Organizations are currently bombarded with ad hoc cyber attacks and some other significant malicious activities. Therefore, the demand for Network Security Engineers has ever increased. 

There is a significant shortage of qualified network security engineers in the industry in India. The demand is expected to reach one million professionals in 2025. Currently, there are just 80,000 network security engineers.

The role of a network security engineer is to perform vulnerability assessment, incident response, network protocols and firewalls.

In this blog, we’ll follow through a practical roadmap, top certifications that matter to become a network security engineer, must-have skills and interview tips.

What does a Network Security Engineer do?

A network security engineer is a multi-responsible professional who performs a variety of responsibilities. These roles include the following:

• Design Firewall/VPNs

A network security engineer plans and configures firewalls and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to filter the incoming and outgoing traffic. Only authorized traffic passes through and the data is encrypted when passing through remote users or locations.

• Intrusion Detection and Logging

He also makes use of the Intrusion Detection System (IDS) and Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) in order to block and spot suspicious activities in real-time. Various SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) tools like Splunk and QRadar collect log data from across the network and analyze them from threats.

• Vulnerability Assessment 

He also regularly scans systems and applications for weaknesses that hackers can take advantage of. They also work with teams to patch software, reconfigure settings and upgrade equipment to remove the vulnerabilities.

• Incident Response

A network security engineer does not just act quickly when a security breach occurs but he also performs root cause analysis, restores systems and documents the incident for a proactive future.

• Policy Creation

Another important role of a network security engineer is to write and implement security policies – including rules about remote access, passwords, device and data usage and handling.

How to Become a Network Security Engineer: Realistic Timeline Roadmap

The following is a complete actionable plan to become a Network Security Engineer. We have three main timelines: 0 → 6 months, 6 → 18 months and 2+ years.

1. 0–6 Months — Fast Start (Foundation Building)

• Learn basics of networking

Master OSI, TCP/IP model, subnetting, routing and switching fundamentals.

• Master Linux fundamentals

Get well-versed with Commands, file systems, permissions, and basic shell scripting.

• Practice hands-on in labs

You can practise real-life network simulations on Cisco Packet Tracer or GNS3 without the need to setup hardware. 

• Gain formal knowledge

You can either go for a vendor-neutral certification like CompTIA Network+ or a specific vendor like Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification.

• Create a portfolio

Create small networking labs and document the results on your GitHub repository to build a public portfolio.

2. 6–18 Months — Skill Ramp (Hands-on Security)

• Learn basics of firewall configuration

Learn best firewalls like Palo Alto firewall, Fortinet firewall for NAT, VPN setup, rule creation and policy management. You can use vendor lab sandboxes for it.

• Master SIEM tools

You must explore various Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools like Splunk, Elastic, or QRadar. Practise setting up log sources and creating basic dashboards.

• Earn entry-level certifications

You can take networking training. You can do so by gaining knowledge in foundational network security certifications like CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+ and CCNA.

• Gain hands-on experience

At this point, you can look for a part-time Security Operations Center (SOC) role or find internship opportunities.

• Build a portfolio

You can create sample incident reports and configure a firewall in the lab environment. A good way is to add screenshots and configs to your portfolio.

3. 2+ Years — Professional Level (Specialization & Leadership)

• Go for advanced certifications

You can go for leadership-oriented roles like CCNP Security, CCIE Security, or CISSP.

• Specialize in niche areas

You can further specialize in niche areas like Cloud network security (AWS Security Groups, Azure NSGs), VPN scaling for large enterprises, or proactive threat hunting.

• Lead security projects

You can then lead projects by taking charge of firewall migrations, SIEM deployments, or compliance-driven security initiatives.

• Develop leadership skills

At this stage, you can start guiding junior engineers, conduct internal security training and contribute to policy-making.

• Build a portfolio

Plan and execute a red/blue team capstone project or you can lead a production security rollout. By documenting your results in such a way, you can create your own professional case studies.

What are the Core Skills and Tools to Master?

From technical to soft skills, there are a variety of tools and skills that one must master to become a Network Security Engineer. These are mentioned as follows:

1. Mandatory technical skills

Networking fundamentals → Firewall configuration → VPNs → IDS/IPS → SIEM (Splunk/Elastic/QRadar) → Basic scripting (Python) → Cloud network security (AWS/Azure security groups)

2. Tools to master

Wireshark, pfSense, GNS3/EVPN, Basic Splunk Free, Kali Linux

3. Soft skills

incident comms, documentation, cross-team collaboration.

Where Can I Get Network Security Engineer Training?

Network Kings is a 100% online IT career platform, especially to become a network security expert. The following are the highlighting features of online training at Network Kings:

• You learn from top 1% engineers working in top tech giants like Cisco, Microsoft, Apple, Aricent, Palo Alto Networks, Juniper Networks, etc.

• You get to practice hands-on in the world's biggest virtual labs like Cisco Packet Tracer and EVE-NG.

• You also get placement assistance as we have partnered with Engineer Edge. They craft your resume and apply for jobs for you.

• You get to become a Network Security Engineer in just 6-8 months.

Ready to supercharge your career with our Cloud Security Master’s Program? Check out more info here.

FAQs:

How to become a network security engineer?

You must start by learning networking (OSI, TCP/IP, subnetting) and Linux basics. Practice labs with Packet Tracer/GNS3 and build a GitHub portfolio. Earn foundational certs (CompTIA Network+/Security+, CCNA), then gain SOC or internship experience. Advance with firewalls, SIEM, cloud security, and pursue CCNP/CISSP as you specialize.

What are the qualifications for network security?

You need to at least have a graduation degree in the first place. Networking skills play a key role in becoming a network security engineer. Therefore, you must have your basics cleared with topics like subnetting, TCP/IP, OSI model, IPv4 and IPv6 addressing and more. Firewall knowledge is a must too.

Does a network security engineer need coding?

Network security engineers only require minimal coding when he needs to automate tasks. If you have zero coding knowledge, don’t worry, Network Kings courses also train you in Python.

Which course is best for network security engineers?

Network Kings’ Practical Azure/AWS Cloud Security Engineer program is the best course to head start your career as a network security engineer. It covers networking, firewall as well as cloud security concepts.

How much do network security engineers earn?

A network security engineer can earn anywhere between ₹3.5 Lakhs to ₹24.3 Lakhs per year in India. In the US, it follows a range between $104,500 to $149,500 per year.