There are numerous reasons why a cybersecurity degree is worthwhile. In fact, according to one critical indicator, there are 3.4 million reasons. The expected number of cybersecurity positions that need to be filled. And incomes are matching the demand, with the average compensation for a cybersecurity specialist surpassing $128,000 with some earning considerably more.
Why are there so many unfilled cybersecurity jobs? And why is this fast-growing industry paying top dollar for top talent? According to a Forbes article, cyber crime is projected to cost $10.5 trillion per year by 2025.
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Bottom Line: There just aren't nearly enough highly educated and competent individuals to meet demand, and the issue is immediate with extremely high stakes. Because of this, employers are willing to pay top dollar for skilled cybersecurity specialists. Getting a master's degree in cybersecurity may prove to be the best investment you've ever made.
Companies Hiring Cybersecurity Graduates
Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand across a wide variety of industries. Following a recent LinkedIn search for cybersecurity jobs, the following businesses are hiring for these kinds of roles:
- Cardinal Health
- Booz Allen Hamilton
- Comcast
- Citizens
- Leidos
- Deloitte
- Fidelity Investments
- Liberty Mutual Insurance
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Fan Duel
More industries than others are experiencing this demand. Here are a few of the top sectors in which cybersecurity jobs are available:
- Financial services
- Government
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Retail
The Value of a Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity
With rising knowledge and concern about the expanding cyber risks confronting corporations, governments, and individuals alike, many institutions and colleges have established graduate degree programs in cybersecurity.
While many of these programs are still in their early stages of development, others have been carefully created with feedback from national and local stakeholders, thought leaders in the field, and field practitioners with the aim of equipping cybersecurity professionals with the skills they need to learn new things all their lives and to defeat adversaries from both a theoretical and tactical standpoint.
A master's degree in cybersecurity is not required for all professions, but Tripwire reports that the majority of employers nowadays look for a combination of education and experience. Benefits of having a master's degree in cybersecurity include increased income, employment stability, and more career options. However, not all cybersecurity education is made equal, so when selecting a graduate program, it's critical to exercise extra caution.
10 Reasons You Need a Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity
1. A Degree in Cybersecurity Equals Job Security
The moment is now, if there was ever a time to work in cybersecurity. Demand for cybersecurity personnel is significantly exceeding supply as a result of the frequency and sophistication of cyber threats and attacks rising. This implies that job stability is all but guaranteed for cybersecurity workers with the necessary qualifications.
2. Cybersecurity Professionals Earn High Salaries
Because of the significant shortage of trained personnel, cybersecurity professionals are among the highest-paid in the technology industry.
- $93,519 is the average salary for an entry-level Cybersecurity Analyst [ZipRecruiter].
- $101,550 is the median salary for a Cybersecurity Engineer [PayScale].
- $111,410 is the median salary for an IT Security Specialist [Indeed]
Once you climb further up the cybersecurity career ladder, for example to Chief Security Officer (CSO) or Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), your earning potential gets considerably higher.
- $239,839 is the average CISO salary. [Salary.com]
- $147,697 is the average CSO salary in the U.S. [Comparably]
In conclusion, there is a great deal of demand and excellent earnings in the cybersecurity field. But you need a degree to get into the finest businesses and get the greatest cybersecurity positions, and the more education you have, the better.
3. Investment in Advanced Cybersecurity Education Pays for Itself
While master's degree tuition varies by institution, a cybersecurity degree will normally cost between $20,000 and $70,000 in total. Even if it's a big investment, the return shows it's worthwhile.
4. Cybersecurity Career Options Are Growing Faster Than Other Sectors
Information security analysts are experiencing a 32% increase in employment, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This growth rate is "much faster than (the) average" for comparable occupations. Furthermore, even if there are many career options and job openings in the cybersecurity sector, obtaining these positions may need a high level of education.
A graduate degree was required or desired by 28% of employers, according to CyberSeek, for positions employing cybersecurity architects (23% for cybersecurity engineers and 22% for penetration testers). However, there are plenty of options for individuals with the necessary training and expertise, with positions available in practically every state and industry, both public and private.
For higher-level positions, a master's degree is frequently either recommended or necessary.What are some of the best positions and career pathways in cybersecurity, then? Let's dissect it:
- Cybersecurity Analyst: Other names for this role are senior security analyst, IT security analyst, and information security analyst. A cybersecurity analyst develops and puts into action security plans to safeguard an organization's or company's computer networks and systems. A disaster recovery plan, which an IT department will implement in the case of a breach or security issue, may also be something you help establish.
- Security Auditor: A cybersecurity auditor works with businesses and organizations to perform comprehensive audits of online security systems. These audits often include a complete report on existing systems, analysis of whether the systems run efficiently, and recommendations for modifications to protocols and infrastructure.
- Cybersecurity Specialist: This occupation, also known as an information (IT) security specialist or a network security specialist, is critical to the security of business and other organizations' information systems.
- Cybersecurity Architect: The tasks of this frequently senior-level position include planning, designing, testing, implementing, and maintaining an organization's computer and network security architecture.
- Cybersecurity Consultant: These consultants, also known as security specialists, security consultants, physical security specialists, and people security specialists, operate as independent contractors for businesses across various industries to protect systems, networks, and important data.
