The ups and downs of the economy do not impact cybersecurity careers as much as they do other job fields. Careers in cybersecurity are among the fastest-growing occupations in the nation and look to remain that way for many years to come.
In addition to being in demand, cybersecurity graduates also enjoy a variety of career options. That’s because cybersecurity is now a critical component in the infrastructure of every organization, from private businesses to government agencies. Additionally, a growing amount of commerce moving online, cybersecurity is as important to small businesses as it is to large corporations.
Prospective students considering a cybersecurity career should take comfort knowing about the wealth of job opportunities available in the profession. More than ever, companies want to hire people who develop information security expertise by earning a degree in cybersecurity. In specific, advanced education options like the online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Cybersecurity program from Florida Institute of Technology provide students with cybersecurity expertise as well as the general business acumen and managerial skills needed to excel in critical leadership positions in the field.
The Growing Demand for Cybersecurity Experts
If federal government projections prove correct, cybersecurity will remain a hot career field in the decade ahead. For instance, the number of jobs for information security analysts will increase by 33% between 2023 and 2033, according to data and projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Cybersecurity professionals could also fall under the umbrella of several other BLS-categorized occupational groups. These could include computer and information research scientists, with a BLS-projected growth rate of 26% between 2023 and 2033, as well as data scientists, with employment growth estimated at 36% over the same decade.
These impressive job outlooks put the above three occupational groups among the fastest-growing in the U.S., according to BLS. Projected at 17% from 2023 to 2033, even employment growth of cybersecurity experts in the highest levels of computer and information systems manager roles will be much faster than the national average.
Cybersecurity Career Salary Potential
Cybersecurity salaries echo the skyrocketing demand for professionals in the field. For example, the following are the 2024 median annual salaries for relevant occupations, according to BLS, as well as wages for the top 10% of earners, reflecting the compensation that professionals with graduate-level education and experience may receive.
- Information security analysts: $124,910 median salary; more than $186,420 for the top 10%
- Computer and information research scientists: $140,910 median salary; more than $232,120 for the top 10%
- Computer and information systems managers: $171,200 median salary; more than $239,200 for the top 10%
3 Unique Cybersecurity Jobs
As noted above, cybersecurity jobs can fit within numerous occupational groups. For instance, chief cybersecurity officers are chief executives, whereas a cybersecurity systems analyst could fit into the information security analyst occupational category. Cybersecurity program directors would be computer and information systems managers, while cybersecurity analytics specialists may fall under the data scientist classification.
Further, within broader job roles, cybersecurity professionals may focus on specific, nuanced components of the overall cybersecurity program architecture. The following three jobs are examples of the fascinating, specialized areas of work that cybersecurity experts may pursue.
- Ethical Hacking
A cybersecurity graduate who works in ethical hacking — a term sometimes used interchangeably with penetration testing or vulnerability assessment — analyzes the effectiveness of an organization’s cyber defenses by attempting to hack its system. Organizations hire professional, ethical hackers to determine their sites’ vulnerabilities, the strength of their safety measures and what it might take to make systems fail, among other information.
An ethical hacking project starts by defining the scope of the hack. This includes determining which computer systems fall within that scope, the hours of the test (to avoid interfering with regular business operations) and whether social engineering is allowed. Social engineering involves using psychology to trick people into revealing their passwords and other sensitive computer system information, often through email. When finished, an ethical hacker provides a report to the organization on potential vulnerabilities and offers guidance on how to strengthen cybersecurity.
- Digital/Computer Forensics
Some cybersecurity team members work as digital forensic investigators, tracking down the details on when, where and how a hack occurred. This can mean investigating software for an app, hardware for a single computer or an entire network, depending on the size of the hack.
The range of attacks a computer forensics investigator might look into varies depending on the client. A private company may want to investigate the theft of company information by an insider or hacking scams that threaten online retail operations. A government agency might require an investigation of political espionage or terrorist communications.
Whatever the case, digital forensic investigators need expertise and a natural interest in investigations to succeed in this specialized area. The job role comprises investigative functions and technical challenges, engaging multiple sides of the professional’s expertise and skillset.
- Security Architecture
Security architects design, test and implement security features for an organization’s computer system. They utilize their extensive knowledge of cybersecurity and their own IT network to create systems that best defend an organization against outside attacks. They also need to understand how people interact with computer systems, as human behavior is often at the core of cybersecurity issues.
A security architect ensures that organizations have systems that incorporate the latest security protocols and best practices. They must collaborate closely with other professionals working in areas like vulnerability testing and cybersecurity risk assessment.
Pursue a Critical Cybersecurity Career With a Great Job Outlook
Regardless of the specific field a cybersecurity graduate chooses, they should enjoy many opportunities to pursue the cybersecurity career of their choice. Increased cyberattacks drive the need for organizations to hire professionals who can develop “innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or creating problems for computer networks,” per the information security analyst page from BLS.
Clearly, the demand for cybersecurity experts is sky-high. Careers in this field can be an excellent option for professionals interested in information systems and intrigued by the challenges of defending those systems. Those who wish to couple cybersecurity work with management-focused leadership can gain the advanced skills and knowledge they need with the MBA in Cybersecurity online program from Florida Tech.
Learn more about Florida Tech’s online MBA in Cybersecurity program.
