Cybersecurity is an attractive branch of information technology that is ideal for people who enjoy engaging in challenging issues. 

This area has a lot of potential for improvement, and as you will see in this article, the cybersecurity profession can be an extraordinary and valuable choice.

Like our world, today becomes more dependent on the Internet and mobile computing for day-to-day tasks, the importance of addressing security issues
doubles.

 In such a situation, the demand for cybersecurity engineers increases.

Who is a Cyber ​​Security Engineer?

A cybersecurity engineer provides solutions for designing and implementing secure networks to make communication infrastructure resilient to hackers, cyberattacks, and other threats. 

In addition, cybersecurity engineers have a responsibility to constantly monitor and test systems to ensure that the systems are up to date and working properly. The job of a cybersecurity engineer is often referred to as a data security engineer, IT security engineer, or web security engineer. 

Statistics show that most small businesses are looking to hire a cybersecurity engineer because they cannot afford to hire a cybersecurity analyst.

What does a cybersecurity engineer do?

The roles and responsibilities of a cybersecurity engineer include:

•  Assess the security needs of the organization and establish best practices and standards accordingly.
•  Designs, implements, maintains, monitors, and updates all security measures required to protect the organization’s data, systems, and networks.
•  Responsible for all security vulnerabilities in the network and related systems, so that if a security problem occurs, the cybersecurity engineer is responsible. 
•  Troubleshoot all security and network problems and incidents.
•  Performs penetration tests regularly.
• Take appropriate security measures to ensure the security of the organization’s infrastructure and available data.
•  Perform tests and scans to identify any vulnerabilities in the network and system.
•  Has an active role in the change management process. 
•  Participates in investigations into security breaches. 
•  Takes care of day-to-day administrative tasks such as preparing reports and keeping in touch with the relevant departments of the organization.

Note that the duties and responsibilities of a cybersecurity engineer are close to those of a security analyst.

 A cybersecurity engineer designs and implements security mechanisms, while a security analyst is more concerned with ensuring that the infrastructure is in good working order. 

However, some tasks are common to the two professions, and many cybersecurity engineers regularly conduct vulnerability testing and try to identify vulnerabilities and address vulnerabilities. 

Qualifications and skills required for a cybersecurity engineer

In general, a cybersecurity engineer should obtain the following professional qualifications to increase his or her chances of finding a suitable job. 

•  Degree in computer science, information technology, system engineering, or a similar field.
•  Two years of experience in cybersecurity matters, including incident detection and response and criminology.
•  Experience working and maintaining firewalls and various types of endpoint security.
•  Proficiency in programming languages ​​and tools such as Ruby, Python, CiplusPlus, PowerShell, Java, Go, and Node.
•  Ability to work in stressful and often stressful environments.
•  High detail and accuracy to examine outstanding details and problem-solving skills.
•  Up-to-date knowledge of the latest cybersecurity trends and tactics used by hackers.

Note that different organizations may require more or fewer degrees and competencies or give more or less importance to each of these criteria.

How Much Money Does a Cyber ​​Security Engineer Make?

According to career explorer, the average salary of a cybersecurity engineer is about $ 74,000 a year. The salaries of senior engineers in this field are higher, at about $ 96,000 a year. If you are new to the profession and do not yet have the experience needed by large organizations, you should not expect to earn more than $ 59,000 a year. 

Note that if you manage to get such a position in a company or organization, the same amount of salary is acceptable. Unfortunately, there is no accurate information about the Iranian market and most companies use the term agreement clichés.

 On the other hand, the salary of a cybersecurity engineer varies depending on the city and the type of organization in which he works. Typically, the salary of a cybersecurity engineer in developed and industrialized countries is much higher than in Asian countries such as India.

What is the demand for cybersecurity engineers?

Demand for cybersecurity engineering is projected to grow by 12 percent between 2016 and 2026, which is faster than the average for other occupations, according to reports from various employment agencies. 

It is important to note that as governments, organizations, and businesses increase their confidence in using more digital platforms, the demand for hiring security professionals will continue. The good news is that by 2022, according to the Cybersecurity Ventures Research Institute

 There are 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs, but the bad news (at least from the business owners’ point of view) is that the number of cybersecurity professionals is lower than the market demand. A few years ago, based on ISACA documents, Forbes published an article entitled “Cyber ​​Security, a Fast-Growing Job, and a Deep Skills Gap” and predicted that by 2019, the information technology world would face a shortage of two million cybersecurity professionals.

 Now that we are in 2021, things are getting worse, and in the United States alone, there are 40,000 vacancies for cybersecurity analysts that have not yet been filled. In terms of cybercrime, Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that the annual costs of cybercrime damages will increase dramatically, from $ 3 trillion in 2015 to $ 6 trillion by 2022. 

In such a situation, paying heavy salaries to hire cybersecurity specialists will be far less than paying the losses caused by cybersecurity flaws. 

Although countless companies hire cybersecurity engineers, these ten companies are pioneers in hiring cybersecurity specialists:

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

When we put these predictions together, it creates a promising picture for anyone interested in becoming a cybersecurity engineer. 

The career of a cybersecurity engineer

So it is not surprising that to achieve such a position requires calculated planning and a lot of work and effort. To get started, you must have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to cybersecurity. Therefore, studying in fields such as computer engineering, computer programming, computer science, information security engineering or software engineering is the right choice.

 In the past, it did not matter to companies that a candidate did not have a degree, but now the number of organizations emphasizing the requirement to have a degree is increasing, so get your formal degree in the first place.

A candidate in cybersecurity engineering can optionally continue his / her studies in the same fields related to cybersecurity up to a master’s degree. If you are planning to become a senior cybersecurity engineer, a master’s degree is very important. Next, you need to gain experience in this area. 

Typically, an avid cybersecurity engineer should have three years of professional security experience before starting a formal career. Finally, it’s time to get certified. Certification does two things for you, the first is that it gives you the extra skills and knowledge that will help you along the way. 

Second, it shows the interviewer that you have acquired the necessary theoretical and technical knowledge for the position for which you have submitted your resume. You have a lot of resources to get certified. 

You can get one or more certificates depending on your ability and needs. 

The more skills you have, the better your chances of getting the job you want. Among the certifications that you should consider receiving are the following:

•  CCNP Security: A Cisco-approved network security specialist 
•  CEH v10: The approved ethical hacker 
•  CISA: Certified Information Systems Auditor
•  GIAC: Web application penetration tester 
•  CISSP: Certified Information Systems Security Specialist 
•  GSEC / GCIH / GCIA: GIAC Security Certifications

There are many other cybersecurity certifications, but the list above is more important. Passing the CEH-approved ethical hacking course (v10) can be the best choice to start getting specialized certification. 

This step-by-step course teaches the advanced techniques used by hackers, including virus code writing and reverse engineering. With this learning, you can protect the company’s infrastructure against data intrusion.