Career Compass

What Does a Cybersecurity Engineer Do?

Cybersecurity engineers protect your organization from serious cyber threats and attacks.

“Individuals with strong communication skills, a penchant for teamwork and a natural curiosity are prime candidates to join the ranks of the nation’s cybersecurity workforce,” according to CompTIA, the world’s leading technology association.

Across the United States, there were more than 300,000 job openings for cybersecurity workers in 2018, according to CyberSeek, a free cybersecurity career and workforce resource supported by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, a program of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.What do cyber security engineers do?

In 2018, US employers posted more than 103,000 job openings for cybersecurity technicians and analysts, a 30 percent increase over the same period in 2017.

There were more than 300,000 job openings for cybersecurity in 2018.

These statistics promise excellent job opportunities and salary gains for graduates of Houston Christian University with a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Engineering.

Worldwide, there’s a need for 2 million cybersecurity professionals, given that every small, medium and large business is dealing with cybersecurity issues. HCU graduates with a Cyber Engineering degree will be prepared to fill high-demand cyber engineering and cybersecurity jobs in energy, healthcare, marine transportation and other industries. Any company involved in critical infrastructure needs at least some cyber engineers who understand both the operational technology and the information technology relevant to that organization.

The Cyber Engineering Program at Houston Christian University is a four-year undergraduate degree that prepares students for future careers in the cyberspace domain. HCU students in the College of Engineering study Cyber Engineering, along with courses in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

Cyber engineers incorporate electrical engineering and computer science to understand cyberspace and use skills developed in digital forensics, security policy and network defense to perform cybersecurity tasks, as well as work on engineering hardware and software. Cyber engineers design secure systems at the interface of operational technology (sensors and things that move) and information technology (the digital world).

Cybersecurity technicians are responsible for protecting networks and systems against threats from adversaries in cyberspace. – Cybrary

What Does a Cybersecurity Engineer Do?

A cybersecurity technician, Cybrary says, is responsible for protecting the networks and systems of an organization against threats from adversaries in cyberspace. The functions of a cybersecurity engineer include:

  • Performing assessments and penetration testing
  • Development and implementation of secure network solutions
  • Architecting and engineering trusted systems into secure systems
  • Managing audit/intrusion and security technology systems

A cybersecurity professional must be able to troubleshoot, identify unauthorized access, and offer solutions regarding an organization’s system and network as it relates to cybersecurity. Cybersecurity workers, says Cybrary, “perform the very detailed work at the forefront of information protection efforts for the organization. It is your training, skills, experience, and education that stand between the organization for which you work and threats and breaches, like unauthorized access to data and information or intrusion into your organization’s systems.”

A cybersecurity technician may also be known as IT security engineer because they provide security services for applications, web, and data. “Whatever the title, you will also be responsible for collaborating with other departments to establish security protocols and protect IT systems,” says Cybrary.

What Qualifications Does a Cybersecurity Engineer Need?

According to Cybrary, which advances online learning in the field of cybersecurity, employers typically look for cybersecurity candidates to have at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or another related field of study, and who have the following skills and abilities taught in HCU’s cybersecurity program:

  • Understanding of cybersecurity methodologies
  • The ability to evaluate system changes for security implications and the knowledge to make recommendations for improvements
  • Knowledge of current cybersecurity trends, as well as the continued research of emerging trends and hacking techniques
  • Proficiency in Java, Python Net, C++, bash, and power shell
  • Networking experience with the TCP/IP stack (may not be a requirement, but is often preferred)
  • Solid understanding of the OSI model and renowned ports and services (may not be a requirement, but is often preferred)
  • The ability to work well with others, including collaboration and communication with other departments
  • The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and to work under pressure
  • Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills