How To Become A Cybersecurity Engineer in NYC: Salary, Required Education, And Career Outlook?

According to Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime will cost the globe $10.5 trillion per year by 2025. Given the high stakes, firms are looking for cybersecurity specialists to help secure their data and reduce cybercrime damages.

Aside from the numerous entry-level and intermediate cybersecurity roles available, the position of cybersecurity engineer is towards the top of the professional ladder. This employment necessitates sophisticated expertise and pays well.

 This page discusses how to become a cybersecurity engineer, the day-to-day tasks of these experts, and career information for cybersecurity engineers.

What is the job of a Cybersecurity Engineer?

A cybersecurity engineer is one of the most sophisticated cybersecurity occupations. This position is also known as an information security engineer or a network security engineer. Cybersecurity engineers are concerned with data protection and preventing interruptions caused by digital intrusions.

 The basic tasks of cybersecurity engineers include creating, implementing, monitoring, and improving security solutions. These engineers respond to security breaches, test and detect system vulnerabilities, and create reports for individuals in management roles as part of the output or cybersecurity teams.

What do Cyber Security Engineers do?

A competent Cyber Security Engineer’s major responsibility is to identify and prevent threats. They must use a variety of techniques and technologies to repair and address system vulnerabilities. They must also establish firewalls for the firm and incorporate systems for breach detection. 

As a Cyber Security Engineer at your firm, you will be responsible for the following duties:

•   Assess the company’s security requirements and put in place appropriate security measures.
•   Design, integrate, monitor, and upgrade any security measures that will aid in the protection of the organization’s systems, data, infrastructure, and networks Respond to network and security breaches
•   Investigate security and network issues
•   Conduct frequent scans and penetration testing to identify system vulnerabilities.
•   Before we get into the specifics of how you may become a Cyber Security Engineer, let’s go through the qualifications you’ll need to satisfy.

 Cybersecurity Engineer Salary and Job Outlook

Cybersecurity engineers are compensated quite well. According to Payscale, these engineers earn an average base cybersecurity salary of roughly $99,000. Their pay will most likely rise as they gain expertise and obtain certificates.

 In terms of career prospects, there is a severe labor shortage in the cybersecurity industry.

•   Cyberseek, a partnership between the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, CompTIA, and Lightcast, analyzes cybersecurity employment market data. According to Cyberseek, there will be over 700,000 employment vacancies for cybersecurity specialists between May 2021 and April 2022.
•   On average, cybersecurity occupations take 21% longer to fill than other types of employment. This indicates a significant talent shortage in a cybersecurity job. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 35% increase in job opportunities for information security analysts between 2021 and 2031. This indicates that similar cybersecurity professionals will continue to be in high demand..

 Let’s start with the salary of these Cyber Security specialists in the nations where they work.

 Salary of a Cyber Security Engineer in the United States

A qualified Cyber Security Engineer’s annual salary in the United States is US$96,980, with experience up to US$142,000.

 Salary of a Cyber Security Engineer in India

Cyber Security Engineers make an average yearly income of 608,218 in India. It may be increased to 2,000,000 with sufficient knowledge and talent.

Cyber Security Engineer Salary in the United Kingdom

Cyber Security Engineers in the United Kingdom make an annual income of £39,047. For people with extensive expertise, this figure might rise to £82,000 per year.

Salary of a Cyber Security Engineer in Australia

A Cyber Security Engineer’s annual salary in Australia is roughly AU$92,829, with an increase to AU$178,000 for the correct skill set.

 It is obvious that in order to work as a Cyber Security Engineer at a reputable firm and earn good pay, you must have the relevant knowledge and abilities. Aside from that, you must obtain one or more domain certifications to confirm your talents and add value to your CV. Let’s have a look at the certifications available to help you thrive in the Cyber Security field[1].

How to Get a Job as a Cybersecurity Engineer?

Cybersecurity engineers hold advanced positions that need a strong foundation of computer science knowledge and abilities. These abilities can be acquired through standard degree programs, self-study, or boot camps.

 Keep in mind that being a cybersecurity engineer would most likely need years of education and experience. Earning a certification might also be beneficial.

1- Obtain a Degree

If you’re wondering how to go into cybersecurity, keep in mind that it’s a highly technical sector that requires knowledge of computer networks, coding and programming, and encryption, among other things. A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or computer science can provide you with a strong foundation in these fields. Electrical engineering and math are two related subjects that might give beneficial abilities.

