Have you ever opened an email and thought the link was a scam or from a legitimate organization? What about worrying about the antivirus software and hoping it is powerful enough to withstand all kinds of cyber-attacks? Fortunately, you’re not alone in having these thoughts; thousands of businesses also go through this every day. Cybersecurity is a must-have in the 21st century; it is the lock and key to all your databases.
Companies like Microsoft are willing to spend more than $1 billion on cybersecurity alone. As a result, this industry is expected to grow to $300 billion by 2024, making it both an impressive and expensive sector. Therefore, working in cybersecurity can help you build a promising career. The industry gives you immense legroom to explore and discover different fields, with each being rewarding in its way; so if you’re excited to get to work, here’s what you need to know about having a cybersecurity degree:
The Value of a Cybersecurity Degree
Cybersecurity has gained massive momentum in the last few years. From government entities to private companies, each agency is highly invested in protecting their data and ensuring they don’t fall victim to an apparent cyberattack. This is one of the reasons why you should continue pursuing a cybersecurity master’s degree and transform yourself into a valuable company asset. Employers want a cybersecurity professional with the skills and knowledge to anticipate, dismantle and weaken any attempt at hacking.
Similarly, they want workers who understand the significance of building a cybersecurity infrastructure and providing practical solutions to common online security problems. This makes your degree a resource as you pave your way through this sector. Whether you go through traditional schooling or choose an online master of science in cybersecurity, the coursework will walk you through numerous concepts. These include software security, malware, legal and ethical hacking, and data loss. The jobs you land can yield a six-figure salary guaranteeing a secure and stable future.
Careers in Cybersecurity
Pursuing a cybersecurity career means you’ll be part of a booming industry with a growth rate of 33% until 2030, which is much higher than average. Large firms are in dire need of talented specialists, and choosing a career in this industry is enough to make them look at you; here are their details:
As a CISO, your primary role is to oversee all the IT operations in a company. This senior executive job makes you directly responsible for developing and applying for an information security program. This detailed plan allows you to protect all company’s resources from internal and external threats by outlining the procedure used in developing a security network and its usage. You are also pivotal in reducing cyber risks and highlighting areas of the only network where a hacker can find an entry point.
Simultaneously, you also have complete authority to restrict access within the organization and define the parameters for access. This prevents unverified employees from looking into sensitive data and misusing them. It also contains the chances of data corruption since you can narrow down who gets to work on what feature of the online database. A bachelor’s degree in the field is enough to land an entry-level job but go for a master’s in cybersecurity or an MBA with a major in data administration to secure higher pay and an annual salary between $160,000 to $200,000.
Your job as an information security analyst is to protect your organization’s online network by encrypting data and installing firewalls. Your duty includes recovering data and shutting down the next cyberattack following a breach. Therefore you have to plan accordingly by considering the business’s size, amount of data, and possible security threats. You must also develop security standards and follow the latest trends in the market to encourage employees to play their part.
This can include conveying the benefits of a password manager and implementing it an organizational level, and training employees on recognizing phishing emails. So your education should consist of a bachelor’s in computer science or any related field with a master’s in computer science or an MBA focusing on information technology. This endeavor yields you an annual salary of $100,000.
The best way to ensure a product works is by taking it on a test run yourself. This is what you’ll do as a penetration tester. Your job is to simulate attacks within the company’s network to discover vulnerabilities and loopholes in the software. You do this using the same tools as a hacker but ethically and without disturbing the original data. You can also use your skills to determine application and online services problems, such as an outdated URL.
It’s best if you get at least a master’s degree for your skills to get better at checking for weaknesses in the system. This field also requires you to be creative since you need to find ways to get into the database without getting blocked by the security measures such as a firewall. While your starting salary can be upward of $80,000, the higher you go up the ladder, you can earn more than $120,000.
As a security engineer, you will spend time performing system maintenance, identifying vulnerabilities, and keeping tabs on the number of breaches a company faces. You will also need to develop an algorithm and automatic scripts to help you track all security incidents. You may also run encryption tests, use reports from penetration testers to upgrade the security system, and develop new firewalls. Your education should have a background in cybersecurity with a masters in mathematics or any closely related field, as your work will revolve around numbers. The median salary you can earn is $100,000.
Final Thoughts
Cybercrimes are a menace to society. These malicious attacks can steal private data and misuse them, which can cause havoc on multiple levels. Therefore your role as a cybersecurity specialist is more critical than ever. This booming sector will continue to expand and give you more career options. So far, your choices can include becoming a chief information security officer, where you oversee the level of security a corporation has and build it higher.
On the other hand, as an information analyst, you may encrypt data, study the best firewalls and analyze where the system needs mending. Penetration testing can help you detect vulnerabilities in real-time, allowing you to tighten security and make changes to the infrastructure. Finally, as an IT engineer, you must keep tabs on all the breaches, track down the source or problem, and build a security system that will counter that, such as an updated firewall.
