Network Security

The field of network security is a very dynamic, and highly technical field dealing with all aspects of scanning, hacking and securing systems against intrusions. There are many positions related to this, however the most common would be that of a Network Security Engineer, a Security Research Analyst, a Penetration tester, and an Incident Investigator. All four of these jobs have salaries starting in the forty to fifty thousand annually range, and can grow well past the one-hundred thousand mark, depending on skill and experience.

A Network Security Engineer is responsible for end-user support for general security related issues, as well as enforcement of the local security policy. They are also typically responsible for performing ongoing security scans to ensure that the System Administrators are keeping their systems up-to-date and secure.

A Security Research Analyst is someone who performs research in the field of network security to devise new weaknesses and vulnerabilities, as well as new methods of intercepting and preventing system compromises. They will also typically develop applications to employ the data they have gathered.

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This diversity leads to well rounded technical decisions, which is something the executive staff always looks for. Employers also look for people with a background in system administration.

When first starting out in the field of network security, breaking into the “jet-stream” can prove difficult if the proper steps are not followed. This information helps the Network Security Engineers to keep their systems secured.

The last position outlined, is that of the Incident Investigator. Working in such a technical and fast-paced field ensures you are kept up-to-date with the latest technologies and applications. They will also work with the ISP of the attacker to help further track their source. As previously stated, the most important aspect of network security is networking itself. System administration tasks familiarize one with an array of Operating Systems and applications, which forms strong fundamental skills in the field of computers. This is someone who investigates a system forensically, or after an intrusion, to help trace the attacker, and isolate how the system was compromised. People who are well versed in the field of network security typically make good candidates for such positions because of their vast experience with many different technologies.

Besides general networking knowledge, another good starting point would be computer programming. Developing a solid understanding of networking will prove useful time-and-time again as one delves further into the field.

Most network security related positions are related to operations, however there are upward career paths available.

Approximate Word count = 800
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

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