What does a cyber security engineer do?
A cyber security engineer specializes in designing and establishing security measures to protect a company's network and data from hackers or cyber attacks. Their responsibilities primarily revolve around planning and implementing cyber security systems, responding to any problems or concerns, handling security breaches and emergencies, and troubleshooting to identify any issues or vulnerabilities. Moreover, a cyber security engineer may perform clerical tasks such as producing progress reports and documentation, creating instructional materials for systems, managing schedules, and coordinating with department managers, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.
Cyber security engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real cyber security engineer resumes:
- 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.
- Manage efforts to consolidate customer VPN infrastructure.
- Lead numerous DLP upgrades and process improvements and successfully implement application security program.
- Assist the lead in multiple windows security architecture projects, overseeing the windows security staff, engineers, analysts.
- Deploy PGP and Microsoft BitLocker encryption to the enterprise.
- Perform scans and manual reviews using Nessus & Qualys.
- Perform annual reviews of documentation to meet FISMA requirements.
- Secure configuration, hardening and evaluation of systems to NIST 800-53 standards.
- Research and analysis are done for senior management in picking the right SIEM.
- Monitor daily network traffic, SIEM logs, optimizing and prioritizing the existing bandwidth.
- Optimize NetWitness and Splunk for environment and write custom rules base on analyst needs.
- Provide weekly and monthly IAVA compliance reports to the JTF capm CIO and IAM.
Cyber security engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Cyber Security Engineers are proficient in Cyber Security, Python, and Linux. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Detail oriented, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Cyber Security Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cyber Security, 17%
Performed with Corporate Nuclear Security in procedures writings, in support of plant operations and Cyber Security technical decisions.
- Python, 5%
Authored several network reconnaissance/security tools in python.
- Linux, 4%
Research and Development of a new product using my knowledge of information security, IP protocols, and Linux.
- Architecture, 4%
Recommend technological and architectural upgrades/modifications to FAA's Information Systems Security architecture based on analysis performed in RedSeal.
- NIST, 4%
Retrieve results of these Verification Reports and if necessary, initiate corrective action to adhere to NIST & POAM compliance.
- Incident Response, 4%
Write, edit and maintain Contingency/Incident Response, Information Security, Configuration Management, and Security Testing plans.
"cyber security," "python," and "linux" are among the most common skills that cyber security engineers use at work. You can find even more cyber security engineer responsibilities below, including:
Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a cyber security engineer to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role because "information security analysts must carefully study computer systems and networks and assess risks to determine how security policies and protocols can be improved." Additionally, a cyber security engineer resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "run static source code scans against .net and java projects to generate analysis reports using hp fortify. "
Detail oriented. Another essential skill to perform cyber security engineer duties is detail oriented. Cyber security engineers responsibilities require that "because cyberattacks can be difficult to detect, information security analysts must pay careful attention to computer systems and watch for minor changes in performance." Cyber security engineers also use detail oriented in their role according to a real resume snippet: "validated and tested security architecture and design solutions to produce detailed engineering specifications. "
Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of cyber security engineers is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday cyber security engineer duties, as "information security analysts must respond to security alerts and uncover and fix flaws in computer systems and networks." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "designed implementation for multiple raytheon linux based high speed guards (rhsg) for use in cross domain solutions. "
The three companies that hire the most cyber security engineers are:
- Capital One561 cyber security engineers jobs
- Recro Pharma Inc.
83 cyber security engineers jobs
- KPMG LLP83 cyber security engineers jobs
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Compare different cyber security engineers
Cyber security engineer vs. Securities analyst
Securities analysts, also known as financial analysts, are responsible for collecting and interpreting data on securities, economies, corporate strategies, and financial markets. They provide clients with recommendations on investments based on in-depth research. This role has various duties and responsibilities that include putting out a buy, sell or hold recommendation in the financial markets, assessing the value and financial stability of companies, and meeting with company representatives to better understand their business practices. Securities analysts are also responsible for devising financial models.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, cyber security engineer responsibilities require skills like "cyber security," "python," "architecture," and "rmf." Meanwhile a typical securities analyst has skills in areas such as "windows," "security issues," "database," and "security events." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Securities analysts tend to make the most money working in the finance industry, where they earn an average salary of $95,246. In contrast, cyber security engineers make the biggest average salary, $94,428, in the technology industry.securities analysts tend to reach similar levels of education than cyber security engineers. In fact, securities analysts are 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Cyber security engineer vs. Securities consultant
A securities consultant is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the company's premises, including enforcing protection for all the employees and company assets. Securities consultants also handle the confidentiality and stability of data network systems to prevent potential breaches and unauthorized access to information. They coordinate with the system analysts to design programs and databases as part of technical solutions to maximize productivity and increase efficiency. A securities consultant writes incident reports, recommend strategic techniques, and research threat risks that may put the company in jeopardy.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that cyber security engineer responsibilities requires skills like "cyber security," "python," "rmf," and "security tools." But a securities consultant might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "iso," "security management," "security issues," and "customer service."
Securities consultants may earn a lower salary than cyber security engineers, but securities consultants earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $99,249. On the other hand, cyber security engineers receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $94,428.In general, securities consultants achieve similar levels of education than cyber security engineers. They're 4.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cyber security engineer vs. Information security analyst
An information security analyst is an individual who is responsible for carrying out security measures to protect the computer network and systems of an organization. Information security analysts erect firewalls and encrypt data transmissions to protect the organization's data from being inappropriately accessed or used. They must be aware of reports on computer viruses and should share this information with the management or customer. Information security analysts are also required to conduct training for all the organization's employees regarding computer security and information safeguarding.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, cyber security engineers are more likely to have skills like "cyber security," "python," "architecture," and "nist." But a information security analyst is more likely to have skills like "windows," "pci," "hipaa," and "corrective action."
Information security analysts make a very good living in the professional industry with an average annual salary of $119,898. On the other hand, cyber security engineers are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $94,428.Most information security analysts achieve a similar degree level compared to cyber security engineers. For example, they're 3.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Cyber security engineer vs. Information technology security manager
An information technology security manager is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the organization's network systems to prevent unauthorized access and illegal dissemination of information from the database. Information technology security managers resolve technical issues, configure network updates, and upgrade system infrastructures to enhance optimal performance and navigation. They also install applications, inspect security breaches, and fix faulty servers to avoid system downtimes and operational delays. An information technology security manager must have excellent technical and communication skills, especially in writing reports for system findings and design networks according to business requirements.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between cyber security engineers and information technology security managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a cyber security engineer might have more use for skills like "cyber security," "python," "architecture," and "rmf." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of information technology security managers require skills like "risk management," "project management," "iso," and "hipaa. "
Information technology security managers enjoy the best pay in the hospitality industry, with an average salary of $127,504. For comparison, cyber security engineers earn the highest salary in the technology industry.information technology security managers reach similar levels of education compared to cyber security engineers, in general. The difference is that they're 2.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of cyber security engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
