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Senior security engineer vs information security manager

The differences between senior security engineers and information security managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a senior security engineer and an information security manager. Additionally, an information security manager has an average salary of $126,447, which is higher than the $122,480 average annual salary of a senior security engineer.

The top three skills for a senior security engineer include cloud security, java and linux. The most important skills for an information security manager are risk management, NIST, and infrastructure.

Senior security engineer vs information security manager overview

Senior Security EngineerInformation Security Manager
Yearly salary$122,480$126,447
Hourly rate$58.88$60.79
Growth rate32%32%
Number of jobs69,850115,414
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age4242
Years of experience66

What does a senior security engineer do?

A senior security engineer is responsible for maintaining the safety and security of the organization's systems and network database to prevent unauthorized access and avoid data breaches. Senior security engineers inspect the efficiency of networks, perform system configuration, and increase the optimal performance of complex systems. They also implement policies and procedures for compliance with the proper utilization of information directories. They also conduct regular maintenance of networks, create update reports, and resolve glitches and security threats.

What does an information security manager do?

An information security manager is primarily in charge of overseeing the security systems established to protect a company's data from hackers or cyber-attacks. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring networks for any security breaches, designing and developing new security systems, and improving existing ones when necessary. They may also perform research and analysis to determine company needs, provide instructional materials, and produce progress reports. Furthermore, as an information security manager, it is essential to provide technical support to employees, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

Senior security engineer vs information security manager salary

Senior security engineers and information security managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Security EngineerInformation Security Manager
Average salary$122,480$126,447
Salary rangeBetween $90,000 And $164,000Between $91,000 And $175,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Francisco, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyRokueBay
Best paying industryManufacturingMedia

Differences between senior security engineer and information security manager education

There are a few differences between a senior security engineer and an information security manager in terms of educational background:

Senior Security EngineerInformation Security Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 63%Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common majorComputer ScienceBusiness
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyStanford University

Senior security engineer vs information security manager demographics

Here are the differences between senior security engineers' and information security managers' demographics:

Senior Security EngineerInformation Security Manager
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 91.2% Female, 8.8%Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between senior security engineer and information security manager duties and responsibilities

Senior security engineer example responsibilities.

  • Manage logistics of moving necessary equipment for test across country to newly designed/built NSA certify test facility.
  • Assess cloud providers and products to meet NIST 800-53 for accreditation of applications operating in the cloud.
  • Involve in migrating JBOSS /Fat java applications to RHEL6 upgrade.
  • Conduct vulnerability scans using NESSUS to scan the CMS QIO network infrastructure.
  • Install and maintain security infrastructure, including IPS/IDS, log management, and SIEM systems.
  • Design and implement a plan to upgrade the ACAS infrastructure to include MDA's remote sites.
  • Show more

Information security manager example responsibilities.

  • Develop goals and strategies to achieve company goals while improving upon current ITIL processes and procedures.
  • Provide direct leadership with managing corporate HIPAA Privacy/Security compliance initiatives.
  • Manage the administration of various encryption, authentication and public/private key management technologies and certificate/digital authority.
  • Manage the conversion to a hybrid NAS/disk/tape CommVault base backup environment resulting in decreasing backup windows and improving recovery objectives.
  • Conduct risk assessments and collaborate with leadership to provide recommendations regarding critical infrastructure and network security operations enhancements.
  • Coordinate penetration testing, address vulnerabilities, and analyze NIST 800-82 and ISO 27001 standards/gap analysis for SCADA and business networks.
  • Show more

Senior security engineer vs information security manager skills

Common senior security engineer skills
  • Cloud Security, 8%
  • Java, 8%
  • Linux, 5%
  • Windows, 5%
  • Incident Response, 4%
  • Security Engineering, 4%
Common information security manager skills
  • Risk Management, 7%
  • NIST, 7%
  • Infrastructure, 5%
  • Governance, 5%
  • Incident Response, 5%
  • Risk Assessments, 5%

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