The Armed Forces usually have both privates and corporals. They serve different roles in battle but are necessary. The corporal is more experienced, does the tactical work and is closer to the action. As privates, newcomers are often observing rather than acting. They can also be a step or two away from the action.
A security analyst (private), who typically earns $5,000 to $15,000 more, and a security engineer (corporal) are both in similar positions. Both work in corporate defense systems, doing the bulk of the work necessary to protect data. They have different responsibilities and positions in the corporate hierarchy.
Protecting the Perimeter
Corporate defense perimeters are similar to demarcation lines in battlefields. They create layers of protection on top of their computer systems. They used to fortify entry points, network entrances, and exits. They often created a Demilitarized zone (DMZ) to protect the area between their systems and information coming in from the outside.
The idea was to screen all newcomers and ensure that they weren’t bringing malware into the company. This area was heavily fortified by businesses who spent a lot of money, time, and human resources.
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Software evolves and times change. New application models have opened up new avenues for hackers to attack systems. Peer-to-peer processing allowed malware to bypass the network perimeter, allowing it to enter from other vantage points.
Peer-to-peer, cloud computing, virtualization and peer-to-peer allowed outsiders to gain access to company systems in new ways. This meant that corporations needed new tools. Companies now have a wide variety of tools to protect themselves from outsiders.
The Security Operations Center
Enterprise IT security teams are like a military operation. They have a frontline of defense and a central command center. This is where information is consolidated and battle progress is mapped out. Core security plans are also laid.
The Security Operations Center (SOC), which is the central hub for staff to supervise the site using various security solutions, is called the Security Operations Center. Employees gather data, consolidate it into reports and make adjustments. Then they share the information with others.
The SOC is usually a large space with many large screens that show what’s happening with enterprise information systems. They monitor web sites, applications and databases, servers, networks, desktops, and other endpoints. They log transactions, monitor interactions, correlate events, and defend corporate systems.
Another group is on the frontline, fighting the battle by building, testing, and deploying security technology. They work together to ensure security. The security engineer is responsible for resolving security issues and tuning the building’s security systems. Security analysts work in the SOC, examining reports and threat detection.
What does a security engineer do?
Engineers are essentially builders. They are responsible for integrating all components and ensuring that the company’s business application runs smoothly. They must have extensive experience in security products.
Their day is spent mainly on troubleshooting and application deployment. They are often responsible for a wide variety of solutions and have practical, hands-on experience across many areas.
Operating systems such as Linux and Microsoft Windows
Cloud services such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform
Programming and scripting languages like Perl, Python, Java
Security tools include Kali Linux, Nessus and Netsparker as well as openVAS, BurpSuite and Metaspolit