7 Ways to Kickstart Your Tech Career With A CyberSecurity Degree
With the rise of online cyber threats to governments and corporations and the need to safeguard critical systems, skilled cybersecurity is at an all-time high.
Firms are increasingly pouring millions of dollars into cybersecurity research and developing and hiring those who can solve vulnerable cybersecurity issues.
This article will take you through the merits of a cybersecurity degree and how to get one. If you are keen on getting a cybersecurity certification online or are interested in what it offers, continue reading on!
#1: Curriculum Of A Cybersecurity Degree
Generally, most universities have a structured curriculum regarding cybersecurity, similar to other STEM degrees such as engineering and math.
A cybersecurity undergraduate education includes topics such as data analysis, fundamental to complex programming, protecting operating systems, cryptography, cybersecurity ethics, and vulnerable data from cyber threats.
It also includes systems administration, network and protocol safety, and monitoring for potential threats.
A full-time undergraduate university course in cybersecurity typically takes three to four years, with some courses including an option to extend for one to two years leading up to a Master’s degree.
Subsequently, suppose you choose to pursue a Master’s degree or even a Ph.D. after your undergraduate education. In that case, you can specialize in topics such as cloud computing, advanced computational algorithms, cryptography, and forensic accounting, among others.
#2: Admissions Requirements
Admissions requirements to get a spot in a university cybersecurity course can vary depending on the university. Requirements generally include proof of native language proficiency (commonly English), personal statements, and academic transcripts.
If you require help with your admissions, admissions offices are often more than happy to help prospective students out or to answer relevant questions you may have about your long cybersecurity journey ahead.
You may also be invited for an online or physical interview, depending on the competitiveness of admissions, or simply for the school to learn more about you and your application.
#3: Online Cybersecurity Degrees
For industry hopefuls who might not be able to secure admission into a university or do not have the time to commit to a full-time three to the four-year course due to a current job or other commitments, pursuing an online degree can also be a convenient option.
Online degree programs provide greater flexibility as they acknowledge that students learning from home usually have other commitments to attend to. Quizzes and assignments may also have a degree of flexibility to accommodate time zone differences or student preferences.
Additionally, the convenience of an online degree allows you to learn at your own pace and not be restricted to allocated class timings as in a regular University.
Various online universities or Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) websites offer cybersecurity courses leading up to a degree.
For those interested in cybersecurity, you may also opt to take up short courses to gauge your interest in pursuing cybersecurity as a career.
#4: Cost of a Cybersecurity Degree
Tuition fees for a cybersecurity degree can depend on geographical region, citizenship, and University grants, among other factors. You may also apply for scholarships and bursaries with your government or school to offset the total fees paid for the semester or academic year.
Financial aid applications, while often tedious, can be a great option to relieve the burden of an often costly undergraduate university education.
Additionally, various tech companies offer scholarships for students who demonstrate talent in their technical or all-rounded abilities. Which can help offset your fees. These scholarships and bursaries may or may not include a bond with the organization. So consider the merits of accepting an offer before making your decision.
#5: Get Real World Experience
Topics learned in University serve as the foundational bedrock of your cybersecurity career. Getting practical experiences in the real world, such as through an internship or job shadowing experience, will immensely boost your understanding of the cyber threats that lurk today. And how you can go about providing solutions to them.
Participating in hackathons and tech seminars can also be beneficial to increase your exposure to the real-world challenges in this industry. It can also help network with like-minded students and professionals, potentially opening the door to more significant opportunities.
Furthermore, established companies in tech, such as Google and Microsoft, offer significant amounts of prize monies or reputable internship offers. Primarily for individuals or teams who can solve pressing cybersecurity issues presenting their organizations.
#6: Current Cybersecurity Issues
Current trends and issues present in cybersecurity have the potential to penetrate and disrupt vulnerable software and networks. Leading to potentially disastrous consequences in data privacy breaches, revenue loss, and compromise critical systems.
Aside from organizations, such issues also affect consumers through data breaches and malware, among other threats. Issues and trends organizations face include breach detection, infrastructure hardening, and network and endpoint security to detect lurking security threats.
#7: Cybersecurity Salaries
While the tech industry is renowned for its high salaries and competitive remuneration packages, it is also accompanied by long hours. It requires a passionate dedication to solving critical cybersecurity issues daily.
Cybersecurity jobs offer high potential for salaries due to increased demand by firms for skilled professionals. With salaries ranging from 60,000 USD for an entry-level position to upwards of 100,000 USD and more for senior roles.
Salaries can also vary depending on specific roles due to the different skills involved.
Wrapping Up
With that, we’ve reached the end of this article!
Cybersecurity is extensively seen as one of the most challenging sectors of technology. And technically skilled professionals are greatly desired by a multitude of governments and organizations around the world.
Though stressful and challenging, it can be an immensely rewarding and lucrative career path for passionate students looking to make an impact in the field. And provide practical solutions to pressing cybersecurity issues.
We hope this guide is helpful for prospective students or cybersecurity.
