Is a Cybersecurity Degree Worth It?

In an era where our lives are becoming more interconnected with the digital realm, it is crucial to prioritize the protection of our online presence. This is where cybersecurity professionals shine through, ensuring our data is safe and secure. 

To all aspiring cybersecurity experts who are looking to thrive in this dynamic and ever-evolving field, follow along as we answer some burning questions, from "Is a cybersecurity degree worth it?", "How long does it take to get a cybersecurity degree?" to "What are career options for cybersecurity graduates?" and more.

What Is a Cybersecurity Degree?

A cybersecurity degree is a computer science program aiming to equip students with the knowledge and skills to protect networks, computer systems, and databases from attacks, unauthorized access, and vulnerabilities. Generally, the components of a cybersecurity degree include courses in cryptography, network security, risk management, and ethical hacking. This way, students become equipped with theoretical understanding and practical experience to address challenges in the cybersecurity landscape.

What Makes a Cybersecurity Degree Worth It?

A cybersecurity degree serves as a stepping stone to a rewarding career by providing the necessary skills and tools to significantly impact digital ecosystems' security. 

Networking opportunities

A cybersecurity degree provides the perfect space to find and connect with like-minded people, such as peers, professors, and seasoned industry professionals, which can be valuable for career advancement and collaboration. Attending conferences, joining communities dedicated to cybersecurity, and participating in internships can be instrumental in gaining additional knowledge, insight, and diversity of opinions from experienced professionals. 

Cybersecurity is a growing field

The two factors that shape cybersecurity growth are the constant advancement of technology and the continuous emergence of cyber threats. Organizations recognize the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals to protect their network and IT infrastructure and navigate complex cybersecurity challenges. This has led to an increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals, and according to BLS estimations, 16,800 job openings to be created for information security analysts are projected each year this decade. Therefore, a degree in cybersecurity is a worthwhile pursuit to benefit from long-term career prospects in the industry. 

Working in cybersecurity is meaningful and fulfilling 

An important factor that makes earning a degree in cybersecurity worthwhile is that beyond professional success, working in this field can be highly meaningful and fulfilling. As their main concern is protecting critical information and sensitive data from malicious actors, cybersecurity professionals can have a profound sense of purpose in their work. Maintaining digital systems also impacts everyday lives, ensuring secure financial transactions and reliable access to digital services. Moreover, cybersecurity experts work in an ever-evolving field, thus keeping them engaged and challenged.

Cybersecurity experts are needed in all industries

With the rise of digitalization in all fields, the demand for cybersecurity professionals protecting the network and IT infrastructures against cyberattacks, malware, and cybercriminals has also risen. In finance, cybersecurity experts help safeguard sensitive customer data and secure online transactions. Cybersecurity is also necessary in healthcare, where professionals secure patient records and maintain the integrity of medical systems. In retail and e-commerce, cybersecurity specialists help safeguard customer data, secure online shopping platforms, and prevent payment fraud. What also contributes to the high demand for cybersecurity experts in various fields is that cybersecurity graduates learn how to apply general cybersecurity principles to address industry-specific challenges.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Cybersecurity Degree? 

An essential factor to consider when deciding if a degree in cybersecurity is right for you is how long it may take to complete a program. Earning a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity generally takes four years of full-time enrollment. On the other hand, it usually takes one to two years to complete a master's degree. Full-time students can complete our Online Master's Cybersecurity Program in 12 months or learn at their own pace. As doctoral programs often involve independent research and the completion of a doctoral dissertation, it can take three to seven years to earn a doctoral degree in cybersecurity. Keep in mind that the actual duration varies depending on the program structure, student's learning pace, and prior academic credits.  

