Five Jobs You Can Get with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity
Today, the internet permeates almost every aspect of our lives, making information sharing easier than ever. With a single click, you can upload images and videos and even share your current location with friends and family.
But although new technologies simplify daily life and foster near-instantaneous communication, they have also resulted in rising cyberattacks and data theft. Just as technology has become more sophisticated, so have cybercriminals’ attacks.
The Growing Need for Cybersecurity Professionals
Two years ago, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread, the world came to a standstill. As more people worked and studied from home to prevent the disease’s spread, internet traffic surged. This greater reliance on the Internet for business and personal communication has remained as the pandemic has abated.
Cybercriminals have taken advantage of these recent increases in web traffic, which has led to escalating demand for cybersecurity experts that is unlikely to wane anytime soon (Leaser, 2019). However, the cybersecurity industry is currently facing a skills gap, with recent projections anticipating millions of unfilled cybersecurity jobs (Perhach, 2018).
It falls to universities to provide learners with courses and degree programs to help address this talent shortage. If you are interested in pursuing a career in the cybersecurity field, a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity can help you achieve your goals. With the right education, you can help organizations protect their sensitive data.
What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity?
It falls to universities to provide learners with the courses and degree programs to help address this talent shortage. If you are interested in pursuing a career in the cybersecurity field, a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity can help you achieve your goals. With the right education, you can help organizations protect their sensitive data.
Cybersecurity is a fast-growing sector that offers a wide range of job roles. Consider the following in-demand positions you could apply for with a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity.
Information Security Manager
An information security manager, sometimes referred to as an IT security manager, works alongside the top security executives in an organization to develop and implement computer security policies and measures. Information security managers are responsible for safeguarding a company’s computer system, networks, and data against security breaches, viruses, and other cyberattacks.
PayScale (2022c) reports that the average annual salary of an information security manager in the United States is USD 119,244.
Information Assurance Engineer
The main role of an information assurance engineer is to oversee the processing and storage of information and ensure that it is secure by detecting possible risks and minimizing the potential for data breaches. Some information assurance engineers act as consultants to various companies, whereas others may work for just one organization.
According to PayScale (2022d), the average annual salary of an information assurance engineer in the United States is USD 96,264.
IT Security Consultant
IT security consultants have access to all of an organization’s security measures. They analyze the organization’s security systems, prevent potential breaches, and supervise the implementation of security solutions. Their main role is to identify computer or network vulnerabilities and then develop plans to strengthen the company’s system and shore up any weaknesses.
According to PayScale (2022a), the average annual salary of an information security consultant in the United States is USD 85,430.
Information Security Specialist
Information security specialists are in charge of an organization’s cybersecurity efforts. Their role is to keep tabs on the organization’s existing security infrastructure and to ensure that it adequately protects the organization’s sensitive information. They are also responsible for designing and implementing cybersecurity measures.
According to PayScale (2022b), the average salary of an information security specialist in the United States is USD 77,093.
Information Security Analyst
An information security analyst is responsible for coming up with the broader strategy behind a company’s cybersecurity measures. They then implement these measures to protect the organization’s networks, systems, and devices.
As of 2021, the average salary of an information security analyst in the United States was USD 113,270, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2022).
About EC-Council University
At EC-Council University (ECCU), we offer bachelor’s and master’s degrees that equip our graduates with the most up-to-date knowledge on the latest IT security risks and how to handle them successfully. Our superior educational programs will ensure that you are industry ready, and our iLabs facility is the perfect place for those who seek hands-on practice.
ECCU’s Bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity (BSCS) will help you build your cybersecurity skills and develop leadership abilities that enable you to grow as a cybersecurity professional. Our Masters in Cybersecurity (MSCS) programs are designed to help more experienced professionals acquire the advanced knowledge needed to stay ahead of the competition.
At ECCU, you can be confident that you will be guided and supported by faculty who are also the best in the industry. ECCU’s professors are leading practitioners who serve as experienced mentors for students aspiring to become outstanding cybersecurity professionals. Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).
Watch: How a Degree in Cybersecurity Puts You Ahead of the Curve by Yuri Diogenes | Cyber Talks
FAQs
Ans. Cybersecurity professionals are responsible for safeguarding the massive amounts of private and sensitive data stored in organizations’ computer systems. Some in-demand cybersecurity job roles as of 2022 include chief information security officer, software security engineer, penetration tester, information security criminal investigator, digital forensics expert, and security architect.
Ans. An ideal cybersecurity job candidate is able to stay calm under pressure and knows how to think like a hacker, enabling them to stay one step ahead and beat attackers at their own game. Cybersecurity professionals should also have strong problem-solving skills and an interest in data, statistics, and analysis.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022). Information security analysts. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes151212.htm
Leaser, D. (2019, July 19). The demand for cybersecurity professionals is outstripping the supply of skilled workers. IBM Training and Skills Blog. https://www.ibm.com/blogs/ibm-training/new-cybersecurity-threat-not-enough-talent-to-fill-open-security-jobs/
PayScale. (2022a, February 1). Average information security consultant salary. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Information_Security_Consultant/Salary
PayScale. (2022b, February 27). Average information security specialist salary. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Information_Security_Specialist/Salary
PayScale. (2022c, March 14). Average information security manager salary. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Information_Security_Manager/Salary
PayScale. (2022d, April 6). Average information assurance engineer salary. https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Information_Assurance_Engineer/Salary
Perhach, P. (2018, November 7). The mad dash to find a cybersecurity force. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/07/business/the-mad-dash-to-find-a-cybersecurity-force.html