrading all security measures needed to protect organizations’ data, systems, and networks
• Responding to all security breaches to the network and associated systems
• Troubleshooting all network and security issues and incidents
• Routinely conduct penetration testing
• Taking appropriate security measures to ensure that the organization's infrastructure and existing data are kept safe
• Conducting testing and scans to identify any vulnerabilities in the network and system.
• Taking an active role in the change management process
• Assisting in any security breach investigations
• Handling routine daily administrative tasks such as reporting and keeping open lines of communication with the organization’s appropriate departments

Note that a cybersecurity engineer's job and responsibilities come very close to those of a security analyst. A cyber security engineer designs and builds systems, while a security analyst is more concerned with putting the system through its paces, trying to break it.

There is an overlap, however, since many cyber security engineers routinely conduct stress tests and attempt to predict the weak spots and test them out. It’s not unusual to see job listings for a Security Engineer/Analyst, effectively rolling both positions into one.

Before we learn how to become a cyber security engineer, let us look at the required qualifications.

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Cybersecurity Engineer Qualifications

In general, a cybersecurity engineer must have the following qualifications:

• Degree in Computer Science, IT, Systems Engineering, or a similar field
• Two years of work experience in cyber security-related duties such as incident detection and response, and forensics
• 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
• The ability to work in a fast-paced environment, often under pressure
• Possess the right eye for detail and outstanding problem-solving skills
• Up to date knowledge of the latest cybersecurity trends and hacker tactics.

Note that different organizations may have more or fewer qualifications or attach lesser or greater importance to any of the given criteria.

Let us learn how to become a cyber security engineer after understanding the salary stats.

Also Read: An Ultimate Guide to Cyber Security for Beginners

Cybersecurity Engineer Salary

The average cybersecurity engineer salary is around $101,000 a year, according to Glassdoor. Senior-level engineers earn an average of $145K annually, while beginners can look forward to $71K a year. Nice work if you can get it!

In India, a cyber security engineer’s salary averages ₹600,000 a year, while a similar engineer in Australia earns A$95K and an engineer in the UK can make £47,048 annually.

Of course, the above numbers can fluctuate depending on the demand in your part of the world. But regardless of the range, a cyber security engineer can earn some serious pay.

Before understanding how to become a cyber security engineer, let us learn about the demand for the role.

What’s the Demand for Cybersecurity Engineers?

By the end of 2021, there was approximately 3.5 million cybersecurity vacancies worldwide. The demand for cyber security engineers will continue to grow as businesses, governments, and other organizations rely more on digital platforms.

That’s the good news. The bad news (at least from a business owner’s perspective) is that there will be a corresponding widening skill gap regarding cyber security professionals.

The Forbes article from a couple of years back called cyber security, “the fast-growing job with a huge skill gap.” The article cites an ISACA report that predicted a world shortage of two million cybersecurity professionals by 2019. And here we are in 2022, and not only has the Forbes prediction come true, but the situation is also getting worse.

In terms of cyber-related crime, Cybersecurity Ventures predicted that the annual costs of cyber crime damages would increase dramatically, going from $3 trillion in 2015 to $6 trillion by the end of 2021. Looking forward, Cybersecurity Ventures expects global cybercrime costs will reach $10.5 trillion per year by 2025. Consequently, Gartner predicts that cyber security spending will hit $172 billion this year.

Although countless companies are hiring cyber security engineers, these ten companies lead the pack in cyber security professional hiring.

• BAE Systems
• Symantec
• Check Point Software
• Lockheed Martin
• FireEye
• Amazon (Amazon Web Services)
• Microsoft
• IBM
• Cisco
• CyberArk Software

When taken all together, these forecasts paint a promising picture for anyone interested in becoming a cyber security engineer. It’s reasonable to call cyber security engineering (and related positions) a “recession-proof career.”

So now that you know what a cyber security engineer does, what they make, and how secure the career is, you no doubt are curious about how to become one. 

Let us learn how to become a cyber security engineer with the following career path.

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How Long Does It Take to Become a Cybersecurity Engineer?

The typical timeline to becoming a cyber security Engineer can depend on your education, experience, and certifications. Most people can get into an entry-level cyber security Engineer position within two to four years if they have the required experience. For someone who has already been working in IT and has enough experience, a certification is a sure-fire way to quickly transition into this field.

