Cyber incident responder to embedded systems security engineer
A cyber incident responder already meets 40% of what the embedded systems security engineer role asks for. The move turns on 19 required skills not yet in the profile.
68.2/ 100
1 How much of what an embedded systems security engineer is expected to do is already part of a cyber incident responder’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the embedded systems security engineer role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An embedded systems security engineer role treats 12 of its required skills as things a cyber incident responder already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- ICT network security risks
- ICT security standards
- Internet of Things
- cyber attack counter-measures
- embedded systems
- information security strategy
What stands in the way is 19 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 17 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An embedded systems security engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a cyber incident responder background worth leading with.
- already held ICT safety working with computers
- already held ethical hacking principles information and communication technologies (icts)
- already held cyber attack counter-measures services
- already held ICT encryption information and communication technologies (icts)
- already held embedded systems engineering, manufacturing and construction
- already held manage IT security compliances working with computers
All 17 carried skills, including the 12 the embedded systems security engineer role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 24 missing skills fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn develop ICT device driver required
- still to learn analyse ICT system required
- still to learn develop software prototype required
- still to learn execute software tests required
- still to learn identify ICT system weaknesses required
- still to learn perform ICT security testing required
- still to learn use software libraries required
- still to learn utilise computer-aided software engineering tools required
- optional, not held debug software optional
- optional, not held integrate system components optional
- still to learn identify ICT security risks required
- still to learn interpret technical texts required
- still to learn keep up with the latest information systems solutions required
- still to learn report test findings required
- still to learn software anomalies required
- still to learn computer programming required
- still to learn digital systems required
- still to learn use software design patterns required
- still to learn create flowchart diagram required
- optional, not held design user interface optional
- optional, not held develop creative ideas optional
- still to learn define security policies required
- still to learn define technical requirements required
- optional, not held organisational resilience optional
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an embedded systems security engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 develop ICT device driver practise this
- 02 analyse ICT system practise this
- 03 define security policies practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 17 skills that carry over
- already held ICT network security risks knowledge
- already held ICT security standards knowledge
- already held Internet of Things knowledge
- already held cyber attack counter-measures knowledge
- already held embedded systems knowledge
- already held information security strategy knowledge
- already held manage IT security compliances skill
- already held monitor system performance skill
- already held perform risk analysis skill
- already held provide ICT consulting advice skill
- already held safety engineering knowledge
- already held security engineering knowledge
- already held ICT encryption knowledge
- already held ICT safety skill
- already held cloud technologies knowledge
- already held ethical hacking principles knowledge
- already held perform project management skill
5 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held debug software optional
- optional, not held design user interface optional
- optional, not held integrate system components optional
- optional, not held organisational resilience optional
- optional, not held develop creative ideas optional
58 held skills the embedded systems security engineer role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role C++ knowledge
- not needed by the target role GDPR knowledge
- not needed by the target role ICT process quality models knowledge
- not needed by the target role ICT project management methodologies knowledge
- not needed by the target role ICT security legislation knowledge
- not needed by the target role Process-based management knowledge
- not needed by the target role Python (computer programming) knowledge
- not needed by the target role attack vectors knowledge
- not needed by the target role building systems monitoring technology knowledge
- not needed by the target role business intelligence knowledge
- not needed by the target role cloud monitoring and reporting knowledge
- not needed by the target role cloud security and compliance knowledge
- not needed by the target role collect cyber defence data skill
- not needed by the target role communicate with stakeholders skill
- not needed by the target role consult with business clients skill
- not needed by the target role copyright legislation knowledge
- not needed by the target role create incident reports skill
- not needed by the target role create project specifications skill
- not needed by the target role cyber security knowledge
- not needed by the target role defence standard procedures knowledge
- not needed by the target role define quality standards skill
- not needed by the target role develop information security strategy skill
- not needed by the target role engage with stakeholders skill
- not needed by the target role ensure information security skill
- not needed by the target role ensure proper document management skill
- not needed by the target role give live presentation skill
- not needed by the target role handle cybersecurity incidents skill
- not needed by the target role implement ICT risk management skill
- not needed by the target role implement ICT security policies skill
- not needed by the target role implement a firewall skill
- not needed by the target role implement a virtual private network skill
- not needed by the target role implement anti-virus software skill
- not needed by the target role implement spam protection skill
- not needed by the target role incidents and accidents recording knowledge
- not needed by the target role internet governance knowledge
- not needed by the target role lead disaster recovery exercises skill
- not needed by the target role leadership principles knowledge
- not needed by the target role lean project management knowledge
- not needed by the target role manage ICT change request process skill
- not needed by the target role manage a team skill
18 further entries not listed here
4 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn software anomalies required
- still to learn computer programming required
- still to learn digital systems required
- optional, not held organisational resilience optional
Common questions about this move
Can a cyber incident responder become an embedded systems security engineer?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A cyber incident responder already covers 40% of what an embedded systems security engineer is expected to do: 17 skills carry over, 12 of which the embedded systems security engineer role treats as required.
What skills does a cyber incident responder need to become an embedded systems security engineer?
19 required skills are missing, plus 5 optional ones. They fall into 6 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by working with computers. The single most important is develop ICT device driver.
How hard is the move from cyber incident responder to embedded systems security engineer?
Its learning distance is 68.2 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.