Best Degrees for a Career in Cybersecurity

In our modern world, where we do so many things online, it should come as no surprise that these specialists are going to be in high demand. It is estimated that security breaches have gone up by 67% just in the past five years and it is estimated that companies will lose $5.2 trillion in revenue over five years as well.

If you would like to become a professional in cybersecurity, you will need to gain a degree first. This will show a potential employer that you have the knowledge and skills to handle the work and will be able to assist them with all of their security needs. But which degree is best if. Do you want to become a cybersecurity professional?

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

The first degree that we can look at is a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. Software vulnerabilities and data breaches are becoming very common. Due to this, many companies are looking for a specialist who can keep them safe. A degree in cybersecurity will provide you with the preparation that you need to protect data assets and help these companies out.

You will need a minimum of a high school diploma or the equivalent in order to enroll in the necessary courses. This degree is going to take four years for most students, though taking a larger course load and working during the summer can help. you will need to pick an area to focus on including forensics, cybercrime, information assurance, and network security.

Once you gain the right degree, you will be able to choose a career to protect the digital assets of companies. You can work as a network security administrator, a digital forensics expert, or a cybersecurity analyst to name a few options.

BS in Computer Science

A cybersecurity degree can be a smart decision for many professionals entering this kind of field, but you can also look into a BS in Computer Science to help you become a professional in cybersecurity as well.

This is another degree that will take four years to complete and it focuses more on the processes of computation and some of the techniques that are used to develop a new software system. It will also work more on the theoretical component that comes with a computer system.

As a professional in this field, you will need to learn more about several programming languages. You can develop skills that will improve your ability to trace a problem down to the source, develop solutions against common problems, and anticipate some of the problems that will show up as well.

Cryptography

Next on the list is a degree in cryptography. These are professionals who are going to develop a security system that is able to protect sensitive data from any hacker or cybercriminal. They can also take the time to encrypt and decrypt data while looking for common weaknesses in the computer network.

The role of this professional is going to vary based on the company they choose to work with. You can work inside a financial institution where you will need to keep important financial data safe and secure. You could also hold a position that asks you to analyze data using a variety of statistical models to solve common security problems.

Each employer will have their own requirements when it comes to who they will hire to do this kind of job and it can depend on the exact work that is going to get done. The salary can be high, with many earning an average salary of $149,000 a year. Getting a degree in cryptography can help you do some of this rewarding work.

Database Management

Many companies will have their own database that they need to manage and keep secure. They are able to collect and store a good deal of information inside to help them think of marketing techniques, figure out the new products they want to sell, and just keep their customers safe when it comes to personal and financial information.

If a hacker is looking to steal information from a company, they will do it out of the database. They can gain access to modify or destroy the data or will just steal it and give it to a competitor who can use it the way that they want. If there isn’t a security system in place, the hacker will be successful.

You can gain a degree in database management to help you learn how to protect all of the information found in those databases. You will learn all about database security, administration, and SQL to do this job well.

Software Engineering

To become a software engineer, you will be able to go for a 2-year or a 4-year degree depending on your goals. Keep in mind that while you can get some positions with a 2-year degree, most employers are going to prefer that you have a 4-year degree before they will hire you.

This is a degree program that will include a larger focus than some of the others, providing you with some experience in mathematics and computer science at the same time. You will be able to learn a lot of different topics including:

• Risk analysis
• Systems engineering
• Security intelligence
• Software development

As a specialist in this field, you will need to have complete knowledge of all the computer systems. And you will be able to take these skills to take on a career in cybersecurity by learning skills in security, information systems, and Linux to name a few. If you want to learn more about computer systems and cybersecurity, then this is a great degree.

Picking the Right Degree

There are many different degrees that you can choose to pursue in order to begin your career in cybersecurity. Choosing the right one will ensure that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to start in the niche that you want the most. Take a look at some of the degrees above and decide which one is right for you.