Is Cyber Security Right for Me?

As more and more business transactions make the jump from the real world to the virtual world, the efforts of cyber criminals to commit digital fraud are also increasing. This makes the field of cyber security more relevant than ever. With so many opportunities, many individuals are asking themselves, “is cyber security right for me?” Only you will know for sure, but here is some more information to help you make up your mind.

Becoming a Security Expert

The work of a cyber security expert deals with the protection of computer systems, networks, and online data against external attacks and infiltration techniques. If you're considering joining this field, ask yourself if you have the drive and interest that will be needed to sustain a long-term career in cyber security.

You must be intimately familiar with the inner workings of computers and digital networks. If you are interested in the science of constructing hacking-free digital systems and keep an eye on the latest developments in the field of cyber security, then this is the field for you.

Once you receive your high school diploma, you can gain admittance to a 4-year bachelor's degree program in cyber security. Each degree program is different, but you can expect to learn about the many ways to commit cyber crime, how to prevent them, how to construct network security systems, forensics, investigation, and information assurance.

Once you have gained your bachelor's degree, you have the option to either get a job in cyber security or continue with your education. You can study for a Master of Science degree in cyber security. There you will learn about network security in greater detail. With more advanced degrees you will be able to apply for the highest jobs in the field in the role of a consulting expert or head of the cyber security department.

Skills and Qualities

Not everyone can be successful as a cyber security engineer. Here are the skills and qualities you will need to be successful in the field:

1. Constant Learning

Technology never stands still. Every day, new innovations in cyber crime forces security experts to up their game and come up with new and innovative ways to protect digital data. You need to keep an eye on the latest developments in cyber security and incorporate what you learn into your training to protect against the latest threats.

2. Communication Skills

A large part of being a cyber security expert involves teaching others in your company how to transfer information online in a safe manner. Even the most qualified heads of companies can be computer illiterate. They can easily not be aware that their passwords need to be long and complex, and changed at regular intervals. All such details need to be communicated to every person within your company that makes use of the company's digital network.

3. Adaptive Mind

Hackers are constantly coming up with new ways to use malware to break into secure networks. You need to be able to figure out how the malware is being introduced into the system and come up with a solution to halt its progress as quickly as possible before it inflicts serious damage on the company's digital data systems.

4. Networking Skills

Many cyber security experts work on a per-project basis, rather than for any one company for a length of time. Working in this manner means you have to constantly find new clients. In order to do so, you need to know how to develop a network within your field, and then use that network to get work referrals, find out about new job opportunities and seek advice from other professionals who do the same work that you do.

Amateur VS Educated Professional

Everyone has a computer these days and those who grew up playing with their computers and figuring out how they work sometimes believe they have become computer experts without studying the subject in college. This has led to the rise of amateur cyber security experts who enter the professional field without a degree. While this is one way to work in cyber security, it is not as effective as getting a Bachelor's in cyber security before joining the field.

Possessing a degree from an accredited program helps place a stamp of quality on your knowledge. Professionals who have a degree to show to prospective employers are able to command higher wages at the beginning of their careers. On the other hand, amateurs have to work long and hard working for peanuts for several years setting up a portfolio of their work before they are taken seriously by the more established companies. Getting a degree may require more monetary investment up front then going directly into the field, but the investment may pay off later in the form of better job opportunities.

Do you think the cyber security field is the right place for you? If you’re interested in earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security consider ECPI University for the education you need to make a difference in your career. With accelerated classes and a year-round schedule, you could graduate sooner and start working faster. For more information, make contact with a helpful admissions advisor today.

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Cyber and Network Security - Bachelor’s

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