How to Be Cybersecurity Application Security Engineer - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Sep 24, 2022 / 6 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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Cybersecurity Application Security Engineers play a critical role in protecting digital assets and applications. By applying best-in-class security practices, they help organizations prevent malicious actors from accessing sensitive data, disrupting operations, or stealing customer information. As a result, organizations can protect their digital assets and maintain their reputation, while also ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

Application Security Engineers help to strengthen the overall security posture of an organization by identifying vulnerabilities in applications, mitigating security risks, and developing secure coding standards. This ultimately helps to create a secure environment for customers, employees, and partners.

Steps How to Become

Earn a Bachelor's Degree. Most entry-level cybersecurity application security engineer positions require at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field. A degree in computer engineering may also be considered.
Gain Cybersecurity Experience. To become a cybersecurity application security engineer, you should gain experience working with security protocols, developing secure applications, and designing secure networks. This can be accomplished through internships, freelance projects, or volunteer work.
Build Your Professional Network. Connecting with professionals in the cybersecurity industry is essential for success in the field. Attend industry events, join professional organizations, and reach out to cybersecurity professionals on social media to build a strong network.
Pursue Certifications. Earning certifications can demonstrate your knowledge and experience in the field. Certifications such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) are beneficial for cybersecurity application security engineers.
Stay Up-to-Date. Technology and security protocols are constantly evolving, so it's essential to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in the industry. Read industry blogs and publications, attend conferences and seminars, and engage in online forums to stay informed.

The cyber security landscape is constantly evolving, meaning it is essential for an Application Security Engineer to stay up to date with the latest trends and threats. To do this, they must invest in regular education and training, keep up with industry news and updates, and take advantage of opportunities to attend conferences and seminars. By doing so, they can remain qualified and knowledgeable on the latest techniques to identify and prevent cyber attacks, and ensure the security of their organization's applications and networks.

staying abreast of industry developments can help the engineer to understand potential vulnerabilities and how to mitigate them. keeping up to date with the latest cybersecurity trends and technology is essential for an Application Security Engineer to remain qualified and successful in their role.

You may want to check Cybersecurity Manager, Cybersecurity Network Security Engineer, and Cybersecurity Quality Assurance Analyst for alternative.

Job Description

Developing secure software architectures, designs, and code
Researching, evaluating and integrating application security tools, such as static and dynamic analysis, vulnerability scanning, and penetration testing
Identifying, analyzing, and responding to application security issues
Developing secure coding standards and best practices
Conducting security assessments on existing and new applications
Working with development teams to implement secure coding practices
Developing training materials and programs to educate developers on secure coding practices
Working with vendors or customers to ensure secure configurations
Developing secure application deployment procedures
Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of security threats and vulnerabilities
Designing and testing security measures for applications

Skills and Competencies to Have

Expertise in software security engineering, secure coding, and secure architecture best practices.
Knowledge of common web application security vulnerabilities, such as OWASP Top 10.
Expertise in threat modeling and risk assessment.
Experience with application security testing tools and processes, such as penetration testing and static code analysis.
Proficiency in programming languages, such as Java, C#, and Python.
Experience with web and mobile application development.
Knowledge of secure authentication and authorization protocols, such as OAuth and OpenID Connect.
Knowledge of secure communication protocols, such as TLS and IPSec.
Familiarity with security standards, such as NIST 800-53 and ISO 27001/27002.
Ability to assess the security posture of applications and recommend remediation strategies.
Excellent communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Having a strong knowledge in application security engineering is essential for a successful career in cybersecurity. This is because application security engineering is the process of ensuring the integrity of applications by preventing and detecting malicious attacks. With this knowledge, an engineer can identify potential security weaknesses, create secure coding practices, and develop secure software architectures to protect against a variety of threats.

Furthermore, application security engineers need to be familiar with common attack types such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and buffer overflow attacks. They must also understand the latest technologies, such as cloud computing and mobile applications, in order to effectively secure them. Having the right skillset is the key to becoming a successful cybersecurity application security engineer.

