Data Security Engineer
Part of the Cybersecurity Career Guide — This article is one deep-dive in our complete guide series.
By HADESS Team | February 28, 2026 | Updated: February 28, 2026 | 5 min read
You protect data — at rest, in transit, and in use. You design and implement the technical controls that keep sensitive information from being accessed, modified, or exfiltrated by unauthorized parties. While others secure networks and applications, you focus specifically on the data itself.
What You Will Do
Data security engineering is about building the infrastructure and processes that protect data throughout its lifecycle. You work across databases, data lakes, cloud storage, data pipelines, and analytics platforms.
Your work includes:
- Designing and implementing data encryption strategies — at rest, in transit, and increasingly at the computation layer
- Managing encryption key lifecycle — generation, rotation, revocation, HSM integration
- Implementing data classification systems — identifying what data is sensitive and where it lives
- Configuring database security controls — access controls, audit logging, dynamic data masking
- Building data loss prevention (DLP) solutions across endpoints, networks, and cloud services
- Securing data pipelines — ETL processes, streaming data, data warehouse access
- Implementing tokenization and anonymization for sensitive data in non-production environments
- Managing access controls for data platforms — Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery, Redshift
- Monitoring data access patterns and detecting anomalous queries
- Supporting compliance requirements for data handling — PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR data protection
- Automating data retention and deletion policies
- Working with data engineering teams to embed security into data architectures
You are the person who makes sure that even if an attacker gets past the perimeter, the data itself remains protected.
Skills You Need
Data security engineering requires understanding both data systems and cryptographic controls.
Key skills to build:
- Encryption and key management — AES, RSA, envelope encryption, KMS, HSM
- Database security — SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Oracle, NoSQL security configurations
- Cloud data services — S3, Azure Blob, GCS encryption and access controls
- Data classification and discovery — tools and methods for identifying sensitive data
- DLP technologies — endpoint, network, and cloud DLP implementation
- Data platform security — Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery access and audit controls
- Tokenization and masking — protecting data in non-production environments
- Privacy-enhancing technologies — differential privacy, homomorphic encryption basics
Explore these in the skills library and see how data security connects to other paths in the career path explorer.
Certifications
Data security does not have a single dominant certification, but several are relevant:
- Vendor-specific data platform certifications (AWS Data Analytics, Azure Data Engineer)
- CISSP — covers cryptography and data security domains
- CCSP — cloud data protection and security
- Privacy certifications (CIPT) for the data protection angle
Plan your certification approach with the certification roadmap planner.
Salary Range
Data security engineers earn between $75K and $135K. As data regulations grow stricter and data breaches become more costly, demand for this specialization is rising. Engineers who combine data platform expertise with strong security skills — especially in cloud data environments — earn the most.
Compare your compensation using the salary calculator.
How to Get Started
1. Learn database administration — you need to understand how data platforms work before securing them 2. Study cryptography fundamentals — not just theory, but practical implementation 3. Take the skills assessment to evaluate your data security knowledge 4. Practice data security configurations in the labs 5. Get hands-on with a cloud data platform — learn S3 permissions, BigQuery access controls, or Snowflake security 6. Learn DLP tools — understand how they detect and prevent data exfiltration 7. Study relevant compliance frameworks — PCI DSS Requirement 3 and 4, GDPR Article 32 8. Plan your certifications with the certification planner 9. Build your resume highlighting data protection projects and implementations 10. Search for data security or data protection engineer roles on the job board
If you are a database administrator or data engineer who wants to move into security, the career coach can help you plan the most direct path.
Related Guides in This Series
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Frequently Asked Questions
What certifications do I need for this role?
Certification requirements vary by employer and seniority level. Use the certification roadmap planner to build a sequence based on your target role and current qualifications.
What is the salary range for this role?
Salaries vary significantly by location, experience, and employer type. Use the salary calculator for your specific market rate.
How do I transition into this career path?
Take the skills assessment to identify your current strengths and gaps relative to this role. The assessment generates a personalized learning plan to close the gap.
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HADESS Team consists of cybersecurity practitioners, hiring managers, and career strategists who have collectively spent 50+ years in the field.
