Digitally, infrastructure security refers to creating and maintaining protected systems from breaches. If you have strong math and computer skills, an analytical outlook and a desire to fight cybercrime, a cybersecurity major may be a great fit for you. If you know you want a career in tech but haven’t settled on a cybersecurity specialization, a general computer science major may keep your options more open.

To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers. The University of Pennsylvania offers an Ivy League Master of Computer and Information Technology degree designed especially for students without a computer science background. Consider one of these beginner IT certifications or certificates to build entry-level skills and advance your career. The OSCP from Offensive Security has become one of the most sought-after certifications for penetration testers. The exam tests your ability to compromise a series of target machines using multiple exploitation steps and produce detailed penetration test reports for each attack.

Popular Cybersecurity Bootcamps

These “cyberenabled” positions focus on technical support, network engineering, or project management, but still require workers to handle minor security issues. Gaining industry experience in such roles can prepare candidates for core security positions. They must stay up to date with the latest trends and threats in the cybersecurity industry and be able to adapt to evolving security risks. Good communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills are also important for a cybersecurity specialist.

• A digital asset could include personal data, documents, websites, servers and networks.
• Cyber security certifications include Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CyberSec First Responder (CFR), HealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP), Network+, and more.
• If you know you want a career in tech but haven’t settled on a cybersecurity specialization, a general computer science major may keep your options more open.
• But most people are reluctant to change, especially if it requires learning a new operating procedure or work-flow.
• Those with bachelor’s degrees in other areas can still be competitive candidates if they also have IT work experience, relevant professional certifications or previous related coursework.

Cybersecurity defends against attacks on hardware, software, networks and users. In contrast, network security focuses on vulnerabilities in the connections between devices. These professionals also educate coworkers on best practices, as breaches may occur accidentally or deliberately by bad actors within their companies. Cybersecurity specialists must remain up to date with changes in the field by researching emerging threats and fixes. Cybersecurity specialists perform similar work to information security specialists but may focus more on hardware.

Security Architect

The question of whether or not you require a cybersecurity degree is a complex one. The right cybersecurity bootcamp depends on your price range, schedule and location. We highlight some of the most popular cybersecurity bootcamps below to give you an idea of what to expect. This field of cybersecurity how to become a security specialist goes by many names, offensive security, red team, white hat hacking, and ethical hacking among them. If you work in offensive security, you’ll take a proactive approach to cybersecurity. You’ll do this by playing the part of the intruder, trying to find vulnerabilities before the bad guys do.