Considering a career in cybersecurity? Here’s what you should know about this lucrative and exciting field.
When you picture a “cybersecurity expert,” you may envision the Hollywood version: a person typing away in a white van or surrounded by computers in a control room.
In reality, cybersecurity is not a career path that exists solely on the big screen. As more of our professional world becomes digitized, cybersecurity experts are the key to ensuring that the data businesses, organizations, and governments share stays private and uncompromised.
Cybersecurity is a career path growing in both need and popularity. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were over 700,000 open roles in cybersecurity as of August 2022. Jobs for information analysts are expected to jump 32 percent from 2022 to 2032, a clear indication the field is on the rise. According to staffing agency Mondo, the average salary for a cybersecurity analyst in the U.S. can be anywhere from $102,000 to $208,000.
What can you do with a degree in cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is a diverse field with a wide range of roles. Virtually every organization– from hospitals to universities– has data they need to protect, which means the need for cybersecurity analysts exists in every sector. Below are just a few examples of what a role in cybersecurity can look like for you:
- Computer forensic analysts evaluate technology to recover data. They often aid in gathering information that police can use during criminal investigations, mainly focused on cybercrime.
- Security consultants are professionals who inform businesses on how they can upgrade their security protocols. They develop strategies for making businesses keep their data more secure.
- Security specialists are those in charge of monitoring a company’s potential breaches. They address cyberattacks in real time and edit security measures to prevent attacks in the future.
Beyond these roles, cybersecurity can also venture into related fields such as:
- Information Security
- Network Setup
- Core Database, Coding and Scripting
- Auditing
- Network Protocols
- Systems Administration
- Health Care
- Finance and Accounting
Is Cybersecurity right for you?
Being a cybersecurity professional may be the right field for you if you’re passionate about technology, but are more interested in the privacy side, and don’t see yourself studying in a program such as software engineering or computer science.
For those with an interest in compliance, national security, or data protection, cybersecurity is a career path that can provide both personal and professional fulfillment. A career in cybersecurity means that you’ll play a vital role in whatever business or organization you become a part of, and can rest assured in knowing that you’re keeping your coworkers’ work safe and secure.
At Syracuse University, our Bachelor of Professional Studies program in Cybersecurity Administration provides essential skills for managing the people and technologies that protect information, information systems, and infrastructures. The 120-credit program gives students an understanding of network setup, database coding, and systems administration. It’s also 100 percent online, has six start dates, and is accommodating to part-time students.
A B.P.S. degree is different from a normal degree in that it’s more career-oriented, meaning the program is hyper focused on providing you with the necessary skills for your intended profession. If a full degree isn’t the right choice for you at this time, Syracuse University also offers a 15-credit Cybersecurity Certificate.
Ready to learn how you can start your journey in this exciting field? Read more about our programs here, and see how you can get started in cybersecurity today.
By Isabel Bekele