| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Information Technology |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | IT Security Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 5 to 8 years in networking, including 3 or more years in network security |
Network Security Engineer job description template
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Job title: Network Security Engineer
Department: Information Technology
Reports to: IT Security Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Network Security Engineer protects a company's networks from intrusion and misuse. Beyond firewalls, they design network segmentation, run network access control, VPN and zero trust access, web proxies, DDoS protection and intrusion prevention, and watch network traffic for threats with the SOC. The role reports to the IT security manager in banks, BPOs, IT services firms and enterprises with many branches. A good Network Security Engineer keeps sensitive segments isolated, knows what every connection is for and spots unusual traffic early.
Key responsibilities
- Design segmentation for data centres, offices and cloud so payment, HR and production systems sit in isolated zones.
- Deploy network access control so only compliant company devices can join the wired and Wi-Fi networks.
- Run remote access through VPN or zero trust network access, with multi-factor authentication and device checks.
- Configure web proxies and DNS filtering to block malicious sites and control risky categories.
- Manage IDS and IPS policies, tune signatures and investigate network alerts with the SOC.
- Set up and test web application firewall and DDoS protection for internet-facing applications.
- Review firewall, switch and router configurations against hardening standards and close the gaps.
- Analyse NetFlow and packet captures to find unusual traffic such as data exfiltration or internal scanning.
- Assess the security of new network designs, branch rollouts and partner connections before they are approved.
- Prepare network security evidence for ISO 27001, PCI DSS and client audits.
Requirements
- B.E. or B.Tech in Electronics, Computer Science or IT
- CCNP Security, PCNSE or Fortinet NSE 7 certification
- CISSP or CEH is an advantage
- 5 to 8 years in networking, including 3 or more years in network security
KRAs and KPIs for a Network Security Engineer
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Segmentation | Critical systems isolated in dedicated zones, with inter-zone rules reviewed every quarter |
| Network access control | NAC enforced at every office, with unmanaged devices blocked from internal networks |
| Remote access | All remote access through MFA-protected VPN or ZTNA, with no shared accounts |
| Threat detection | IPS and proxy alerts reviewed daily, with confirmed threats contained within 4 hours |
| Configuration compliance | Network devices compliant with the hardening baseline at each quarterly review |
| Audit results | No major network security finding in ISO 27001, PCI DSS or client audits |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Palo Alto or FortiGate firewalls, Cisco ISE or Aruba ClearPass, Zscaler or another secure web gateway, Cloudflare or Akamai WAF, Wireshark, NetFlow analyser, Splunk.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Security Architect, IT Security Manager, Head of IT Infrastructure
Interview questions for a Network Security Engineer
- How would you segment a network so the payment servers are isolated from office users?
- An unknown device is plugged into a meeting room port. What should happen, and how would you configure it?
- Explain the difference between a VPN and zero trust network access.
- NetFlow shows a server sending large volumes of data to an external IP at 3 am. What do you do?
- How do you tune an IPS so it blocks real attacks without breaking applications?
- What would you check before approving a new partner connection into the data centre?
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What does a network security engineer do?
A network security engineer protects a company's networks. They design segmentation, run network access control, manage VPN or zero trust access, configure web proxies, IPS, WAF and DDoS protection, analyse traffic for threats with the SOC, and review new network designs and partner connections for risk.
What is the difference between a network engineer and a network security engineer?
A network engineer builds and runs the network itself: routers, switches, Wi-Fi and WAN links, with a focus on connectivity and performance. A network security engineer focuses on protecting it through segmentation, access control, firewalls, intrusion prevention and threat monitoring. Most network security engineers start out as network engineers.
Which certifications are useful for network security engineers?
CCNP Security suits Cisco environments, PCNSE covers Palo Alto and Fortinet NSE 7 covers FortiGate deployments, and all three platforms are common in India. CISSP adds broad security knowledge for those heading towards architecture or management. Practical lab work with firewalls, NAC and packet analysis matters in interviews.