Network Security Engineers: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of network security engineers about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for network security engineers to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of network security engineers expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for network security engineers.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Network Security Engineers?

Do network security engineers need a degree? What kind of experience do network security engineers typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for network security engineers to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Network Security Engineers

A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of network security engineers. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 57% of positions. In 21% of job listings no education level was listed and in 14% of postings a master's degree was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Network Security Engineers

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for network security engineers. In 39% of job postings for Network Security Engineers, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 7-9 years of experience was sought in 14% of job postings for network security engineers.

What Kind of Degree Do Network Security Engineers Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for network security engineers, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 25 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective network security engineers, and in 2023 a total of 319,948 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective network security engineers.

Top Degree Programs for Network Security Engineers

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Network Security Engineers

What Skills Do Network Security Engineers Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by network security engineers to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for network security engineers, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Network Security Engineers
Based on 54,396 job postings

Based on 54,396 job postings related to network security engineers, cyber security was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 49% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for auditing, vulnerability, computer science, incident response and information systems were also highly sought.

As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for network security engineers, followed by communication, operations, information technology, leadership and research.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about network security engineers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for network security engineers.

What do network security engineers do?
How much do network security engineers make?

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