What Kind of Degree do you Need for Cyber Security Jobs?
Imagine this. Everybody in cyberspace is under attack from black hat actors, and it's your job to protect them. You have the skills and training to protect an elderly widow from losing her life savings to an unscrupulous hacker. You have the knowledge and ability to keep the lights on in a town whose grid is being assaulted by a foreign agent. You can protect the personal information in the bank accounts of tens of thousands of customers from being accessed and sold on to identity thieves.
How do you feel?
Roles in cybersecurity
There are many different ways of protecting a company's information systems. Here are just a few of the types of jobs you could find yourself in wearing your virtual white hat and cape:
- Network security analysis - Network security analysts protect access to the files and directories in a computer network against misuse, hacking, and unauthorized changes. Network security systems protect businesses and individuals against theft and data sabotage.
- Network infrastructure support - Network infrastructure refers to all of the hardware and software that enable the communication, operations, connectivity, and management of an enterprise network.
- Information technology solutions - IT solutions refer to the complete set of computer products and services that are sold as a complete package. Solutions are often targeted to customers in specific niche applications.
- Technical support and help desks - These are the people who monitor and maintain the computer systems and networks within an organization. Here, you are the first person that anybody in the company contacts for everything from password changes to viruses and email issues. This is a perfect role for someone who is both analytical and amiable.
- Information security analysis - An ever-expanding role in an environment where the number of cyberattacks is continually increasing, information security analysts plan and implement security measures to protect an organization's computer system and networks.
- Network administration - A data network is a set of computing devices that communicate with each other to share resources and exchange data between nodes. A network administrator maintains the computer infrastructures within a network.
- Supervision and management of network applications - An applications is a program, or set of instructions written in a computer language, that operates on your workstation. Examples of applications include word processors, games, utilities, and email programs.
- Network infrastructure support: switching, routing and server management - Network infrastructure refers to all of the computer hardware and software that allow a computer network to function. The job of the infrastructure team is to design, coordinate, and maintain the network infrastructure for simple systems within libraries, retail outlets, or apartment complexes to massive and complicated structures within cities or government entities.
Skills and knowledge requirements
Working in the cybersecurity industry requires that you know how administer, manage, and troubleshoot services, hardware, and software for single and multi-user environments. Also, to develop basic security protocols and policies, proactively monitor and defend networks, perform tasks such as vulnerability assessments and penetration testing of organizations' information systems. Not to mention, protect data as well as educate and manage non-IT personnel by creating a cybersecurity-savvy work force.
How getting a cyber security degree helps
Having a bachelor's degree in a cybersecurity related-field on your resume, especially if you earn it from a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, could help you when it comes time to find a job as a cybersecurity professional.
Many employers require a four-year degree for entry-level positions. They are looking for coursework in statistics, computer programming, computer forensics, and ethics.
Other ways to enhance your job prospects include obtaining a master's degree in a related subject or having a security clearance, many of which are issued by the Department of Defense.
Where to begin
Interested in become a cybersecurity expert? You're going to need the right education first! A great place to start is a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security from ECPI University. For more information about this accelerated course, connect with a knowledgeable ECPI University admissions officer today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content.
Gainful Employment Information – Cyber and Network Security - Bachelor’s
For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.