 A degree is not usually essential for a job as a cybersecurity engineer, but it is a good alternative. According to a poll conducted by (ISC)2, an international nonprofit information security organization, 81% of contemporary cybersecurity workers hold a bachelor’s degree or above. 51 percent of cybersecurity workers have a computer science degree.

 A cybersecurity Bootcamp can also give a decent education for people who do not wish to attend college. Completing a cybersecurity Bootcamp will provide you with the abilities needed to operate in an entry-level career in the sector. Bootcamp alumni may also pursue certificates to supplement their knowledge.

2- Acquire Experience

A position as a cybersecurity engineer is unlikely to be your first employment. To begin, look for entry-level cybersecurity employment to help you get experience and develop your abilities.

 Consider professions such as cybersecurity specialist, cybercrime analyst, and incident and intrusion analyst. Cybersecurity analyst, consultant, and penetration tester are examples of more intermediate roles.

Alternatively, you might begin your career in information technology (IT) before moving on to cybersecurity. Software developer, network or systems administrator, and IT auditor are all related jobs. According to the (ISC)2 poll, more than half of respondents began their careers in IT before making the switch.

3- Acquire Certification

Because of the complex nature of this engineering work, cybersecurity credentials might help you stand out as a contender for open positions. Consider acquiring one or more of the following certifications as you move toward an engineering position.

 Entry-level cybersecurity certifications such as CompTIA’s Security+ and Network+ can help you qualify for a job as a cybersecurity engineer. If you want to work for the US Department of Defense, these certificates can help you get there.

ISACA’s Certified Information Systems Auditor and Certified Information Systems Manager certifications are suitable for intermediate cybersecurity professionals. Furthermore, Global Information Assurance Certification, an organization that manages information security certifications, provides credentials that assess particular knowledge and skill areas.

 The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is the gold standard in the cybersecurity business, certifying you as an exceptional cybersecurity specialist. This qualification necessitates at least four years of paid employment as well as the approval of a current CISSP holder.

4- Qualifications for a Cyber Security Engineer

•   Ethical Hacking: While it is not essential for you to be an Ethical Hacker, you must have a basic understanding of Ethical Hacking in order to develop systems that can support it.
•   Operating system and database platform knowledge: You must have hands-on experience working with a variety of operating systems, including Windows, Linux, UNIX, and others, as well as database platforms such as MS SQL and MySQL.
•   Understanding of network architecture: As a Cyber Security Engineer, you ought to be familiar with large networks (WANs) and local area networks (LANs) in order to design and build various stages while protecting them from any assaults.
•   Computer forensics expertise: Computer forensics is the method of investigating cybercrime. You must be able to recognize and deal with digital data in line with the law

5- Job Applications

It is time to apply for jobs after you have obtained the necessary education and certifications. With over 700,000 open positions in the field, you should be able to find a cybersecurity engineering role that interests you. Palo Alto Networks, Datadog, and CrowdStrike are all good places to start[2].

6- Careers as a Cyber Security Engineer

As a skilled Cyber Security Engineer, you may apply for a variety of career positions that demand a comparable set of abilities. Some of the job opportunities available to you are as follows:

•   Analyst for Cybersecurity
•   Senior Cyber Security Engineer
•   Network Security Engineer
•   Information Security Engineer
•   Cyber Security Engineer
•   Threat Analyst

Frequently Asked Questions

1- What should I study in order to become a cybersecurity engineer?

Actual computer hardware and software expertise is required, as well as firewall intrusion and detection concepts, computer languages such as Python and C++, identity management principles, encryption, and vulnerability testing.

2- What is the average time it takes to become a cybersecurity engineer?

There is a significant need for cybersecurity expertise, and the time it takes to become a cybersecurity engineer varies. Before securing a cybersecurity engineering career, expect to spend many years finishing education and gaining field experience.

3- Is becoming a cybersecurity engineer difficult?

It takes hard effort and determination to become a cybersecurity engineer, but it is possible. According to (ISC)2, 26% of cybersecurity professionals surveyed began their careers in another field. 8% investigated cybersecurity concepts on their own and were hired to work in the field. 

References 

[1] Written by Brandon Galarita for Forbes Advisor, 2022[https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/how-to-become-a-cybersecurity-engineer%3A-salary-required-education-and-career-outlook]

[2] How to become a Cyber Security Engineer? By Intellipat 2022[https://intellipaat.com/blog/how-to-become-cyber-security-engineer/]