Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Network Security Coordinator

🎯 Role Definition

The Network Security Coordinator is a vital hands-on role at the forefront of an organization's cyber defense strategy. This individual acts as the central point for monitoring, managing, and maintaining the integrity of the corporate network infrastructure. Reporting typically to a Security Manager or Director of IT, the coordinator is responsible for the day-to-day administration of security tools, the initial response to security incidents, and the enforcement of security policies. At its core, this role is about vigilance and action—detecting threats in real-time and coordinating the efforts needed to neutralize them, ensuring the company's digital assets remain secure and available.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Network Technician or Administrator
IT Support Specialist (Tier 2/3)
Junior Security Analyst

Advancement To:

Network Security Engineer
Senior Cybersecurity Analyst
Cybersecurity Manager or Team Lead

Lateral Moves:

IT Compliance Analyst
Systems Administrator (with a security focus)
IT Auditor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Proactively monitor network traffic and security alerts from SIEM, IDS/IPS, EDR, and other security platforms to identify, triage, and analyze potential security incidents.
Serve as a key member of the incident response team, executing initial containment, investigation, and eradication procedures for security events in accordance with the established incident response plan.
Administer and maintain network security hardware and software, including firewalls, VPN concentrators, and web application firewalls (WAFs), by coordinating rule set reviews, updates, and policy enforcement.
Coordinate and perform regular vulnerability assessments and penetration tests on network infrastructure, applications, and systems, and collaborate with system owners to prioritize and track remediation efforts.
Manage the configuration and health of remote access VPN solutions, ensuring secure and reliable connectivity for remote employees and third-party vendors.
Perform in-depth analysis of network logs, firewall logs, proxy logs, and other security data sources to investigate security incidents and identify Indicators of Compromise (IOCs).
Coordinate the implementation and enforcement of network access control (NAC) policies to ensure only authorized and compliant devices can connect to the corporate network.
Collaborate closely with network engineers, system administrators, and application development teams to integrate security controls and best practices throughout the IT infrastructure lifecycle.
á- Fine-tune and configure security monitoring tools to reduce false positives, improve detection accuracy, and ensure optimal performance and coverage.
Enforce information security policies and standards across the network, identifying and reporting on any deviations or non-compliance.
Monitor and secure core network services, including DNS and DHCP, against threats like spoofing, hijacking, and denial-of-service attacks.
Oversee the security of wireless networks, including the configuration of WPA2/WPA3-Enterprise, RADIUS authentication, and detection of rogue access points.

Secondary Functions

Develop, update, and maintain comprehensive documentation for network security configurations, policies, standards, and incident response procedures.
Support internal and external audits by gathering evidence, responding to inquiries, and demonstrating compliance with security frameworks like NIST, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, or HIPAA.
Assist in the development and delivery of security awareness training materials and phishing simulation campaigns to educate employees on current threats and best practices.
Participate in the evaluation, proof-of-concept testing, and implementation of new network security technologies and solutions.
Generate and present regular security reports to management on key metrics, including incident trends, vulnerability status, and compliance posture.
Analyze and contextualize threat intelligence feeds to understand emerging threats, attack vectors, and vulnerabilities relevant to the organization's environment.
Coordinate with IT operations teams to ensure the timely application of security patches and updates for network devices and related systems.
Participate in post-incident reviews and root cause analysis sessions to identify lessons learned and recommend improvements to security controls and processes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Security Tool Proficiency: Hands-on experience with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms (e.g., Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel), Intrusion Detection/Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS), and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools.
Firewall & Network Hardware: Strong ability to configure, administer, and troubleshoot next-generation firewalls (Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco), routers, and switches.
Vulnerability Management: Experience using vulnerability assessment tools like Nessus, Qualys, or Rapid7 to identify, prioritize, and report on security weaknesses.
Networking Protocols: Deep foundational knowledge of the TCP/IP suite, including routing, switching, and common application protocols (DNS, DHCP, HTTP/S, SSL/TLS).
Incident Response: Familiarity with incident response methodologies and frameworks (e.g., NIST SP 800-61), including containment, eradication, and recovery steps.
Network Access Control (NAC): Experience with NAC solutions and 802.1x authentication protocols for securing network access.
Scripting & Automation: Basic scripting skills in languages such as Python, PowerShell, or Bash for automating repetitive tasks and analyzing data.

Soft Skills

Analytical & Problem-Solving: An investigative mindset with exceptional analytical skills to dissect complex security events, identify root causes, and formulate effective solutions.
Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical security concepts to diverse audiences, from technical peers to business stakeholders.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail and a methodical approach to investigation, documentation, and configuration management.
Collaboration & Teamwork: A collaborative disposition with a proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams and build strong working relationships.
Poise Under Pressure: The ability to remain calm, focused, and organized while managing high-priority incidents and working in a fast-paced environment.
Continuous Learning: A strong desire to stay current with the ever-changing cybersecurity threat landscape, new technologies, and industry best practices.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent combination of work experience, technical training, and industry certifications.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Cybersecurity or a related discipline.
Relevant industry certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CompTIA CySA+, GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH), or Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Cybersecurity
Computer Science
Information Technology
Network Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-5 years of professional experience in an IT role, with at least 2 years specifically focused on network security, cybersecurity analysis, or network administration with security responsibilities.

Preferred: Experience working in a Security Operations Center (SOC) environment and hands-on experience with cloud networking security (AWS, Azure, GCP).