Security Engineer Career

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The world-wide reliance on computer systems has brought about a diverse set of career options for those that are interested in contributing their expertise. Computer systems and security can be a complex subject for those with little to no experience. These people rely on educated professionals to assist them with ensuring security for their clients, partners, or even the general public.

What Does A Security Engineer Do?

If you are an individual that is interested in the creating, building, and maintaining of computer security systems, becoming a security engineer may be within your reach. The security engineer is an integral part of secure computer systems.

Creating and setting up firewall protection, monitoring systems and reacting to intrusions, and keeping systems up to date with new and helpful technologies are just a few of the responsibilities of those working in this field. If you choose to work as a security engineer, you could potentially find employment in a wide range of fields.

Where Do Security Engineers Work?

Business, medical corporations, educational institutions, national and local governments, and even the military rely on experienced engineers to maintain their sensitive data through various networks. As the country progresses to an even more technologically-dependent entity, you should consider the many options that could become available in the future. A career working around the security of networks for a wide range of businesses could be exactly what you need as a fulfilling career for life.

Our team of educational professionals has put together a helpful guide to assist you in determining what is needed in order to pursue a job within this field. Take a look at what they have provided below.

Education Required

Becoming a security engineer typically requires that you complete a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or other closely related IT field. If you really want to stand apart from others, you may wish to move forward to a master’s or even doctoral level education. Higher education may provide you with the opportunity to add specializations such as network security or cyber crime, as well as possibly giving you the option to engage in supervised training or internships.

With a high interest in computer science for upcoming students, it is best to go as far as you can educationally in order to remain competitive among other degree-holders. Degree programs that are relevant to computer science can give you the building blocks for a meaningful career providing secure systems for companies.

Sample Courses

Computer science related degree programs can have a diverse set of courses depending on the specific degree program you choose. Whether or not you choose a specialization can also affect the courses on your to-do list.

In order to determine the types of courses you might take throughout the duration of your degree program, you should consider the level of degree you are pursuing as well as any potential specialties you might choose. Since there are so many degree programs available from various platforms, our team reviewed some of the top schools offering computer science programs in an effort to provide you with the most current information available. Our experts have provided a few of the common courses below for you to review.

• Database and IT Security Planning and Policy: This course provides students with information into all aspects pertaining to a secure database. Some topics include identity management, planning secure connection pools and proxy authorization, and access control.
• Programming Languages: Students taking this course will be introduced to the design and implementation of different programming languages. Java, C++, Scheme, and ML are discussed throughout this class.
• Database Concepts: This course introduces the principles, management, and implementations of database systems. Students taking this course will focus on developing skills in the design of databases for various purposes.

Potential Certifications

In addition to your degree program, you might find it helpful to invest in a certification program. A certification program can be an important additive to your educational experience. In the field of computer science, further education and continuous training should be considered in order to stay up to date with the changes in network structure and innovations within criminalistic cyber-attack groups. There are numerous reputable certification programs that can assist with building a reliable reputation among your peers.

• Microsoft MCSE: The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert Certification (MCSE) is a great option for your resume. Offering certification in specializations such as Data Management and Analytics and Productivity, Microsoft is an excellent choice for post-educational certification.
• Cisco CCNP Security: Another option for pursuit is Cisco’s Certified Network Professional Security certification. This program is highly preferred for those that choose to work in careers that work directly with networking devices, routers, or troubleshooting firewalls.
• Certified Ethical Hacker: If you really want to dig deep into the flaws and weaknesses of network systems, a certification as a certified ethical hacker may be a profitable option. This program is designed to assist companies with the detection of potential weak points that could compromise the security of network systems.
• CISSP: The Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification is a well-known certification program that can provide skills in engineering, implementation, and monitoring of information security programs. This certification can provide you with the skills necessary to become a vital asset to tech-reliant organizations.

Salary Information

When you are looking for a suitable college degree program, there are many things to consider. The degree that you choose will be the building block for the work that you do throughout your life, so it is important to choose a path that you are truly interested in and that can provide well for you throughout your career. Security engineering is a fascinating field that delivers the opportunity for constant learning and innovation.

It can be a challenging field that requires you to constantly seek answers to new and interesting questions regarding security. This field also provides professionals with the opportunity for growth and expertise concerning up to date security tactics and changes. Working as a security engineer may have many benefits overall, including financial stability. In the current day and age, most tech careers provide services that individuals and businesses cannot do without. The need for such professionals has made this field a great place for upcoming professionals that are looking for in demand career options that are worth the hard work and dedication required for college programs.

Earnings for security engineers can vary greatly, depending on an individual’s place of employment and the length of any experience. If this is the field you choose, you could be working in one of the more fascinating fields of computer science. On average, security engineers can earn around $69,040 per year (ONET; 2016).

Career Outlook

Computers, the internet, and network security are a huge part of society. Companies require these professionals to assist them with protecting the data of their business and the information of their customers. As the country progresses to an even more innovative realm consisting of a variety of technologically advanced programs and networks, it is probable that careers concerning the security of such programs may remain relevant. The estimated growth of positions such as this one are expected to be between 5 and 8% over the next decade (ONET; 2016).

The potential growth of this field considers components such as a more widespread use of computer technology as well as the changing reliance on the internet for everyday business. As you have probably already seen over the last few years, more services are becoming available via computers and the internet, making security an important piece of this overall change. As you move forward into your choice for a college degree program, you should definitely consider the benefits associated with pursuing a career in security engineer.

Conclusion

One aspect of the computer industry that is not overlooked is that of computer and network security. A company is only as good as its reliability, which is one reason why so many organizations trust security engineers to help them keep their computers up to date with the latest security technology. As you progress towards your career as a security engineer, you should be aware of the many employment opportunities that are available at the private, local, state, and government level.

Your expertise can assist you in pursuing careers that are valuable to business or even invaluable to government services. This career field may only gain importance as the country moves towards a more technologically advanced era, which should encourage you to look into fields such as this one as a means for lifetime success.