In today’s world, technology is all around with most of us increasingly more dependent on it to accomplish our day-to-day tasks. Cyber security is an increasingly bigger issue and as a result of this, there is a continuous demand for security engineers.
This field is bursting with potential and could be a great career path if you enjoy a good challenge!
So what does a cyber security engineer actually do?
A security engineer monitors how computer architecture functions and how to keep it safe from cyber-attacks. Although this type of role can typically be found in larger organisations, security engineers also support medium-size and smaller businesses and even entrepreneurs on a freelance basis.
The responsibilities of a cyber security engineer typically include;
Planning, implementing, managing, monitoring, and upgrading security measures and infrastructure to protect data and resources
Testing and identifying network and system vulnerabilities (penetration testing)
Responding to incidents and security breaches
Building security platforms
Maintain and expand knowledge of the cyber security threat landscape
Administrative duties and report writing
What key skills are required?
Cyber security engineers tend to keep themselves up to date with current trends, news and innovations. Here are a few key skills needed to be a great cyber security engineer;
Strong communication skills
Ability to problem solve
Ability to interpret and analyse technical information
Natural attention to detail and data accuracy
Is a degree essential?
To become a cyber security engineer, it’s recommended that you have a bachelor’s degree in a field that’s related to cyber security. For example, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Programming, Information Systems to name a few.
Previously degrees weren’t necessarily essential, but thanks to a booming market and a rise in competition, most employers require a candidate to have a degree.
How much do Cyber Security Engineers make?
Starting out, you can expect to earn around £30,000 - £40,000 a year, whilst the average cyber security engineer salary is around £60,000 - £75,000 a year. Of course, we have provided these figures as a guide only and they can fluctuate but regardless of the range, a cyber security engineer has the potential to earn a healthy salary!
If you want to embark on a career in cyber security, check out all of the current Cyber Security Engineer Roles in Northern Ireland.
