CAREER TIPS: Breaking into the Computer Network Support/Cybersecurity Industry
We have been doing many interviews lately with people who are trying to get their first real job in the computer network support/cybersecurity industry. While it helps to have a degree in networking or cyber security, what interviewers are looking for are people who have hands-on experience every day with network technologies. Here's how to get that experience when you are first starting out.
BUILD A NETWORK AT YOUR PLACE OF RESIDENCE
One of the things we like to see in a junior network engineer is that they have their own computer network in their house or apartment. I recommend getting a Microsoft Windows server system as well as installing a hardware firewall. The network also should have more than one PC, including at least one running Linux. Add a small data switch (with Layer 3 support) and you have the basics covered.
RUN MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER AT HOME
The hardware to run Microsoft Windows Server can be purchased relatively inexpensively from companies like PC Server and Parts which is located in new Hudson MI, just north of Ann Arbor. We have paid as little as $200 for a refurbished HP DL380 Gen 9 with 32 GB of memory and 1.8 terabytes of disk space. This is plenty of horsepower to run either the Data Center edition of Windows Server or the Standard edition.
Once the hardware has been purchased and set up, download the evaluation version of Windows Server 2022 here. The standard version of Windows server 2022 licenses Hyper-V for use as a hyper visor allowing candidates to get experience with virtual machines. The Data Center edition adds support for shielded virtual machines, server clustering, and software defined networking. Expertise in any of these areas is sure to impress an interviewer.
GET A HARDWARE FIREWALL
Just like a real network, the home network should be protected by a hardware firewall. Prospective network engineers can get a used Fortigate E-series firewall for around $100 or less from eBay. Fortinet does not allow the transfer of security subscriptions, however, but the Fortigate OS will still do basic firewall tasks. Regardless of brand we recommend dedicated firewall hardware to keep malicious activity off the network itself.
USE THE NETWORK EVERY DAY
Once everything is set up, the prospective network engineer needs to use the network as it is intended. Configure the firewall to protect the network. Setup the Windows Server to be the primary storage system. Setup backup jobs using evaluation versions of Veeam or one of the other commercial data backup systems like Acronis . Build a V-Lan. Setup a VPN. Then work daily with the new features and capabilities of the network.
After a few months exploring and working with their network, candidates for entry-level jobs in the computer networking/cybersecurity fields will be able to stand out against other candidates who don't have a fully configured network at their residence but who are also looking to break into the industry.