Planning a Future in Cybersecurity
Protecting invaluable data, subverting international cyber espionage, and defending networks from nefarious groups may sound like the scenes of some thriller movies. Pursuing a future in cybersecurity can put you in such a position. Although it may sound glamorous and exhilarating, it’s not all formal wear and one-liners. If you’re genuinely interested in joining the field of cybersecurity, you should develop a cybersecurity path for yourself.
A Future in Cybersecurity
Sometimes roles will vary depending on experience. Expect to enter the field as either a security analyst or administrator and then progress through to the middle management level to a senior leadership position such as a CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) over time.
As a cybersecurity professional, you may even be responsible for the planning and development of information security governance. With a decree in cybersecurity and some experience under your belt, you could become a Security Advisor and Auditor whose main responsibilities are to advise on risk assessment, policy design, and compliance with industrial standards.
The top most position in the cybersecurity field is the chief information officer who is tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the cost of all ongoing and future investments that can help align business objectives by alleviating information risks and having a concise security strategy.
What Role Will Cybersecurity Training and Education Play?
Working as a cybersecurity professional requires a unique blend of ethics, knowledge, and ability to think like a hacker. Although some individuals get into the cybersecurity industry directly out of college, you can also enter into the field if you have a degree in computer science or any other technical industry.
Regardless of how you enter the cybersecurity industry, it is advisable that you also become certified through CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate). Becoming certified proves to prospective employers that you are not only serious about your path but also that you have also attained the necessary education and skills to do the job both efficiently and effectively.
A Path from your Current Degree to a Master's in Cybersecurity
A cybersecurity degree is designed to equip you with both knowledge and skills to help defend networks, computer operating systems, and data from cyber-attacks. Despite having theoretical concepts, this is a technical degree and having technical knowledge is important. Whether you want to design system architectures that have special security characteristics, or you want to detect risks and threats, you’ll be the main defense.
Some of the typical cybersecurity degrees include:
- Information Assurance
- Cybersecurity
- Information Systems Security
- Information Security
A general rule of thumb is that you should invest in more education if you would want to progress to management-level positions. An online master’s degree in the cybersecurity field could prepare you to detect and prevent cyber-attacks. As a graduate from such a program, you should understand the nature of internet threats and government policies.
Some programs may require you to have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, for instance, computer science or have significant work experience for you to enroll. In case you don’t yet have an undergraduate degree, consider applying.
A typical online cybersecurity master’s degree program will focus on monitoring, training, investigation, detection, and evidence collection strategies. When pursuing your online cybersecurity master’s degree program, you will cover network security, computer networking, and ethical hacking, cryptography, digital forensics, and privacy, legal and ethical concerns. You’ll also learn how to address harmful viruses, network outages and data compromised by cyber attackers.
Do you want to joint the fight against hackers and other dangerous digital individuals? For more information about earning a Master of Science in Cybersecurity, why not connect with an ECPI University admissions counselor? ECPI University offers accelerated classes and year-round education to help working students move through their degree programs faster.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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