Career Opportunities and Salaries

A degree in cybersecurity can prepare graduates to pursue a career in various positions in the field, such as:

Information Security Manager

Salary: $167,579

Information security managers are professionals responsible for overseeing and managing a company's cybersecurity systems and practices. They establish security policies, create incident response plans, and install firewalls. Essential duties of information security managers include:

• Assessing and mitigating security risks
• Ensuring compliance with regulations and standards
• Overseeing security awareness and training
• Staying informed about emerging trends and technologies
• Managing security incidents
• Developing and applying information security policies and procedures

Cybersecurity Engineer

Salary: $149,994

Cybersecurity engineers are professionals responsible for creating and managing hardware, software, and security policies to protect computers, networks, and information against breaches and cyberattacks. Essential duties of a cybersecurity engineer include the following:

• Troubleshooting network and security issues and incidents
• Planning, implementing, managing, and monitoring security measures and infrastructure to protect data and resources
• Responding to all security breaches in the network 
• Conducting penetration testings
• Assisting in security breach investigations
• Evaluating the organization's security needs and establishing best practices accordingly

Application Security Engineer

Salary: $136,320

Application security engineers are cybersecurity professionals who act as a bridge between application security and development. They implement different types of application security, such as authentication, authorization, encryption, logging, and application security testing. Although their duties can change, the core duties of an application security engineer include:

• Setting development parameters 
• Implementing advanced security features
• Managing user authorization
• Maintaining technical documentation
• Testing source code and running code

Network Security Engineer

Salary: $160,488

Network security engineers are professionals in charge of protecting a company's network infrastructure from malfunctions, misuse, or destruction. They implement virus protection, test for weak points, and create safety protocols to prevent breaches. Their duties also include the following:

• Ensuring system backups are running
• Implementing network security blueprints
• Maintaining and updating firewalls and testing the organization's network
• Implementing a virus detection system
• Tracking the vulnerable scripts to avert potential threats
• Developing the security authentication protocols

Cybersecurity Analyst

Salary: $105,245

Cybersecurity analysts specialize in protecting and preventing network and IT infrastructure (software and hardware) from cyberattacks and malware. Their primary roles include understanding their company's IT infrastructure in detail, becoming familiar with the latest cyber threat landscape, and evaluating potential threats that can breach the network. While their daily tasks vary, in general, cybersecurity analysts are responsible for:

• Monitoring network traffic for security incidents
• Installing and upgrading antivirus software
• Performing penetration testing
• Investigating security alerts and providing incident response
• Installing security measures and operating software

Cybersecurity Scenario Designer

Salary: $135,000

Cybersecurity scenario designers are professionals responsible for creating simulated environments or scenarios to assess the effectiveness of cybersecurity measures. Their duties include:

• Designing realistic cybersecurity scenarios that mimic potential threats
• Analyzing the results of cybersecurity simulations
• Refining scenarios based on feedback and cybersecurity landscape

Bottom Line

With the escalation of cyber threats, the significance of cybersecurity professionals becomes clear. Therefore, pursuing a degree in cybersecurity is not merely an academic pursuit but a commitment to becoming a guardian against cyber criminals. Moreover, the versatility of cybersecurity skills applicable across various industries makes cybersecurity professionals indispensable assets in the evolving cybersecurity landscape. 

Lastly, being a high-demand field, a degree in cybersecurity opens many job opportunities for graduates, such as becoming an information security manager, application security engineer, cybersecurity analyst, and more. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Is a cybersecurity degree hard?

While the difficulty of a cybersecurity degree depends on individual aptitude, prior experience, and program curriculum, one of the factors that can contribute to the challenging nature is the variety of tools, techniques, and software to master and constantly keep up-to-date with the latest threats and technologies. 

Is cybersecurity math-heavy?

Although cybersecurity isn't a math-intensive field, possessing a solid knowledge of mathematical concepts is beneficial for higher-paying jobs in the industry. Some of the most common mathematical disciplines utilized in cybersecurity are programming math, cryptography, binary math, boolean values, hexadecimal math, complex numbers, etc. 

Is cybersecurity a stressful job?

Cybersecurity professionals have a high level of responsibility and must be on the lookout for potential attacks at any time. The 2022 VMware Global Incident Response Threat Report shows that 51% of cybersecurity professionals experience symptoms of extreme stress of burnout. While they can face high pressure and must be on-call to mitigate problems, the dynamic and exciting work environment where they're constantly motivated to further their skills and knowledge can add to job fulfillment and satisfaction. 

Will AI replace cybersecurity?

While the ever-increasing abilities of AI can be a helpful tool in cybersecurity to protect systems from cyber threats and increase productivity, it still lacks human judgment and intuition, which are crucial to efficiently and reliably identify threats and prevent attacks.