Cyber security is a growing concern as the world grows more complex and technically advanced. Almost every day, there is a headline about a major retailer suffering from a cyber security attack or the hacking of prominent people’s emails. As fears of terrorism grow, many people are rightly concerned about a major hack that could disrupt medical delivery and financial information. As threats increase, more experts in cyber security are needed in the public and private sector, and degrees in this area are particularly attractive to respective employers.
Degree Programs
Cyber security is now offered as a major in a number of accredited universities, and a person who has a bachelors degree can pursue a graduate program in this field. When choosing a degree program, look for faculty with extensive knowledge in the area as well as mentoring programs to improve chances for success. A degree should involve rigorous coursework that will give all students knowledge and translate into real life applications. In addition, many learning institutions offer opportunities to network for career opportunities.
As part of your cyber security degree, you may be taking courses in business processes and systems, security controls, business data, cyber security, hacking and virtualization and cloud security. Depending on the course you take will examinations, projects and possibly a final thesis. A bachelors degree and cyber security can take as little as 2.5 years and may not require previous experience in cyber security. Maryville’s online cyber security degree program can be completed entirely online in your own time and can be coordinated with your regular work schedule. Click here for more details about the degree program.
What You Can Do With a Cyber Security Degree
A cyber security degree can help you secure employment in a variety of industries. Those who complete these degrees may work as cryptographers or “ethical hackers†to test the security of web-based applications. You may work as a security analyst or security architect, or consult with businesses and demonstrate ways they can keep their databases secure. If you work for government agencies, such as the Department of Defense, you will have to pass security clearance to handle classified information.
The kind of career you choose depends on the type of degree you have earned, so consider what area of cyber security interests you before choosing to specialize. One popular topic is vulnerability analysis, which involves testing to see where stand-alone or networked applications are the most vulnerable to attack and how to fix the problems. Digital forensics is also a growing field and requires a grasp of principles of forensic science, which includes preserving, analyzing and presenting evidence. All of these disciplines require competency in networking technologies and installing and configuring servers.
Address a Growing Need
Presidential candidates, concerned CEOs and people from all walks of life have addressed the need to tighten cyber security in the public and private sphere. We live much of our lives online and keep large amounts of financial and personal information as well as medical records in digital form. The last thing anyone wants is for this information to fall into the wrong hands, and that is why cyber security is such an essential area of study.
