Why does Cybersecurity Matter Enough to Earn a Degree in it?
Technology has enhanced and changed our lives by automating multiple processes, making resources accessible anytime, enabling real-time communication, and delivering instant results. However, these benefits come with risks. As technology becomes more evolved, so do cybercriminals and their methods.
Real World Examples Where Cybersecurity Matters
Just look at what happened to major companies in the last five years. Target, for example, is the country's second-largest department store retailer. In the last quarter of 2013, hackers got their virtual hands on almost 100 million Target customers' personal and financial information, including credit and debit card records.
The breach took place because Target had given network access to Fazio Mechanical Services, a small contracting company that provided HVAC services to Target. Fazio fell victim to a malware attack that resulted in the theft of their Target-provided login credentials, which hackers used as a foothold to get into the retail giant's payment systems.
Like the Equifax breach, the attack against Target could have been preventable if proper network segmentation had been applied. Target's payment systems should never have been made accessible when using Fazio's login credentials. But Target failed to secure their systems and ended up having to pay $18.5 million multi-state settlement for their mistake.
Not only Stores are at Risk for Data Breaches
Another notable example is Equifax, a consumer credit reporting agency that holds the personal and financial information of more than 800 million individuals and 80 million organizations across the world, suffered from a data breach in July 2017. The breach affected around 143 million customers and compromised their profiles.
Due to the nature of Equifax's business, the profiles the company keeps are complete and thorough. This meant the hackers behind the attack can easily commit identity theft because they have all the information they need.
The breach happened because hackers exploited a vulnerability for which a patch already existed in March, three months before the attack. It was preventable, but because Equifax failed to apply the patch, their customers suffered the consequences. Equifax suffered too; costs related to the breach have been estimated to be more than $600 million.
Why Cybersecurity Matters in Every Day Life
These are just two examples. There are many more breaches happening every day, some too small to make the news, but still big enough to cause trouble with both the law and customers. In the US, all states have laws requiring companies to notify customers when their personal information is compromised because of a data breach.
In short, data breaches are costly in so many ways, which is why companies are willing to invest in IT professionals who are skilled in cybersecurity. Having key people in their staff who know how to prevent breaches and mitigate risks is no longer a luxury -- it's now a necessity.
If you plan to earn a degree focusing on cybersecurity, you could have many job choices in the country and even abroad, should you want to experience being an expat. And because most companies use technology regardless of their industry, it means you might be able to enter any industry you want. You'll stay in your field and skill set of course, but you'll be able to work at a bank, school, hospital, hotel, etc.
You can also join the private sector or work for the government. You can be a full-time employee or serve as a consultant. If you're a people person, you can become part of (and eventually lead) a technical support team.
If you prefer to keep to yourself, you can work as an information security analyst. The possibilities for the career path of an IT professional with expertise in cybersecurity are lucrative and abundant.
Of course, expect the competition to be tight. More people are now interested to become cybersecurity professionals because of the many opportunities available to degree holders.
Interested in helping to stop cyber criminals? You'll need proper cybersecurity education in order to do that. If you want to earn a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security, ECPI University offers this course at an accelerated rate. For more information about this exciting program, connect with a friendly 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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