Best Degrees for a Career in Cyber Security

Many companies are looking for a cyber security professional who can help them keep their networks safe. They know that if a hacker gets into the system and takes the information, it can cause a lot of problems along the way. This is why they want to hire someone who knows how to work with the network and can keep them as safe as possible.

If you are looking into a career in cyber security, you first need to get the right degree to help you out. This degree will ensure that you know the information necessary to do your job and can give you the skills to really impress your future employer. But which degree is going to be the right one for you?

While there are a lot of great jobs in cyber security, you need to make sure that you are going with the right job to help you get it done. Some of the best degrees for a career in cyber security include:

Computer Science

Computer science is a degree that will help you focus on all aspects of computing. It will teach you the theory and principles of computer science along with some of the technical skills, allowing you to get a good understanding of computer systems. You can learn about the networks, programming languages, databases, and systems of computers.

Some of the different courses that you will need to take in computer science include:

• Artificial intelligence
• Systems engineering
• Algorithms
• Programming
• Mathematics

It is common for many of these programs to offer you some specializations that will dig deeper into niche subjects as well. These may include cloud computing, software development, machine learning, and cybersecurity to name a few.

Computer Programming

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Another option to choose is computer programming. This will help you to utilize different programming languages in order to write programs that can fight off hackers and malicious activity in a computer system. You will also have knowledge that helps you predict when a hacker is going to try and attack a system.

There are many courses that you can take when it comes to gaining a computer programming degree. Some of the most common include:

• Java
• C++
• C#
• Python
• Algorithms
• Data structures

In this degree, you will get a chance to write, debug, and compile some of the codes that will keep the system safe. The programs you create will include instructions that tell computers which tasks to perform. You can learn algorithms and different ways to solve problems, while also troubleshooting bugs and working with teams.

Database Management

Many companies will have databases that they will need to utilize to collect and store information. This information is going to be critical to helping the company be successful. It also means that you will provide a great service by protecting it through cybersecurity.

If a hacker is looking to steal information, they will try to hit the database of a company. When you get a degree in database management, you will learn how to protect the information in that database, ensuring that the hackers are not able to take the information or make big changes to it that can ruin the business.

In this degree, you will learn a variety of different things including:

• Data analysis
• Database security
• Database administration
• Structured Query Language or SQL

Computer Hardware Engineering

A hardware engineer is able to design, test, and then evaluate the hardware on a computer system. As a computer hardware student, you get a chance to learn about the different types of hardware that comprise a computer system. This can include items like adapters, memory, CPUs, and circuit boards. Routers and switches can count here too.

In addition, you will have a chance to learn how to build and test hardware. You can make recommendations to companies who hire you while also performing some of the important diagnostics as well.

Some of the courses you can take in hardware engineering include:

• Software development
• Computational structures
• Circuits
• Mathematics
• Microprocessors

Hardware is going to be a very important part of the computing system. Without the necessary hardware, the software isn’t going to run. Companies will need a cyber security professional who knows how to protect their hardware as well as the other components of the network.

Network Administration

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Network administrators are going to work to look at the connections between software, devices, and functions. You will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of all these systems when you take over the role. You can look to see what the needs of the system are, install the software, and support the whole network.

In this role, you will be able to learn how to perform upgrades and repairs, evaluate the performance of a system, and maintain security as well. You can learn how to manage users and their permissions while also troubleshooting and learning how to solve some of the problems that will come up on the network.

The network admin is also going to provide some of the necessary technical oversight to those who choose to use the network. You will need to research new technologies and make some recommendations to improve the security so that hackers are less likely to get on the system.

Some of the courses that students in network administration will typically take include:

• Infrastructure
• Cloud computing
• Local area networks
• VPN technologies
• Application deployment and security
• Router configuration

All companies need a secure network to help protect them against hackers and other problems. When you choose to get a degree in network administration, you will have the right knowledge and skills that are necessary to create, protect, and maintain your network and make sure that hackers are going to stay far away from the system.

Choosing the Right Degree

With so many different degrees in cyber security to choose from, it is hard to pick just one. Take a look at all of the different degrees that are available above and see which one is right for you.