When choosing a career, you would want a profession that offers you stability and security and stays relevant for the years to come. This is what makes cybersecurity an attractive field. According to industry projections, the cybersecurity market will globally reach $376 billion by 2029, making it both an expensive and a high-profile profession. So if you already hold a bachelor’s degree, it’s a good time to upskill on your basic knowledge.
Since digitization became a norm in the commerce sector, businesses have sought cybersecurity specialists who can manage their entire security infrastructure. This is because cybercriminals are still using tactics like phishing, launching a virus, or utilizing ransomware to breach data on a massive scale. As a result, this can cost any industry billions of dollars worth of damage, in addition to the resources required to retrieve stolen information and prevent it from duplicating or leaking.
Therefore, if you’re a professional in this field, your bachelor’s degree is not cut out for the job; here’s why you need to switch up with a more advanced degree:
What Does A Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity Look like?
A master’s degree in cybersecurity furthers your understanding and computer science skills. It teaches you to analyze the security needs of different networks and databases. Following this in-depth study, your next move is to design and implement security systems to keep all cybercrimes at bay. Not only does the job sound simple, but this is also an easy degree to acquire. You don’t need to go back to traditional schooling and can turn to virtual platforms like an online master of science in cybersecurity to obtain your qualification. A typical course runs about two years, and you can pick up on concepts like cryptography, machine learning, digital forensics, and cybersecurity risk analysis.
Why Should You Consider The Degree?
Investing in academics can be an expensive decision that may put you on the fence about getting a higher education degree. But if you’re looking for ways to upgrade skills and earn a better living, this is the only way to go, and here’s why:
1. You Become Much More Effective At Your Job
Cybersecurity is an elaborate process. You must ensure that the company you work for has all its bases covered and has no weak points that cybercriminals can exploit. On a basic level, you could only run basic tests and scans to understand how efficient the current security measures are, but with a master’s degree, you can enhance security to a whole other level.
Your skills will allow you to conduct penetration testing and vulnerability scans and simulate different attacks to pinpoint the problems with the firewall and antivirus software. This can save your employer thousands of dollars since it prevents the need for new software and only requires minimal repair work.
2. Better Working Opportunities
Advanced degrees open more doors for you and help you secure better jobs. This improves your current standing and lets you move up the hierarchical ladder leading to more secure and stable employment. With a master’s degree, you can look into careers like a chief information security officer, cyber security engineer, and cybersecurity analyst. You can also start your independent cybersecurity company giving yourself the complete autonomy to free yourself from working for organizations and focus on building a name for yourself.
3. Attractive Income
One of the most appealing features of having a master’s degree is the perks that come with it. A high-paying salary is not only a promising prospect but also gives you the security and stability you look for in any profession. For instance, as a cybersecurity analyst, you can easily make $80,000 per year, but when you apply for management positions, your income can shoot up to over $200,000. This is far more than the average IT desk job.
4. The Sector is Rapidly Growing
According to the BLS, cybersecurity is growing more than any other field. You may witness an almost 30% increase in job opportunities and growth rate within this sector, which is faster than the average rate. Having a master’s degree also puts you at an advantage since more than 20% of employers in reputable firms are more inclined to hire a cybersecurity professional with a graduate degree than those still in undergrad.
5. Excellent Job Satisfaction
People want to work in careers that make them happy. If you’re not enjoying your current workplace, you’ll regret spending your time at a job you don’t like. Cybersecurity doesn’t work the same way. Your work and effort yield instant results and make you feel good about yourself. There is also no greater satisfaction than knowing that you protected a company’s hard-earned reputation and money by using your skills and knowledge alone.
According to a study conducted by ISC2 in 2022, almost 70% of cybersecurity professionals in the US are happy with their job. PayScale also showed a similar survey and found that cybersecurity professionals rate their satisfaction at 3.83 out of 5, so why not be part of a workforce where you’ll be content and relaxed?
Final Thoughts
Digitization has increased the need for cybersecurity professionals to manage the security infrastructure. If you enjoy the idea of looking after numerous databases and working your magic in the form of strict online security, then the field of cybersecurity is for you. However, earning a bachelor’s alone is not enough for your career. You should at least work your way to a master’s. This is because a more structured degree can provide the stability you seek in the form of more job opportunities, higher pay, and efficient skills, making you an indispensable part of IT security. Additionally, you will feel much happier working since you will be at liberty to create your security database, head security departments, or run your own company. All this and much more are at the tip of your fingers if you choose to get your master’s degree.
