WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
Developing Your Network Engineering Skills
Network Engineering Skills
People with network engineering skills ensure reliable connectivity of computer networks, which is vital for seamless communication and smooth business operations. Skilled network engineers establish and maintain their organization's network infrastructure, optimizing its performance and productivity.
Because most organizations rely on technology and interconnected systems, professionals with network engineering skills have access to a variety of lucrative job opportunities and enjoy a competitive edge when pursuing career growth.
This guide covers network engineering skills and their benefits. It also introduces you to network engineering career paths and job prospects.
What Are Network Engineering Skills?
Network engineering skills refer to a person’s ability to design, implement, and manage the underlying infrastructure enabling communication and data transfer between devices and networks.
As a network engineer, you’ll work with routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and other technologies to build and maintain functional networks.
You’ll be responsible for creating reliable, secure, and efficient communication systems that enable the transfer of information between different devices and users within an organization or across multiple locations.
Why Are Network Engineering Skills Important?
By designing scalable network architectures, network engineers contribute to the smooth running of an organization. Let’s explore the importance of network engineering skills in the workplace.
- Establishing and maintaining reliable connectivity within an organization: Businesses rely on network connectivity to facilitate communication and data transfer. Network engineers ensure uninterrupted connectivity by designing and implementing robust networks and optimizing network performance to support the smooth operation of critical business processes.
- Managing and optimizing the organization's network infrastructure: Network engineers use their skills to assess network requirements and plan and implement network expansion or upgrades to accommodate growing demands. They also regularly monitor network performance and fix issues that could cause disruptions, resulting in improved productivity.
- Network troubleshooting: Networks may encounter various issues, such as connectivity problems, slow performance, or hardware failures. Network engineers possess the skills to identify and resolve these issues promptly. They use specialized tools and expertise to troubleshoot problems and restore network functionality. This helps minimize downtime and interruption to business operations.
- Security and data protection: Network engineers implement security measures to protect the organization's sensitive data and infrastructure. They configure firewalls and implement intrusion detection and prevention systems. They stay updated with the latest security threats, advanced network engineering techniques, and best practices to respond to security incidents and safeguard the network from unauthorized access, data breaches, and other cyber threats.
What Are the Benefits of Having Network Engineering Skills?
Network engineering skills provide several benefits that can positively impact your career. Developing and polishing these skills can position you for long-term success and growth as a network engineer.
The following are the benefits of having network engineering skills:
- High demand and job opportunities: As organizations increasingly rely on technology and interconnected systems, the need for skilled network engineers continues to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for network engineers is set to rise by 4% between 2021 and 2031. By possessing these skills, you will be in high demand for many job opportunities in large and small enterprises.
- Industry recognition and certifications: Building expertise in network engineering can lead to industry recognition and certifications. For example, certifications such as Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) will validate your skills and enhance your professional credibility. These certifications provide a competitive edge when you’re pursuing job opportunities or seeking career advancement.
- Competitive salary: Network engineers often enjoy competitive salaries due to their specialized skills and critical roles in organizations. According to data from the BLS, the average annual salary of a network engineer is $120,520. Skilled network engineers are valued assets to companies, and their expertise is rewarded accordingly.
- Ability to work remotely: As a network engineer, you can perform your responsibilities from anywhere with a stable internet connection, as long as your employer approves of remote work. This flexibility provides a better work-life balance and expands your employment options, allowing you to work for organizations in different geographical regions without needing relocation.
- Access to new technology: If you’re passionate about and excited by technology, becoming a network engineer will provide the opportunity to be at the forefront of technological advancements in networking. You’ll gain exposure to new and cutting-edge technologies and tools in the field, which will keep you professionally relevant and open doors to exciting opportunities.
- Opportunities for advancement: Strong network engineering skills will allow you to take on leadership roles such as network team lead or network manager. These positions come with increased responsibilities, higher levels of job satisfaction, and better compensation.
Examples of Network Engineering Skills in the Workplace
Network engineering skills can be applied in various aspects of daily work. These skills are essential for maintaining a reliable and secure network environment that supports efficient organizational communication and data transfer.