What Degree Is Needed to Be a Cybersecurity Engineer?

To become a cyber security engineer, you should have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to cyber security. This can include Computer Science, IT, or Software Engineering, to name a few. Earlier, most companies wouldn’t require a candidate to have such a degree if they are skilled enough, but the rise in competition has led to an increasing number of organizations adopting this requirement. 

If you are already a graduate in another field, you can opt to continue your education by earning a master’s degree in a field closely related to cyber security. This will be especially crucial if you want to become a Senior Cyber Security Engineer. You can also get certified in similar fields to get a leg up in your career. 

Cybersecurity Books for Beginners

Although it’s a wise idea to obtain cybersecurity certifications, beginners can make the journey a little easier by engaging in some independent study, namely taking up some appropriate reading material. Consider some of the following books:

• Cybersecurity for Dummies: Another in the series of popular “Dummies” books. This book covers the cybersecurity basics of cybersecurity, such as different cybersecurity threats and ethical hacking.
• Hacking: A Beginner’s Guide: Here is where you will find everything you need to get the fundamentals of hacking, including the different types and methods.
• Cybersecurity for Beginners: Do you lack fluency in tech-speak? This book is deal for readers who don’t have a technical background, this book explains cyber-related terms in plain English, eschewing the technobabble.
• Practical Malware Analysis: This book is a guide to all things malware-related, helping you to find, analyze, and debug malicious apps.
• AWS Penetration Testing: Here’s a chance to learn about the principles of penetration testing, including concepts like vulnerability exploitation security assessment, workload security, and encryption.
• Practical Paranoia macOS 11 Security Essentials: Here’s a good resource for cybersecurity-minded Mac users. It’s the perfect training manual for securing your work or home macOS system.
• Kali Linux: Let’s not forget the Linux devotees! Kali Linux is the foremost penetration testing tool for Linux. This book gets you started on penetration testing and helps you navigate through the over 600 tools that Kali Linux offers.

What Requirements Are There to Becoming a Cybersecurity Engineer?

We have already seen the list of prerequisites to become a cyber security engineer. For starters, you need to have a bachelor’s degree in any field related to cyber security. Next, you need to get some years of work experience in cyber security under your belt.  And the final step is to get a certification. Certification gives you additional skills and knowledge as well as provides verifiable evidence that you are well-trained for the position you’re applying for. Simplilearn offers several cyber security certifications for you to choose from:

• Cyber security bootcamp
• COBIT 5 Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies 
• CompTIA Security+ 501 
• CND - Certified Network Defender course 
• CHFI - Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator Certification 
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification 
• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification 
• CEH (V10) - Certified Ethical Hacker 
• CISM - Certified Information Security Manager 
• CCSP - Certified Cloud Security Professional

There are plenty of others, but the above list represents some of the more popular ones. The below video will give you an idea about the various Cyber Security Certifications:

We will now learn all about how to become a cybersecurity engineer.

Want to Become a Cybersecurity Engineer?

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the cybersecurity training choices. Fortunately, Simplilearn is here to make things, well, simpler for you! When you’re looking for that first certification, Simplilearn’s CEH (v10) - Certified Ethical Hacking Course is a great place to start. The course will train you on the advanced step-by-step methodologies that hackers use. These include writing virus codes and reverse engineering, so you can better protect corporate infrastructure from data breaches.

This ethical hacking course will help you master advanced network packet analysis and advanced system penetration testing techniques to build your network security skill set and beat hackers at their own game. Additionally, consider enrolling in the best cyber security bootcamp to further enhance your expertise and stay ahead in the field.

The course offers 40 hours of instructor-led training, six months of free access to CEH v10 labs, and an exam pass guarantee! Hackers are a cyber security engineer’s greatest enemy, so by taking this course and getting your certification; you’re better equipped to stop them dead in their tracks and keep your company’s systems safe.

Even if you’re not currently interested in becoming a cybersecurity engineer, this is an excellent upskilling resource for your current position. It will increase your value and prestige at your workplace or organization. Take the course and join the fight for a more secure Internet!