What is Network Engineering?
Network engineering involves implementing, maintaining, supporting, developing and, in some cases, designing communication networks within an organisation or between organisations.
Job Opportunities
Network engineers may work internally as part of an organisation's IT support team, or externally as part of an outsourced IT networking consultancy firm working with a number of clients.
A network engineer can pursue his career in one of the following domain:
1) Switching
Switches are used to connect multiple devices on the same network within a building or campus. For example, a switch can connect your computers, printers, and servers, creating a network of shared resources. The switch, one aspect of your networking basics, would serve as a controller, allowing the various devices to share information and talk to each other. Through information sharing and resource allocation, switches save you money and increase productivity.
2) Routing
Routing refers to the movement of packets from one device(source) to another (destination) and the device that implements routing is called router. Routing is a key feature of internet because it enables messages to pass from one computer to another and eventually reach the target machine. Routing is often confused with bridging which performs a similar function.
3) Wireless
Wireless networks use radio waves to connect devices such as laptops to the Internet, the business network and applications. When laptops are connected to Wi-Fi hot spots in public places, the connection is established to that business’s wireless network.
There are four main types of wireless networks:
- Wireless Local Area Network (LAN): Links two or more devices using a wireless distribution method, providing a connection through access points to the wider Internet.
- Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN): Connects several wireless LANs.
- Wireless Wide Area Network (WAN): Covers large areas such as neighboring towns and cities.
- Wireless Personal Area Network (PAN): Interconnects devices in a short span, generally within a person’s reach.
4) Network Security
Network security is any activity designed to protect the usability and integrity of your network and data. It includes both hardware and software technologies. Effective network security manages access to the network. It targets a variety of threats and stops them from entering or spreading on your network. For example email service, firewall, access control etc.
Network security, a subset of cybersecurity, aims to protect any data that is being sent through devices in your network to ensure that the information is not changed or intercepted. The role of network security is to protect the organization’s IT infrastructure from all types of cyber threats including:
- Viruses, worms and Trojan horses
- Zero-day attacks
- Hacker attacks
- Denial of service attacks
- Spyware and adware
5) Network Design
Network design involves planning,evaluating, understanding, scoping and implementing the computer network infrastructure e.g cabling structure
6) Data Center
A data center (or datacenter) is a facility composed of networked computers and storage that businesses or other organizations use to organize, process, store and disseminate large amounts of data.
7) Cyber Security
Cyber security, a subset of information security, is the practice of defending your organization’s networks, computers and data from unauthorized digital access, attack or damage by implementing various processes, technologies and practices. With the countless sophisticated threat actors targeting all types of organizations, it is critical that your IT infrastructure is secured at all times to prevent a full-scale attack on your network and risk exposing your company’ data and reputation.
8) Collaborative Network
A collaborative network is the collection of businesses, individuals and other organizational
entities that possess the capabilities and resources needed to achieve a specific outcome.
Organizing in collaborative networks is a dynamic process, requiring great agility and resourcefulness.
9) Network and computer administration
Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks. They organize, install, and support an organization's computer systems, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), network segments, intranets, and other data communication systems.
10) Computer system analysis
Computer systems analysts troubleshoot hardware and software issues for companies and organizations. Continue reading to learn about educational programs and career opportunities in computer systems analysis.
11) Computer network architecture
Network architecture is the design of a communication network. It is a framework for the specification of a network's physical components and their functional organization and configuration, its operational principles and procedures, as well as data formats use.
12) Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a type of computing that relies on sharing computing resources rather than having local servers or personal devices to handle applications.
In cloud computing, the word cloud(also phrased as "the cloud") is used as a metaphor for "the Internet," so the phrase cloud computing means "a type of Internet-based computing," where different services — such as servers, storage and applications —are delivered to an organization's computers and devices through the Internet. The cloud infrastructure is maintained by the cloud provider, not the individual cloud customer.
13) Internet of Things
(IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
Job Titles
The titles associated with networking jobs are vexingly similar. Here are the titles you should know and the skills typically associated with networking jobs:
Networking Certificates
- CCNP
The Cisco Certified Network Professional
2. CCIE
The Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert
3. JNCIE-ENT
Juniper networks certified Enterprise Routing and Switching Expert
4. CompTIA Network+
5. WCNA
wireshark Certified Network Analyst
Outside of the top five networking certifications, there are lots of other choices for networking professionals to investigate and pursue.
Salary
The featured certifications represent all major tiers of networking job roles, from the entry level (Network+) to the expert level (CCIE).
- A person just starting out in networking, most likely as a technician or junior administrator, can expect to make about $45,000.
- Mid-tier network administrators and engineers make an average of $63,500 to $80,500.
- CCIEs average around $110,000.