Here are examples of how you will utilize your skills as a network engineer:
Design Network Infrastructure
You will design infrastructure that meets the organization's requirements and assess network scalability and performance to provide reliable connectivity. This involves determining the placement of routers, switches, and other network devices, establishing network segmentation, and designing the network architecture.
Protect the Network from Unauthorized Access
You’ll configure firewalls, virtual private networks (VPNs) and access control mechanisms to protect the network from unauthorized access. You’ll also set up authentication and encryption protocols to ensure secure communication within the network.
Analyze Traffic Patterns
You’ll analyze traffic patterns to optimize network performance and troubleshoot issues. You’ll use network monitoring tools to capture and analyze network data, assess bandwidth utilization, and identify areas that require optimization. This helps proactively address congestion issues and ensure efficient data transfer.
Plan for Future Network Expansion
You’ll use your skills to assess the organization's projected requirements and design network infrastructures that can scale effectively. This involves considering factors like bandwidth requirements, device capacity, and the potential integration of new technologies. Planning for future network expansion ensures the network infrastructure can support the organization's growth and technological demands.
Implement New Hardware and Software Components
As a network engineer, you’ll be responsible for implementing new hardware and software components to enhance the network's functionality. For example, this can be done through deploying and configuring routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and other network devices. You’ll ensure that the components are integrated smoothly into the existing network to ensure seamless network operations.
How Can I Use Network Engineering Skills?
People with network engineering skills are valuable in various IT careers.
- Systems administration: Network engineering skills can empower you to design and manage network configurations such as routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices, to ensure reliable network connectivity.
- Cybersecurity: Understanding network protocols, architectures, and vulnerabilities helps identify and mitigate security threats. For example, as a network security analyst, you can use your network engineering skills to assess and analyze network infrastructures, identify potential risks, and implement security measures.
- Data center management: Professionals responsible for data centers need to design and manage networks within the facility. You can use your network engineering skills to oversee network architecture, cabling infrastructure, and network monitoring to maintain the high performance of data center networks.
- Network architecture and design: Network engineering skills will enable you to develop network architectures, plan network capacity, and design secure networks. For example, as a computer network architect, you can design and determine an organization's networking requirements, select appropriate network technologies, and create a blueprint for the network infrastructure.
- Network consulting: You can pursue a career in network consulting and assist organizations in improving network performance. With strong network engineering skills, you can assess network requirements, design solutions tailored to the organization’s needs, perform network audits, and troubleshoot network issues.
How Can I Learn Network Engineering Skills?
WGU offers various network engineering certification programs like a B.S. in Network Engineering–Cisco Track or a B.S. in Network Engineering and Security–Vendor Agnostic Track.
You’ll learn to:
- Implement basic troubleshooting.
- Identify basic connectivity problems.
- Define basic network wiring systems concepts.
- Identify different types of networks and topologies.
- Design the network infrastructure to support voice, data, video, and wireless network services.
- Resolve problems with failed network components, monitor traffic patterns, recommend needed upgrades, block certain types of traffic, and detect abnormal network traffic.
Frequently Asked Questions
To become a network engineer, you should possess the following skills:
- Technical skills such as a foundation in networking concepts, network design, and network security principles.
- Problem-solving skills to troubleshoot and solve complex technical problems.
- Collaboration skills to work with various team members across the organizations.
Many network engineering positions require a computer science degree or network engineering bachelor's degree.
Start by following these tips to gain practical experience in network engineering:
- Set up a home lab or virtual lab environment to practice configuring and managing network devices.
- Participate in internships and entry-level network positions to gain hands-on experience.
- Attend networking events, such as conferences, and join online forums to engage with professionals and learn from their experiences.
Network engineers apply encryption protocols, implement secure remote access solutions, and conduct regular security audits to protect networks from unauthorized access and data breaches. They configure and monitor network devices to detect and respond to security incidents.
Network engineers can work as:
- Network administrators, managing the day-to-day operations of computer networks.
- Network architects, designing and planning network infrastructures.
- Network security analysts, protecting networks from security threats.
With experience, you can advance to leadership positions such as network managers or chief technology officers (CTOs).
