CyberSecurity Operation Engineer
A Cybersecurity Operation Engineer continuously monitors computer systems of an organization to detect the security and validity of its data. This individual implements safety measures to protect sensitive information and secures data and information of his/her organization/client from hackers. Engineers also shield networks and websites from cyber risks, including distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS), malware, adware, viruses, and other hack attacks.
They also assume responsibility as subject matter experts for cybersecurity within the organization. Engineers must be ready to work flexible hours. They must have solid written and verbal communication skills and should be able to work independently. Engineers need to have strong analytical and project management skills. They need to work in demanding environments and must act appropriately to foresee and pre-empt downtimes.
Job Description
Engineers apply and maintain security policies at the points of access to clients’ networks, such as the Internet, VPN, and connections of their business partners. They predict possible network security breaches and execute and document techniques for detecting violations of security policies. Engineers devise inventive solutions to foil the attempts of cybercriminals intent on stealing vital information. They fix complex issues by researching and analyzing.
Security Operation Engineers automate the evaluations of firewall records, besides formulating and documenting proper actions and communication channels on suspicion of breaches of network security. They also aid in devising, implementing, installing, managing, monitoring, and performing upgrading of various firewalls, such as Checkpoint, Juniper SRX, and Cisco ASA or PIX. Security engineers also resolve complex network issues. They apply software security patches to applications and operating systems.
Engineers implement security defense mechanisms for computer networks. They evaluate the security vulnerabilities of each computer system by making use of relevant resources. Engineers document how incidents were identified and detail all measures that were taken to resolve them. They devise and disseminate computer systems’ security policies, processes, criteria, and roadmaps based on the compliance needs and best practices of their organization.
Engineers work alongside vendors regarding network access and security requirements, are the main points of contact to coordinate and carry out network security, and help in security measures concerning the growth and execution of secure applications and systems of clients. Freelance Cybersecurity Operations Engineers extend support for VPN systems via firewall policies and access controls and through the monitoring of client firewall records. They collaborate with the information technology team to choose and install data encryption programs and firewalls. Engineers also train and guide non-technical personnel on the basics of computer systems and network security. They test existing security processes to ensure that the computer systems, software, and data have not been compromised in any manner.
Engineers review existing security practices periodically and partner with IT team to ensure business continuity. They give suggestions to fortify cybersecurity applications and technologies.
It is also their responsibility to evaluate existing and proposed network designs and to make suggestions as per the client’s requirements. Engineers also carry out regular audits of new and current implementations so that they are complying with the security standards of clients in areas, such as networks, computing resources, and applications, among others.
To have a sturdy cybersecurity infrastructure, organizations need to have in place network security, disaster recovery application security, information security, and operational security, among others.
Engineers need to pull out all the stops to ensure that their organization/clients are equipped with all of these. Each organization needs to carry out a risk assessment, spread security awareness among its employees, and a well thought out audit compliance plan to know how vulnerable it is to security threats. Engineers need to follow through each of these components for the sake of their organizations.
Future of Cybersecurity Operation Engineers
Job opportunities for Cybersecurity Operation Engineers are estimated to grow 28 percent in the ten-year period of 2016-2026, which is more than the average for all occupations, according to BLS (US Bureau of Labor Statistics). The demand will continue to be high because they would be required to come up with inventive solutions to foil the attempts of cybercriminals wanting to steal vital information and to prevent problems for networks.
Moreover, owing to cyber-attacks, many organizations and end users are incurring significant losses of money and resources. If misguided people get hold of classified military information, the whole world is in danger, so security engineers are needed universally.
Educational Qualifications and Other Requirements
Engineers should have a bachelor’s degree in network engineering, IT security or related disciplines along with certifications, such as CCNA or MCSE or other related ones.
They should have experience in developing software applications with languages, such as C, C++ or Python.
Salary
The average annual wage of Cybersecurity Operation Engineers in the United States is $90,961, according to Glassdoor.
Reach out to Field Engineer
To be hired as a freelance Cybersecurity Operation Engineer in the Telecom Freelance Marketplace, visit Fieldengineer.com a freelance telecom field service marketplace, which connects businesses seeking candidates with suitable skills. Registered here are more than 40,000 engineers from various telecom fields from 180 countries, allowing companies to hire engineers on a contingent or a project basis.
