Getting Ahead of Cybercrime with a Masters in Cybersecurity
If you are a cybersecurity professional, odds are you are busy these days. According to Forbes, cybercrime is expected to cause damages exceeding $6 billion per year by 2021. Cybersecurity professionals have never been in greater demand, and there are millions of unfilled cybersecurity jobs around the world.
If you are already working as a cybersecurity specialist, or if you're working on your bachelor's degree, you might wonder if it's worth it to pursue a master's degree as well. Even though there are plenty of jobs for those with bachelor's degrees in cybersecurity (the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the number of jobs for information security analysts in the United States will increase by 28% by 2026) there are also several reasons it makes sense to consider getting a master's degree in the field as well.
Here are some of the reasons you might want to get a master's degree in cybersecurity:
Maintaining your Education
The world of cybersecurity and cybercrime is in a state of constant change. The favored techniques of cybercriminals evolve rapidly. In 2016, a massive botnet attack on internet service across the United States showed how vulnerable the "internet of things" (appliances with internet connections) could be to attacks. In 2017, ransomware attacks skyrocketed, as cybercriminals locked down the computers of individuals, businesses, and government agencies alike, demanding payment.
Keeping up with cybercriminals is one of the biggest challenges that cybersecurity professionals face. One of the best ways to prepare for combating future cybercrime is to have a base of knowledge that is both broad and deep. The education that comes with a master's degree in cybersecurity will go a long way in preparing you for the unpredictability that comes with this field.
Training for Certifications
Getting third-party certifications is one of the most important steps in your cybersecurity career. Even if you're already working in cybersecurity, getting increasingly advanced certifications can help you further your career. For example, getting certification as an ethical hacker means that you have demonstrated skills in penetration testing and ethical hacking that employers value highly. The skills you learn while earning your master's degree will open up new and exciting opportunities for you that can take your career to the next level.
Become a Better Cybercrime Fighter
To get better at combating cybercrime, you need new experiences and tests to advance your skills. In pursuing a master's degree in cybersecurity, you will learn all about the sort of infrastructure that is critical to helping our society function, and that are often targeted by cybercriminals for attack.
Your expertise will extend beyond home and business security; by the time you graduate, you should understand how to plan and execute cybersecurity strategies for enterprise networks, transportation services, health services, power distribution networks, and more. You will also learn strategies for implementing cybersecurity strategies for communities of all sizes, while honing your white hat hacking skills in labs where you can learn from real-life hacking incidents how to prepare for such attacks in the future.
There has never been a greater need for ethical hackers and cybersecurity experts. Those who are already working to protect our data need to be vigilant and ready for the future. Cybercriminals are never going to slow down their activities voluntarily; the only way to protect the world from their crimes is for cybersecurity professionals to keep up with them and thwart them before they can do any damage. For that reason, getting a master's degree in cybersecurity isn't just a good idea for you; it can also help you to help the world.
Are you interested in continuing your education with a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Degree? If you want to learn more about ECPI University’s accelerated program in this field, connect with a friendly admissions advisor today.
It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!
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