Studying Cybersecurity Online

Recently, we discussed what cybersecurity is, why you might want to study this field, and why it’s worth getting a degree in the discipline. Here, we’ll explore what you can do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity

To help you fully understand this exciting career opportunity, we’ll review a range of important topics, including what jobs you can get after completing a cybersecurity program, what you’ll learn while completing your bachelor’s in the field, and why you should consider studying online instead of on-campus.

When you’ve finished reading this post, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about CSU Global’s 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, or if you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

Why Should You Consider a Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity?

There are many reasons to get a degree in cybersecurity, but the most important one is that completing your degree will provide you with all the skills and abilities you need to launch a lifelong career in this challenging, competitive, and potentially lucrative industry.

Cybersecurity is a complex, but important field that offers a great deal of opportunity for trained professionals. 

Because of the critical nature of the work that cybersecurity professionals provide, this isn’t an easy field to launch a career in, and in many cases, academic credentials may be required to land even an entry-level role.

If you’re serious about getting into the cybersecurity industry, then you’ll need to consider completing a degree in the topic, as this is one of the best ways to prove your potential value to hiring managers looking to fill open positions.

Is Cybersecurity a Good Career Field?

Yes, cybersecurity is an excellent field, especially if you’re looking to launch a lifelong career. 

There are three important reasons to consider cybersecurity:

  1. The field is growing rapidly, and demand for trained cybersecurity professionals is skyrocketing, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting that the employment of Information Security Analysts will rise 33% between 2020 and 2030.
  2. Cybersecurity professionals play a critical role in modern organizations, which rely heavily on them to secure digital assets, protect company data, and provide network security.
  3. Top cybersecurity jobs pay excellent salaries, with fantastic compensation for trained, experienced professionals; the BLS reports that Information Security Analysts earn an average median salary of $103,590 as of May 2020.

This is such a great opportunity for launching a lifelong career that if you have any interest in cybersecurity operations, you should certainly consider getting into the field.

What Jobs Can You Get With a Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity?

According to CompTIA.org, you’ll qualify for a whole host of excellent jobs after completing a Bachelor’s Degree program in Cybersecurity, including positions like:

  • Cybersecurity Engineer
  • Cybersecurity Analyst
  • Cybersecurity Consultant
  • Cybersecurity Manager or Administrator
  • Systems Engineer
  • Network Engineer or Architect
  • Software Developer or Engineer
  • Vulnerability Analyst
  • Penetration Tester

These roles require advanced security knowledge, skills, and abilities, as the daily tasks you’ll be required to complete in any of these positions are critical to protecting organizations from cyber-attacks.

If you’re serious about landing any of these jobs, then you’ll want to first get a B.S. in the field, since this is one of the best ways to prove that you’re fully prepared to handle the many cyber threats that modern organizations face each day.

After completing your degree, you’ll be able to pursue some of the industry’s most compelling roles, including jobs like:

Information Security Analyst / 2020 Median Pay: $103,590

According to the BLS, information security analysts are responsible for protecting an organization’s computers, computer networks, and technical systems.

These individuals handle a series of security-related tasks, from planning security measures to testing defenses and deploying new systems or methods to ensure bad actors aren’t able to penetrate the organization’s security defenses.

BLS reports that most positions in this industry require a bachelor’s degree in a related field, which is just one of the many reasons to think about completing your degree in cybersecurity before applying for jobs in this space.

Other than securing a lucrative income, perhaps the best reason to think about getting into the field now is that the employment of information security analysts is projected to grow rapidly over the next decade, rising 33% between 2020 and 2030, per the BLS.

Data Security Officer / 2020 Median Pay: $89,668

Data security officers, or data protection officers, are responsible for safeguarding an organization’s data assets and helping to facilitate a culture of data protection throughout the organizations that they work for.

These are the individuals responsible for designing, building, and enforcing data protection policies, including privacy protections, to ensure that the organization’s data remains secure.

This role was popularized by the recent introduction of new data protection laws, like the EU’s GDPR, and California’s CCPA, and while the requirements for this role may vary between different organizations, there are certainly some common elements involved in what data security and data protection officers do each day.

First, data protection officers are supposed to have education in the field, and may even be required to hold a BA or BS in cybersecurity, information security, or a related topic, or to have an equivalent work experience in privacy, compliance, or a similar discipline.

This is just one of several reasons why you’d want to think about earning a B.S. in Cybersecurity before attempting to pursue a job as a data security officer or data protection officer.

Forensic Computer Analyst / 2020 Median Pay: $74,189

Another excellent role in the cybersecurity space is the job of a forensic computer analyst, which is a position where you could find yourself responsible for helping to gather data and analyze information related to cyberattacks and other illegal online activities. 

