Cybersecurity — the protection of systems, data in the Cloud, connected networks and endpoints — is a rapidly growing field in the information technology sector. As customers complete more transactions online, companies store more data in the Cloud and the pandemic-spurred shift to remote work continues, the need to safeguard data from unwelcome intrusion becomes increasingly important. Protecting data from malicious threats takes place at the individual, corporate and national levels.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduates with a cybersecurity specialization can anticipate a career with advancement potential in an exciting, well-regarded field. There are many excellent reasons to earn an online MBA in Cyber Security from a well-respected, fully accredited school like the University of Texas at Tyler, but the following five reasons are especially compelling.
1. Employment Opportunities
As internet use for business and personal transactions continues to grow, opportunities in cybersecurity will follow suit. Grand View Research projects the cybersecurity market to grow from its 2022 market size of an estimated $202 billion to over $500 billion in global revenue by 2030. This growth will generate a corresponding demand for professionals with the appropriate skills and expertise across industries and sectors.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) confirms this trend by reporting that, at 35% from 2021 to 2031, projected job growth for information security analysts is roughly seven times the average for all occupations.
2. Potential for Advancement
Advancement in the field will match the growth of the field as those with experience move on to manage entry-level professionals. The coursework required for an MBA in Cyber Security will prepare you to analyze an organization’s network security and assess areas of vulnerability. These analytical skills, along with a track record of strong work, can help you advance in your career.
Average wages for cybersecurity professionals are already high, with BLS reporting that the median annual pay for information security analysts was $102,600 in 2021. According to BLS, an MBA is a common level of educational attainment for higher-level roles in computer and information systems management, the management category that includes cybersecurity leadership positions. Professionals who advance to these management roles made a median salary of $159,010 per year in 2021, meaning an MBA in Cyber Security could lead to a significant wage increase.
In addition, an MBA program provides students with in-depth study in all areas of fundamental business practices. With a broad base of business knowledge and specialized cybersecurity expertise, MBA graduates are positioned to start their own business in this ever-expanding field.
3. Challenging Work
The core of cybersecurity work includes the ability to out-think an unknown adversary. You can protect your systems and data against known threats, but are you prepared for the new methods that cybercriminals will use to breach your firewalls? What about new technologies and techniques that will circumvent your current systems or those already in the pipeline?
As a cybersecurity professional, you must keep abreast of technological trends and capabilities while you think outside the box to imagine, assess and preempt new types of threats. The specialized MBA skills you’ll use in your day-to-day work hold tremendous value for organizations that want to protect company and customer data.
4. Fast-Paced Work Environment
The systems that protected your networks and data six months ago may not be effective six months from now. New hacking methods, faster systems and software updates all contribute to the vulnerability of your systems. To stay on top of it all, cybersecurity professionals must follow the news, trends and latest journal articles on the topic.
Networking with other professionals to discuss new trends, dissect the latest data breaches and examine ways to preempt future attacks is vital to staying up to date. Attention to the details and changes in cybersecurity practices is integral to protecting a cyber system. An MBA in Cyber Security gives you the opportunity to study the most cutting-edge trends and technologies in the field while building a network of professional mentors and peers.
5. Key Role in Safeguarding Data
As a cybersecurity professional, you might provide input to those creating new personal security systems, run tests on a business enterprise’s current systems or envision features that protect data at the highest levels of government. You can also play a central role in safeguarding businesses, employees, governments and citizens amidst the shift to remote work models during the COVID-19 pandemic. Decentralized, cloud-based workforces can expose people and organizations to increases in cybersecurity vulnerabilities and resulting cyberthreats.
You will have to foresee threats and work to defuse them before they take down a network, compromise millions of customer accounts or leak sensitive data to the world. You’ll weigh in on new operating systems and mobile operating systems. Your role in protecting data will be vital to the ultimate integrity and usefulness of that data.
Learn more about the UT Tyler online MBA in Cyber Security program.