What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the application of computer science and best practices to protect computer systems, networks, devices and data from threats and risks called cyberattacks. Cyberattacks are designed to gain unauthorized access to computer systems to disable those systems or alter, steal or destroy information. As our world becomes more connected and dependent on computer networks and systems, cyberattacks have become far more commonplace and increasingly sophisticated.
Whether it’s called IT security, information technology security or computer security, the cybersecurity industry has been growing rapidly to meet the challenges of protecting data and the systems that store, transmit and analyze it. Skilled computer scientists with expertise in cybersecurity, privacy and risk management are in demand in all industries around the world.
What Career Can You Have with an MS in Computer Security and Privacy (Cybersecurity) Degree?
Individuals who plan to pursue a career in cybersecurity have a robust job outlook, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 35 percent growth in employment for information security analysts from 2021 to 2031. These figures are not a surprise. In an increasingly digitized world, where more information is being stored electronically, the importance of cybersecurity jobs will only continue to grow.
Students who have earned Master's Degrees in Computer Security and Privacy can use the skills they’ve learned in a variety of cybersecurity careers, including:
- Cryptanalyst - A cryptanalyst is responsible for decoding hidden messages encrypted within digital systems. Cryptanalysts work with private companies, law enforcement agencies, and other government organizations. According to FederalPay, cryptanalysts who work for the U.S. government earn an average salary of over $125,000, while other cryptanalysis jobs pay anywhere in the range of $47,000 to $282,000.
- Cryptographer - While cryptanalysis deals with decrypting secret messages, cryptography deals with creating ciphers. According to salary data on Glassdoor, cryptographers earn anywhere from $47,000 to $162,000 per year, depending on experience and qualifications.
- Security administrator - Security administration involves planning and executing procedures that protect sensitive data against theft and other security threats. According to Glassdoor, IT security administrators earn yearly incomes ranging from $66,000 to $119,000.
- Security analyst - A security analyst, or information security analyst, is defined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) as a person whose role is to “plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems.” The median yearly pay for a security analyst position is over $95,000, according to the BLS.
- Security architect - The role of a security architect is to ensure the security of complex computer systems by performing job duties such as system testing and monitoring, conducting drills for breaches of security, and implementing robust security standards. The median yearly salary for a security architect is over $109,000.
- Security consultant - A security consultant, or cybersecurity consultant, provides organizations with expert recommendations to find better security solutions. According to Glassdoor, security consultants earn in the range of $52,000 to $120,000 per year.
- Security engineer - Security engineering is a subfield of engineering that focuses specifically on improving IT security while effectively addressing technical challenges. Examples of a security engineer’s job duties might include monitoring security systems, designing cybersecurity measures, and building security architecture, depending on the organization. A security engineer earns anywhere from $123,000 to $144,000 per year, according to Glassdoor.
Cybersecurity Industry Trends
Cybercrime is on the rise and will continue to be a threat far into the future, especially as more and more business is conducted online and more organizations embrace remote work. This drives cybersecurity industry growth. According to a report by Cybercrime Magazine, cybercrime is poised to inflict $6 trillion in damages worldwide in 2021, and that number is expected to grow to $10.5 trillion by 2025. If cybercrime were an economy, it would be the third largest in the world, after the U.S. and China.
But cybercrime does more than steal money and information; it can cause financial ruin for individuals, put a business’s reputation at risk and even interrupt access to health care and other vital services.
The cybersecurity industry is a field where the demand for talent far outstrips the supply. Leading industry experts predict that even with almost 3 million cybersecurity professionals in the field, almost 4 million trained workers would be needed to close the skills gap and properly defend organizations.
Perhaps that’s why the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that someone with less than five years of experience in cybersecurity can earn around $100,000 a year, and the industry unemployment rate has stayed close to zero for over a decade.
What Do You Learn in Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity professionals require specialized computer science training to understand and develop new techniques to confront emerging cybersecurity threats. Your training needs to involve both the practical and theoretical foundations of computer networking, mathematics, cryptography and other specialized technical skills.
You need to understand how to develop secure networks, respond to cyberattacks and other threats, and stress- test networks and systems to protect against vulnerabilities.
It’s also important to learn about the human side of cybersecurity. Cybersecurity professionals need to learn how to create the most effective processes that keep networks safe, design and implement policies that align with the privacy and ethical standards of different industries and provide stakeholders with the education they need to protect themselves from cybersecurity threats.
For those interested in cybersecurity, Drexel’s College of Computing & Informatics offers interdisciplinary training through its Bachelor of Science in Computing & Security Technology and advanced technical and specialized training through its Master of Science in Computer Security and Privacy.