According to CyberDegrees.org, these professionals need to develop a suite of sophisticated cybersecurity skills, as they may be asked to oversee complex tasks like data retrievals and incident analyses used to investigate illegal cyber activities, including:

  • Espionage
  • Cybercrime
  • Hacking
  • Fraud
  • Terrorism
  • Storage and distribution of illegal content

This is a great role for anyone interested in looking to play a front-line role in the war against cybercrime, so if you’re looking to make a real difference in the space, then this could be a perfect fit for you.

Do You Need a Bachelor’s Degree to Get a Job in Cybersecurity?

You don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s degree in the field to get a job in this industry, but holding respected academic credentials is likely to make it much easier to break into the field.

No matter what niche or specialty area you choose to pursue in cybersecurity, getting your degree is one of the best ways to prove that you’ve developed the technical knowledge, skills, and expertise required to make a real difference in the fight against cyber attacks.

Finishing a B.S. in Cybersecurity from a respected institution like CSU Global will prove that you’re prepared to provide value to any organization from day one, setting you up for success in this competitive, challenging, and complex industry.

Even if you’ve already got some experience working in cybersecurity, getting your degree should help advance your career by improving your marketability to potential hiring managers.

What Would You Learn in a Cybersecurity Degree Program?

If you choose to study cybersecurity with CSU Global, you’ll learn how to approach complex challenges in network security, cybersecurity management, and cybersecurity operations.

As a student at CSU Global, you’ll gain real-world experience in helping organizations protect themselves from costly cyber attacks, developing critical workplace skills like:

  • Protecting data and sensitive information from cyber threats.
  • Differentiating between various informal cybersecurity models.
  • Evaluating, testing, and analyzing network vulnerabilities.
  • Understanding the ethical and legal issues surrounding information security operations.

Our program’s curriculum also aligns with many of the most important professional certification exams that modern employers expect their cybersecurity experts to maintain, including:

  • (ISC)2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
  • (ISC)2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
  • EC-Council Certified Encryption Specialist (EC-Council ECES)
  • EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (EC-Council ECIH)
  • CompTIA A+, Network +, Security+, and Project+

Finally, we also help develop students’ competence in the areas associated with the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (ISC-CISSP) exam.

By the time you’ve completed our cybersecurity program, you’ll be fully capable of demonstrating mastery of the skills and abilities needed to succeed in the challenging world of cybersecurity operations.

Is a Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity Really Worth It?

Yes. It is worth completing a bachelor’s in cybersecurity, since earning a degree in this space could play a large role in contributing to your overall career advancement.

Getting your bachelor’s degree will prove that you’re committed to the field and that you’ve put in the time to develop the knowledge needed to provide real value to any organization from your first day on the job.

While it may take hard work and dedication to complete your B.S. in Cybersecurity from CSU Global, you’re sure to find that the coursework you complete during this program will be both useful and relevant to the responsibilities you’ll face when working in the cybersecurity industry.

Should I Get My Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity Online?

Yes, you should consider studying cybersecurity online, as an online degree program tends to provide far more flexibility than a traditional on-campus program.

This is especially important for students who already face significant responsibilities in their family or working lives, but also for anyone who’s simply looking to get their degree in the most efficient way possible.

Simply put, studying online with CSU Global should make it easier to find success in your degree program, since it will allow you to take advantage of the flexibility and freedom that our online degree programs provide, including benefits like:

  • No set times or locations for classes.
  • Monthly class starts.
  • Accelerated, eight-week courses.

If you already have a busy schedule, if you anticipate having any problems finding time for your academic studies, or if you’re simply interested in maximizing the amount of time you can spend learning, rather than commuting to and from a physical location, then you’ll want to consider studying online with us.

Why Should You Choose CSU Global for Your Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity?

We’re the first independent, fully accredited, 100% online state university, and our online Bachelor’s Degree program in Cybersecurity was designed to provide you with relevant, real-world skills you need to advance your career in this challenging, competitive industry.

Our B.S. in Cybersecurity program is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and recently received the #1 ranking for Best Online Bachelor's in Information Systems Security Degrees for 2021 from Cyberdegrees.org.

This program will provide you with competence in the areas associated with the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam, and the program’s curriculum is aligned with many of the other professional certification exams that employers demand for cybersecurity professionals, including:

  • (ISC)2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
  • (ISC)2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
  • EC-Council Certified Encryption Specialist (EC-Council ECES)
  • EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (EC-Council ECIH)
  • CompTIA A+, Network +, Security+, and Project+

To further ensure that you’ll develop useful knowledge and relevant job skills that you can use in the workplace, all of our cybersecurity faculty have recent, real-world experience in the field.

Getting your degree in cybersecurity from CSU Global is an excellent way to take the first step toward launching a successful, lifelong career in this exciting industry where you’ll play a critical role in protecting digital assets, computers, networks, and technical systems from cyber attacks.

To help save you time and money on your degree, we also offer competitive tuition rates, and a tuition guarantee that ensures your low tuition rate won’t increase from enrollment through graduation.

For additional details about our fully accredited, 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, please give us a call at 800-462-7845 or fill out our Information Request Form.

Ready to get started today? Apply now!