Cyber security is one of the fastest-growing fields within information technology. The demand for cyber security professionals, especially those with software engineering and data analysis skills, is growing at an accelerated rate.
Why are companies hiring more cyber security professionals? Because their networks, databases, operating systems, and software applications have become so complex and interconnected that they’re extremely vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which have grown in frequency and scope as a result of globalization, cloud computing, and mobile devices.
What Does a Career in Cyber Security Involve?
A career in cyber security typically focuses on protecting and defending computer networks, systems, and data against malicious attacks, break-ins, and other cyber risks. It can also involve investigating cybercrimes.
You may work in a computer systems operations center, analyzing security logs and monitoring networks for anomalies. Or you may work in information security analysis, testing a company’s systems and networks to pinpoint areas of weakness.
Or you may work in engineering, designing more secure network architectures. Regardless of your role, your job is to make sure that critical information and systems remain secure and are not misused by employees or other trusted parties, who may unwittingly open up networks to cyber threats.
What Are the Benefits of a Cyber Security Career?
There are many benefits of a career in cyber security, including:
Flexibility: Some people work in IT security as contractors, which allows them to work remotely and choose their hours.
Job Security: The demand for cyber security experts is expected to grow as our dependence on information technology and the Internet increases.
High Pay: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for information security analysts is $102,600. [1]
Challenge: The breadth, complexity, and rapid change of modern technologies mean that the field of cyber security will never be “stagnant” or “dull.”
Consider Getting Your Degree Online
A growing number of students are choosing to get an education in cyber security through online colleges. And, for most students, online colleges are cheaper than on-campus institutions.
Plus, online cyber security degrees offer a high level of flexibility: You can start and finish a degree program at any time, even while working full-time. There are many online colleges where you can earn a degree in cyber security.
The best online colleges for cyber security are those that offer degrees from accredited schools. Accreditation is a process by which academic institutions are evaluated by independent agencies to ensure that they meet certain standards of quality.
Personalize Your Learning Experience
Earning a degree in cyber security through an online college allows you to set the tone for your learning experience. That means you can access course materials, reading materials, and study groups whenever you have time.
You’re not limited to attending classes at a certain time and place, nor do you have to commute to school, which saves you both time and money on travel. You can also interact with your instructors and other students through online tools, such as discussion forums and webinars.
Not only is an online cyber security degree cheaper than a traditional on-campus degree, but it also allows you to study when and where you have time without having to worry about child care or getting to and from a physical campus.
Cyber Security Degrees Are Flexible
As a cyber security professional, you may be required to have a combination of knowledge, skills, and experience—a degree that reflects that. But if you are a non-traditional student, you may feel that you don’t have enough experience to meet that requirement.
Fortunately, cyber security degrees are flexible. The three primary degrees you can earn are a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a doctorate degree.
There are positions that require only an associate degree, such as some systems security careers. However, you will need higher degrees of learning for all other positions in cyber security.
You can also choose the major you want to study and the focus you want to give your degree. For example, if you’re interested in computer science, you can choose to major in computer science. If you’re interested in business, you can choose to major in information systems.
If you want a more general degree that gives you a broad range of knowledge, you can choose to major in cyber security. Take a moment to explore a few of the more popular positions in the cybersecurity field below.
Cryptographer
Cryptography is the practice of using mathematical formulas and computer software to convert information into an unreadable format that can only be deciphered by the intended recipient. The field of cryptography is widely used by businesses and government agencies.
Someone with a degree in cryptography would be employed by a business or government agency to create unbreakable codes, break other codes, and ensure information is transmitted securely. Cryptographers must be highly skilled in mathematics, statistics, and computer programming.
Forensic Engineer
A forensic engineer is an engineer who specializes in analyzing and assessing the causes of engineering failures.
Engineers who work in this field are primarily responsible for determining the root cause of accidents and other types of incidents, including deploying defense toolkits and determining the culprit behind criminal acts.
A forensic engineer may even be tasked with publishing recommendations for optimal cyber defense, including writing white papers and submitting reports on their findings following an incident. [2]
What’s more, some forensic engineers testify in court cases as expert witnesses to explain their findings and conclusions.
Security Software Developer
Security software developers design and develop software and systems that are used to protect computer systems and networks against cyber threats.
Their software may be installed on individual computers, on network servers, or on large, distributed computer networks.
Security software developers may be employed by computer software companies, engineering firms, information technology departments of large companies, or other organizations that need to protect their computer systems and networks from cyber-attacks and other online threats.
Security Analyst
Security analysts work in the field of information security. They are responsible for designing and implementing security policies, assessing the effectiveness of these policies, and responding to security breaches that occur within a company’s computer systems and networks.
In addition, security analysts are often tasked with managing risk by identifying potential threats to a company’s computer systems and networks and implementing countermeasures to protect these systems.
They are also responsible for conducting after-incident investigations to identify what happened during a security breach and who was responsible.
Conclusion
Cyber security is a growing field that is expected to remain in demand as long as computer networks and data are so interconnected and susceptible to cyber threats.
If you’re interested in this field, consider getting your degree in cyber security through an online college, where you can pursue a degree in a flexible format at a more affordable rate than a traditional degree program.
References:
[1] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm
[2] https://niccs.cisa.gov/workforce-development/cyber-security-workforce-framework/digital-forensics