How To Become A Cybersecurity Engineer – Forbes Advisor

Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that cybercrime will cost the world a staggering $10.5 trillion a year by 2025. With these high stakes, organizations are looking to cybersecurity professionals to protect their data and limit losses from cybercrime.

Aside from the many entry-level and intermediate cybersecurity positions, the cybersecurity engineer role is at the top of the career ladder. This position requires advanced skills and offers competitive salaries.

This article explores how to become a cybersecurity engineer, the day-to-day job duties for these professionals, and career dates for cybersecurity engineers.

What is a Cybersecurity Engineer?

Cybersecurity engineer is among the more advanced roles in cybersecurity. This role is sometimes referred to as an information security engineer or network security engineer. Cybersecurity engineers focus on protecting data and preventing disruption from digital attacks.

The main responsibilities of cybersecurity engineers include designing, implementing, monitoring and updating security measures. As part of information or cybersecurity teams, these engineers respond to security breaches, test and identify system vulnerabilities, and write reports for executives.

Salary and job prospects for cybersecurity engineers

Cybersecurity engineers earn very competitive salaries. According to Payscale, these engineers earn an average base cybersecurity salary of nearly $99,000. Their wages are likely to increase as they gain experience and earn certifications.

As for job prospects, there is a massive labor shortage in the cybersecurity field. Cyberseek – a collaboration between the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, CompTIA and Lightcast – conducts data analysis of the cybersecurity job market. According to Cyberseek, there were over 700,000 vacancies for cybersecurity professionals between May 2021 and April 2022.

Cybersecurity jobs take an average of 21% longer to fill than other types of jobs. This indicates a major cybersecurity talent gap.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 35% job growth for information security analysts from 2021 to 2031. This indicates continued high demand for similar cybersecurity professionals.

How to become a cybersecurity engineer

Cybersecurity Engineers take on advanced roles that require a solid foundation of computer science knowledge and skills. Candidates can learn these skills through traditional degree programs, self-study, or boot camps.

Keep in mind that becoming a cybersecurity engineer will likely require years of study and experience. Certification can also be helpful.

Earn a degree

If you are wondering how to get into cybersecurity, remember that this is a highly technical field that requires a background in computer networking, coding and programming, and encryption, among other things. A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or computer science can provide a solid foundation in these subjects. Related fields such as electrical engineering or mathematics can also teach useful skills.

A cybersecurity career doesn’t always require a degree, but it’s a good option. According to a survey by (ISC)², an international non-profit information security organization, 81% of current cybersecurity professionals have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Fifty-one percent of cybersecurity professionals have a computer science degree.

For those starting the path outside of college, a cybersecurity boot camp can also provide a good education. Completing a cybersecurity boot camp can quickly equip you with the skills needed for an entry-level role in the field. Boot camp graduates can also pursue certifications to bolster their expertise.

gain experience

A cybersecurity engineer job is unlikely to be the first role in your career. First, you should look for entry-level cybersecurity jobs to gain experience and build your skills.

Potential roles to consider include cybersecurity specialist, cybercrime analyst, and incident and intrusion analyst. Other intermediate positions include cybersecurity analyst, consultant and penetration tester.

Alternatively, you can start with an information technology (IT) job before moving into cybersecurity. Related roles include software developer, network or system administrator, and IT auditor. In the aforementioned (ISC)² survey, over 50% of respondents started their careers in IT before making the transition.

received certificate

Due to the advanced nature of this technical role, cybersecurity certifications can be an excellent way to make you a more competitive candidate for available roles. If you are working toward an engineering role, consider earning one or more of the following certifications.

Entry-level certifications like CompTIA’s Security+ and Network+ can strengthen your cybersecurity resume and help you qualify as a cybersecurity engineer. These certifications also meet the requirement to work for the US Department of Defense if that is your goal.

For advanced cybersecurity professionals, ISACA’s Certified Information Systems Auditor® and Certified Information Systems Manager® are good options. In addition, Global Information Assurance Certification, an organization that administers information security certifications, offers credentials that measure specific areas of knowledge and competency.

The gold standard of the cybersecurity industry is the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, which recognizes you as an elite cybersecurity professional. This designation requires a minimum of four years of paid experience and the recommendation of a current CISSP holder.

Apply for jobs

Once you’ve earned the required education and certifications, it’s time to apply for jobs. And with over 700,000 open positions in this field, you should be able to find a cybersecurity engineer role that catches your eye. Companies like Palo Alto Networks, Datadog, and CrowdStrike are good places to start.

If you are interested in working for the US government, USAJOBS is a one stop shop for jobs across the country.

FAQ on how to become a cybersecurity engineer