As per LinkedIn, there are 20,000+ vacancies for Network Engineers in the United States while in India, there are 2,000+ job opportunities for them.
As per the job statistics mentioned above, you must have realized that Network Security is among the most sought-after career domains across the globe. Due to the numerous certification options available, it becomes a challenge to choose the one that caters to your requirements. Here, we will discuss some of the most popular Computer Network Security certifications in detail so that it becomes easier for you to decide the one best suited for you based on your skills and aspirations.
In this blog, we will try to shine a spotlight on the following topics:
Check out the Cyber Security Course to learn its concepts from experts:
Let’s start by learning about this security field.
What is Network Security?
Network Security can be defined as the numerous standards and policies that are necessary in order to take measures to protect the company’s network infrastructure from all kinds of malicious activities, trespassing, exploitation, illegal access, destruction, unauthorized extraction, and loss of data, etc. To do so, professionals need to work with security software, hardware systems, and more.
By now, you might be wondering ‘What is the need for Network Security?’ Let’s try to answer this question.
Why is Network Security important?
On a daily basis, we make use of the internet for various actions, such as communicating with people, purchasing items from e-commerce websites, performing various financial transactions, etc. A lot of our data is stored online, like health history, bank account details, birth dates, credit card information, purchase history, address, and more.
This data can be used by hackers and attackers to exploit our systems. The more we use the internet for our necessities, the higher the chance of this data getting compromised. Hence, this is why it is important to secure networks.
Other than this, there are numerous reasons why it plays a vital role in organizations. Let’s learn the importance of Network Security:
- It keeps both the business and the client data protected
- It improves the performance of the network
- It protects the network from all types of attacks and malicious activities
Types of Network Security
There is a plethora of tools, techniques, and methods available in this Cyber Security sector. Listed below are the 4 major categories in which this sector can be divided into:
Network Access Control (NAC)
The NAC allows professionals to control who can access the respective network and who can not. It assists in identifying devices, systems, and users, to figure out if any unauthorized person has been trying to hack into the network. Hence, it enables you to enforce various security measures to block unauthorized access and control the network.
Application Security
It helps in providing protection to the applications. This helps to make sure that hackers do not attack applications that are flawed or have vulnerabilities. It helps to secure the network from various threats and attacks that aim to hack the applications.
Antivirus and Antimalware Software
It is extremely important that you use antimalware and antivirus software to secure the company’s network from Trojans, viruses, phishing, spyware, and other types of malware activities. Malware has the power to not just stay limited to the network and destroy it, but also cause attacks that will lead to the malfunction of the systems. This software helps in detecting such threats and malware by scanning the network to search for them.
Wireless Security
Wireless security is another significant way of securing networks. Nowadays, most businesses are either conducted online or through the medium of the cloud which opens wireless networks to different types of threats and cyber-attacks. This is the main reason why it is important to have high-level wireless security.
Now, it is time to read about the various job opportunities available for professionals in this domain.
Network Security Engineer Jobs
There are numerous job opportunities available for professionals in this Cyber Security sector. Let us check out the various jobs that you can apply for as a certified security expert in networking:
- Network Security Engineer
- Network Security Architect
- Network Administrator
- System Administrator
- Cyber Security Engineer
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Certified Ethical Hacker
Let us check out some of the job descriptions posted by recruiters for these professionals.
Job Description
Network Security Architect Job Description:
Source: LinkedIn
System Administrator Job Description:
Source: LinkedIn
Further, you will read about the various skills that will make you an expert in this domain and land a lucrative job.
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Network Security Skill Set
You need to acquire the following skills to build a career in this field:
- Experience in troubleshooting system hardware
- Skills to configure, manage, and maintain various tools in networking
- Ability to install, configure, and administer numerous network technologies
- Knowledge of centralized and distributed connections of the network
Further, you will learn about the range of salaries earned by these professionals.
Network Security Engineer Salary
Listed below are the salaries earned by professionals in this field, as per the salaries posted on Indeed and PayScale, based on their different job roles and positions in organizations in the US and in India.
Salary in the US
- Network Security Engineer: US$112,859/year
- Network Security Architect: US$122,454/year
- Network Administrator: US$69,731/year
- System Administrator: US$78,566/year
- Cyber Security Engineer: US$96,947/year
- Cyber Security Analyst: US$76,603/year
- Certified Ethical Hacker: US$93,536/year
Salary in India
- Network Security Engineer: ₹602,784/year
- Network Security Architect: ₹1,924,137/year
- Network Administrator: ₹356,741/year
- System Administrator: ₹405,664/year
- Cyber Security Engineer: ₹608,750/year
- Cyber Security Analyst: ₹529,199/year
- Certified Ethical Hacker: ₹502,789/year
Based on the type of job role you wish to go for, you must sign up for and clear the respective certification exam to gain an edge over your competitors and find your dream job. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular certifications that you can take up.
Best Network Security Certifications
The certifications listed further will not only give you the required knowledge and skills for the various job positions, but they will also validate your skills and help recruiters to understand that you meet their requirements for that particular job.
Let’s dive in.
1. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
This is among the most sought-after Cyber Security certifications. These professionals are also referred to as ‘White Hat Hackers’. The main job role of professionals in this security profession is to hack into systems legally to explore vulnerabilities. Companies hired these certified professionals to identify system weaknesses and come up with methods that can fix them.
2. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Since most companies are transferring their data to the cloud, if they haven’t already, this certification has gained immense popularity over the last few years. This certification aims to validate skills in areas like cloud security design, architecture, service orchestrations, etc., for Information Security and other similar IT professionals.
This certification is especially for Information Security professionals with experience in audit control, security, and assurance. Moreover, it aims to validate your skills in controlling and governing the company’s IT infrastructure and performing efficient security audits.
This CISSP certification is designed for experienced professionals in IT security who wish to move ahead in their career and whose past experience and responsibility includes developing and managing the security standards, policies, and procedures of the organization.
5. CompTIA Security+
The CompTIA Security+ certification tests your knowledge and understanding of security systems, cryptography, identity management, risk identification, network access control, mitigation, threat management, and other similar areas of security. It is mainly popular among entry-level IT Security professionals.
6. CompTIA Network+
This is among the most relevant certifications for Network Administrators and individuals who wish to become Network Administrators. It aims to certify your skills and knowledge in the field of networking, including management, configuration, security, and troubleshooting of both wired and wireless networks.
Get a Head Start in Your Career
In this blog, you have learned in detail about Network Security, its importance in organizations, its various types, jobs available in this field along with some of their job descriptions posted by recruiters, etc. Further, you read in detail about the skills required to get into this profession, the salaries earned by experts in this domain as per the jobs roles, and the various certifications that you can opt for depending on the career path you wish to choose.
Without wasting any time, sign up for the course best suited for you, gain the necessary skills and experience, achieve the respective certification, and land a high-income job in one of the top organizations in the world.