Should Software Engineers Learn IT Skills Like Networking and Cybersecurity?

Bro, being a software engineer is essentially an IT job! A decent understanding of networks and basic systems is crucial. It really helps to know how your code interacts with the hardware and other systems. If you’re developing web applications, for instance, understanding security threats like SQL injection is key.

From my experience, a solid grasp of systems administration and security concepts makes development much smoother. Understanding how applications communicate, and the importance of security, is essential. Even learning simple things like test environment setup can save you a lot of headaches down the line.

Exploring IT basics is definitely worth it! I picked up a Raspberry Pi to play around with servers and VPNs, and it’s been a great learning experience. The certs can be boring, but hands-on projects make the learning process engaging and relevant.

Having some IT skills gives you a safety net. If you have strong networking knowledge, companies will want to keep you because you become hard to replace. Plus, if you ever need to pivot, you have valuable skills in a related field. Learning always pays off!

Learning IT skills is definitely beneficial for software engineers! With the increasing interaction between software development and operations, having a grasp of IT can improve your communication with IT teams and help you understand the environments your software operates in. While certifications can be hit or miss, they often enhance your skill set, especially if they cover practical concepts instead of vague terminology.