- Network Administrator: This role, which has been named one of the top ten most in-demand tech jobs for 2020, is responsible for network monitoring, ordering network equipment, configuring/racking/testing networking equipment, and network troubleshooting.
- Penetration Tester: This position requires finding security flaws in both systems and policies.
Other career paths from CyberSeek include:
- Cyber Crime Analyst/Investigator
- Cybersecurity Manager/Administrator
- Cybersecurity Engineer
5. Flexible Cybersecurity Degree Programs Are Available
Adults who are employed need to be very flexible. For many cybersecurity professionals, the ability to complete their degree online while juggling their studies with a full-time job and family responsibilities has changed the course of their careers.
Many schools and universities now provide 100% online degrees or hybrid programs that can be completed entirely online. Apart from being flexible, online learning provides several advantages for students. These include the chance to connect with students nationwide and internationally, save money on materials (expensive textbooks are frequently replaced with digital content that can be viewed online or printed), and access the best cybersecurity programs, professors, and universities regardless of where you live.
6. Cybersecurity Skills: You’ll Learn the Basics – Plus Leadership, Management and More
The extra managerial and leadership development that comes with obtaining a master's degree in cybersecurity is among its most significant advantages. These kinds of business abilities are not taught in the majority of undergraduate technology schools. However, you'll need to have the necessary skills, such as astute business acumen, in order to progress in the industry and get high-ranking leadership roles.
For instance, students in the highly regarded Master of Science in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership program at the University of San Diego learn cybersecurity theory as well as how to put it into practice. They also gain specific knowledge and skills in the areas of technology, law, policy, compliance, governance, intelligence, incident response, and management.
Immersion programs are highly valued in the USD program because they provide students with the practical experience they need to be truly successful in their area.
The USD curriculum includes courses in Cyber Incident Response & Computer Network Forensics, Foundations of Cyber Security, and more. Other courses offered are:
- Applied Cryptography
- Secure Systems Architecture
- Cyber Security Risk Management
- Cyber Security Operational Policy
- Management and Cyber Security
- Secure Software Design and Development
- Cyber Intelligence
- Network Visualization and Vulnerability Detection
7. Networking Opportunities Abound in Cybersecurity Graduate Programs
Networking is essential for anyone hoping to get the most out of their graduate school. Graduate school is the ideal place to engage with peers, alumni, and teachers since it draws groups of people who share interests in particular fields, like cybersecurity.
The contacts you make in graduate school can be very beneficial not only for earning your degree since they provide you with extra knowledge, insight, and variety of view, but also for launching or advancing your career after graduation.
Furthermore, the online master's program in cybersecurity offered by the University of San Diego is designed to prioritize maximum interaction with knowledgeable faculty members and other cybersecurity professionals around the nation. This is a great chance to network with and pick up knowledge from colleagues in many facets of the cybersecurity field.
8. Financial Incentives are Abundant for Cybersecurity Students
Many financial incentives are now being offered to people who seek to pursue a degree in cyber security, as cybercrime professionals are in such high demand in both the public and private sectors. Scholarships are awarded by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education to individuals who are new to the field.
Numerous scholarships are offered to women pursuing careers in cybersecurity. The United States government funds two significant scholarship programs: the National Science Foundation Scholarship for Service (SFS) and the Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP). Additionally, Yellow Ribbon colleges like the University of San Diego provide annual scholarship funds to veterans, which are subsequently dollar-for-dollar matched by the VA. That comes to about $17,000 a year in USD.
9. Cybersecurity Offers Unique and Interesting Ways to Make a Difference
For instance, certain cybersecurity experts concentrate on coming up with inventive ways to breach the very systems they are trying to defend, in order to find weaknesses that hackers can exploit.
These days, an increasing number of "bug bounty" schemes exist wherein knowledgeable white-hat hackers seek to expose vulnerabilities in cybersecurity defense systems in order to thwart the unlawful and harmful activities of their black-hat counterparts.
10. Cybersecurity Work is Meaningful and Vitally Important
It's possible that you have come across alarming articles in The New York Times or The Washington Post concerning the susceptibility of America's next weaponry to hacking and cyberattacks by adversaries. A job in cybersecurity can benefit one's personal and professional well-being and aid in national defense.
Businesses across all sectors require strong cybersecurity defenses to prevent hackers' inevitable incursions, which can cost them millions or even billions of dollars. The future safety and security of the United States, however, will rely more and more on our capacity to fend against high-tech warfare carried out using cutting-edge computer technology, thus the stakes are much higher.
The appeal is being answered by a large number of cybersecurity experts, including veterans of the military looking for new challenges. Veterans interested in cybersecurity can get free training, toolkits, support, and advice from the Department of Homeland Security's National Institute for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies. The institute notes that demand for cybersecurity professionals is "growing 12 times faster than the current U.S. job market," making the field "one of the most highly sought-after careers in the country."
Getting an advanced degree in cybersecurity won't guarantee success; in this rapidly evolving field, you'll need to dedicate yourself to lifelong learning. However, having a degree can change the course of your career, boost your earning potential, and improve society.
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The online Master of Science in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership and the online or on-campus Master of Science in Cyber Security Engineering (designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity) are two cutting-edge graduate degree programs offered by the University of San Diego that can be finished in as little as 20 months.