Network engineering is a career path with a wealth of options and opportunities. After all, network engineering forms the foundation of both the Internet and Intranets. And most people spend their lives continually accessing those resources. So, it’s not an exaggeration to say that network engineering touches on every area of the modern world. However, the scope of network engineering can be difficult to understand when it comes to the finer points of the career path. For example, does network engineering include cybersecurity? And how can you integrate the answer with a robust education that’ll fully prepare you for a career in network engineering?
What Does a Network Engineer Do?
The first step to understanding the role of cybersecurity in a network engineer’s daily routine is to look into what that routine entails. What does a network engineer do on an average day? As previously noted, networking has become a fixture of the modern world. Most workplaces use computer networks. This can range from maintaining an internal internet connection to intranets, or even a server room full of powerful racked devices and industrial strength cooling.
Working in Teams
Network engineers and various support specialists will typically have one central focus within that larger system. For example, one or more people will act as a liaison to the larger office environment. They’ll help coworkers with technical issues and investigate any issues within the larger network. Network engineers work with an overall IT team to keep computers and networks safe, security and running at top efficiency.
Manage Implementations & Existing Infrastructure
Next, a network engineer and support specialists will take part in design decisions and implementations. To go back to an earlier point, consider an office environment ready to transition from a small intranet to the use of a full server room. A network engineer would help create the initial design for the new environment. And they will play an active role in both deploying that new tech and educating coworkers on what it means for their day-to-day responsibilities. This also includes interfacing coworkers’ systems with the new network and installing any needed software on their workstations.
Finally, a network engineer will maintain existing systems. This is a far broader subject than it might seem at first. Networks are a dynamic combination of software, hardware, and activity from both humans and automated systems. Network engineers need to monitor the many components and address issues as needed. This takes proactive planning to avoid problems and active problem-solving when issues do arise. And, as you’ll soon see, cybersecurity is one part of this maintenance paradigm.
Does Network Engineering Include Cybersecurity?
Network engineers will use cybersecurity techniques within any given position. For example, someone working in a department with no external internet access will have much less need for active cybersecurity precautions than someone working in a server farm with hundreds of thousands of active external connections.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the use of technologies, processes, and controls to protect a computer or network from malicious attacks. For network engineers, cybersecurity focuses on protecting the integrity of networks and data.
What are Cybersecurity Tools?
A network engineer has some cybersecurity tools to thwart cyber criminals. Some of these cybersecurity tools include:
Firewalls
A firewall monitors and filters traffic from one network to another. It either allows or blocks traffic based on a set of security rules.
Antivirus Software
Antivirus software is a set of programs that prevent, search for, detect and quarantine software viruses, worms, trojans, and adware. This software scans files, allows network engineers to schedule scans periodically, remove any malicious code detected, block harmful websites, report on the health of the computer.
Virus – a malicious software that spreads between computers and causes damage to data and software.
Trojans – a type of malware that downloads onto a computer in disguise in an effort to gain a computer’s access.
Worms – a subset of trojan horse that can self-replicate from one computer to another without user activation. A worm can spread across a network through the Internet or LAN connection.
Adware – malware that hides on a computer to serve advertisements plus monitor a user’s behavior online to target them with specific ads.
PKI Services
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a combination of software, encryption technologies and services that protect the security of communications and business transactions on networks, according to the U.S. General Services Administration. Using both private keys and public cryptographic keys, PKI allows for better data confidentiality, data integrity and no-repudiation.
MDR Services
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services provide a network with threat hunting services and a response to those threats with proper research and analysis.
Penetration Testing
A network engineer may participate in a simulated cyber attack to identify vulnerabilities that a malicious actor may use to exploit the network. This authorized simulated attack evaluates the networks security protocols. A network engineer will use the same tools and resources a malicious hacker may use to identify exploitable vulnerabilities.
Password Auditing
Passwords are a main entry point for hackers to compromise networks. Proper protocol will create passwords that are hard to remember, including numbers, upper-and lower-case letters and special characters. The longer the password the harder it will be to comprise. Most password protocols recommend at least one number, at least one upper case letter and a special character, with the password being up to eight characters long.
SQL Injection Tools
A Structured Query Language (SQL) inject tool that helps facilitate an SQL injection attack. This is an attempt to issue SQL commands to a database within a website interface. This SQL attack is used to gain access to stored database information, including usernames and passwords.
How Do I Become a Network Engineer?
At this point, you’re probably wondering what the best way to learn such a large collection of technical subjects. Enrolling in a technical school’s network engineer program is an easier way to prepare yourself for a career in network engineering. The program puts special emphasis on the use network engineering in real-world scenarios. You don’t just learn about networking. You learn how to actively leverage your newly acquired networking skills to tackle the complex problems found in enterprise-level settings.
Want to Learn More?
Ready to learn more about becoming a network engineer? The Network Engineer Program at CyberTex prepares you for advanced computer networking jobs. CyberTex is a CompTIA authorized academy and offers IT training for 10+ certifications in the Network Engineer program, including Microsoft Azure, AWS, Cyebersecurity and other CompTIA and Microsoft certifications. Contact us today to learn more.