Is cyber security engineering hard?

Yes, being in cyber security engineering is a hard job. Even though a job in cyber security can be highly rewarding and satisfying, it can also be very challenging and stressful. A cyber security engineer is a hard job because they are responsible for keeping an organization's sensitive and proprietary information secure. This can be a highly stressful role that requires a significant amount of knowledge and proactive thinking.

What is a cyber security engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted expert

Professor David Sanford

A cyber security engineer protects computer systems and networks from unauthorized access or security breaches. They ensure the safety of sensitive data with techniques such as firewalls, encryption, and intrusion detection systems. Cyber security engineers also assess potential vulnerabilities and implement risk mitigation measures. They work with IT professionals and management to develop policies, respond to incidents, and stay up-to-date on threats and technologies. They use technical skills, analytical thinking, and attention to detail.

What general advice would you give to a Cyber Security Engineer?

Professor David Sanford

Associate Professor an Department Chair (MIS, CS, CYB MGT, IS CYB), Northwood University

Workers like that they are challenged to solve problems and lead technological innovations.
They appreciate the diversity of projects
They enjoy the need for continuous improvement and education
Many see the global impact of their work.
They also desire and appreciate the need for versatile skills
A competitive salary is also an item that employees like

Workers dislike that the work can be stressful
Dealing with tight deadlines and/ or cybersecurity concerns.
This is a positive and a negative: The need to constantly stay up to date with technology can be a bit overwhelming for some.
There may be times of isolation, and
The unexpected system failures can be frustrating as they often require extra hours or the need to be on-call.
The multiple responsibilities and managing repetitive tasks are also issues workers point out in this field.

In short, the workplace offers exciting opportunities but comes with its fair share of pressures and challenges. Different people have different experiences based on their roles and personal preferences.

ScoreCyber Security EngineerUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $99,492

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.5

Growth rate 32%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 9.64%

Black or African American 9.15%

Hispanic or Latino 8.99%

Unknown 6.09%

White 65.70%

Gender

female 16.21%

male 83.79%

Age - 42

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42

Stress level

6.5

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a cyber security engineer?

Pros

High demand for cyber security professionals
Competitive salary and benefits
Ability to work remotely or in a variety of industries
Job security due to increasing importance of cyber security
Opportunity for career advancement and specialization

Cons

Long hours and on-call availability, especially during emergencies
Risk of burnout due to high pressure and workload
Need for extensive background checks and security clearance
Some tasks can be repetitive or tedious
Ethical concerns regarding access to personal data and privacy

Key steps to become a cyber security engineer

Explore cyber security engineer education requirements

Most common cyber security engineer degrees

Bachelor's

60.2 %

Associate

19.9 %

Master's

15.8 %

Start to develop specific cyber security engineer skills

Skills	Percentages
Cyber Security	17.27%
Python	4.90%
Linux	4.25%
Architecture	4.25%
NIST	3.92%

Complete relevant cyber security engineer training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New cyber security engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a cyber security engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real cyber security engineer resumes.

Gain additional cyber security engineer certifications

Cyber security engineer certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific cyber security engineer certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for cyber security engineers include Certified Information Systems Security Professional - Architecture (CISSP) and Security 5 Certification.

More About Certifications

Research cyber security engineer duties and responsibilities

Facilitate and manage weekly meetings between CyberCom, DISA and all OSD components.
Manage security patching life cycle and approve change control requests, firewall rules and DLP policies.
Manage, configure, and maintain all servers within the environments, including Cisco network routers, switches, and firewalls.
Lead security authorization efforts to obtain and maintain an authorization to operate (ATO) for customers' core financial system.

Get cyber security engineer experience

Generally, it takes 4-6 years to become a cyber security engineer. The most common roles before becoming a cyber security engineer include systems administrator, systems engineer team lead and network engineer.

Prepare your cyber security engineer resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your cyber security engineer resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a cyber security engineer resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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