Without cybersecurity, businesses on the web cannot survive in this digital age. Now and then, we see malware attacks happening around us. Like the offline market, there are robberies we know as hackers on the internet. 

Their goal is to hack the information and private data of individuals and businesses. This is why web security, commonly known as cybersecurity, has become essential.

With time, cybersecurity has evolved a lot. Today, most IT professionals aim to start their careers as cyber-security specialists. But with the increased demand for such specialists, this particular field has become quite saturated. 

So, how to get in? Well, you can jump into the cybersecurity domain as a network engineer. It might sound a bit odd, but it’s reality. So, let’s first learn the difference between a network engineer and a cybersecurity engineer. This difference will help you decide with ease.

Check out: What Programming Language Do Ethical Hackers Use

Difference between Network Engineer And Cyber Security Engineer

As discussed, both network and cybersecurity engineers work hard to protect valuable information and network infrastructure for their respective clients or companies. Here is what sets them apart:

1: Difference in Job Roles:

 The job or job description of these roles is the first thing that sets them apart. A cybersecurity engineer looks after the whole system and its connected components. 

His job is to keep an eye on all the software and hardware components of an IT infrastructure so that no one tries to hijack the whole system.

The network engineer must manage, protect, and secure an IT firm’s network infrastructure. Because hackers are also interested in hijacking various organizations’ network systems, all small to medium IT firms have a team of network engineers to keep their network infrastructure safe and secure.

2: Network Engineer Vs Cybersecurity Salary:  

Though the job nature of these respective professions isn’t that different, the salary range is diverse. For example, cybersecurity professionals are paid slightly higher than network engineers. 

Note that the word engineer doesn’t mean that every job associated with this term would be paid higher. At the end of the day, it’s the skill that matters the most.

3: Job Nature:

When we compare cybersecurity vs network engineers, we should highlight their respective job natures. 

Network security professionals have to deal with how to strengthen the network infrastructure of an organization. But, at the same time, cybersecurity professionals have to protect the overall IT infrastructure of any organization.

Check out our free OSCP course: Day 0 OSCP | The Path to Offensive Security Certified

Conclusion:

So, let’s end this discussion, cybersecurity vs network engineer. Both of these are respectable professions. No matter your career option, you can easily make over $100k annually in the US. 

The important thing here is that you should know all the crucial differences. Once you know them all, you can make a wise decision. I hope this article on “cybersecurity vs network engineer” will help you understand the difference between both. If you find this article helpful, do share it with the community around you. Visit our cybersecurity blog for more tips and guides.