Cybersecurity Technical Support Engineer, Cybersecurity Forensics Investigator, and Cybersecurity Researcher are related jobs you may like.

Frequent Interview Questions

Describe your experience with application security engineering.
What have been the greatest challenges youve encountered in your application security engineering roles?
How do you stay up to date on the latest application security trends and best practices?
How do you approach developing secure coding standards for web applications?
What tools and techniques do you use to identify and address application security vulnerabilities?
What strategies do you use to design secure authentication and authorization mechanisms for web applications?
What processes have you implemented for tracking and responding to application security issues?
How do you ensure that applications are built and deployed securely?
How do you integrate automated security testing into the software development lifecycle?
How do you ensure compliance with security regulations and standards?

Common Tools in Industry

Veracode. Veracode is an application security platform that provides automated security testing and static code analysis for web, mobile, desktop, and third-party applications. (Example: Veracode can be used to scan applications for security vulnerabilities and compliance issues. )
AppScan. AppScan is a web application security scanner that helps organizations identify, assess, and remediate security risks in web applications. (Example: AppScan can be used to identify common web application vulnerabilities such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting. )
Burp Suite. Burp Suite is a comprehensive toolkit for performing web application security testing. (Example: Burp Suite can be used to perform manual security testing of web applications, such as pen testing and vulnerability scans. )
OWASP Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP). ZAP is an open source security scanner designed to detect and fix common web application vulnerabilities. (Example: ZAP can be used to test web applications for cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and other common security vulnerabilities. )
Sqreen. Sqreen is a cloud-based application security platform that provides real-time protection from malicious attacks and data breaches. (Example: Sqreen can be used to detect and block malicious requests, such as SQL injection attempts. )

Professional Organizations to Know

Cloud Security Alliance (CSA)
International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2
Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)
International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)
Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)
National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA)
Global Cyber Alliance (GCA)
Cyber Security Forum Initiative (CSFI)
Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (FIRST)
Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC)

We also have Cybersecurity Risk Analyst, Cybersecurity Product Security Engineer, and Cybersecurity System Administrator jobs reports.

Common Important Terms

Vulnerability Scanning. Process of using automated tools to detect weaknesses (vulnerabilities) within a system or application.
Penetration Testing. Process of using manual and automated methods to gain unauthorized access to a system or application.
Security Auditing. Process of examining a system or application to identify security gaps, evaluate risk levels, and suggest remediation measures.
Application Security. The practice of protecting applications from threats and vulnerabilities.
Identity and Access Management (IAM). The process of managing the access rights, authentication, and authorization of users to access systems or applications.
Secure Code Review. The process of conducting code reviews to identify potential security issues such as buffer overflows and SQL injection vulnerabilities.
Encryption. The process of using an algorithm to transform plain text into unreadable ciphertext, thus making it more difficult for attackers to gain access to sensitive data.
Network Security. The practice of protecting networks, including the hardware and software, from malicious activities such as hacking and data theft.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the typical scope of responsibility for a Cybersecurity Application Security Engineer? A1: A Cybersecurity Application Security Engineer typically oversees the application security of web, mobile, and other software applications, ensuring that security best practices are in place and followed. Q2: What qualifications are required to become a Cybersecurity Application Security Engineer? A2: To become a Cybersecurity Application Security Engineer, one typically needs a degree in computer science or a related field, experience in software development, and knowledge of security standards such as OWASP. Q3: What type of organizations typically employ Cybersecurity Application Security Engineers? A3: Many organizations in different industries employ Cybersecurity Application Security Engineers, including software companies, banks, healthcare providers, and government agencies. Q4: What tasks are typically part of a Cybersecurity Application Security Engineer's job? A4: Typical tasks for a Cybersecurity Application Security Engineer include identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities, developing security policies, implementing security tools and processes, and monitoring application security. Q5: How important is knowledge of coding languages for a Cybersecurity Application Security Engineer? A5: Knowledge of coding languages is essential for a Cybersecurity Application Security Engineer, as they need to be able to audit code for security vulnerabilities and develop secure coding standards.