Why Online Cyber Security Degrees are Worth It

Here are some of the top online cybersecurity programs you will find and set you on your way to earning a six-figure income.

Most business, government offices, and organizations have moved their infrastructure and data to the connected world. While the connected world makes various tasks seamless, it exposes data to hackers and scammers who are always ready to use it for personal gains.

Security firms all over the globe are increasing their focus on finding ways to secure private information from unauthorized access. But today criminals are tech-savvy and always devising new ways to steal data. This is evident by the many massive data breaches that have affected popular companies like Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, Target and others.

No company is immune to cyber-attacks and cybersecurity incidents have been felt by millions if not billions of customers in the world.

This means companies need more cybersecurity professionals who can boost their online security and help to protect personal information from falling into the hands of unknown individuals. There’s no better time to pursue an online cybersecurity degree than now.

This degree promises graduates job opportunities in an ever-growing field. Furthermore, you don’t have to attend a traditional college to receive this degree as you can pursue it online.

Online Colleges Are Affordable and Flexible

Gone are the days when attending a traditional college was the only way to attain a degree. Today, over 3 million students pursue their degree online while about 6 million take at least one course online while attending a traditional college.

Online college programs are more popular today than ever because of the several benefits they come with.

They’re affordable: A student can pay up to $50,900 per academic year in a standard college. However, if you opt for an online program, you can pay as low as $11,040 for tuition. As a result, you will save a fortune in fees, meals, books, transportation, and housing.

Convenience: Besides learning from the comfort of your sofa, you can set your schedule. Online degree programs often let you listen and complete course work at your own time, plus you work at your own pace.

Variety: Traditional colleges and universities will not offer you the numerous course options that online colleges come with. .

Select Your Learning Environment

Another great benefit of online learning is the ability to choose how the program material will be delivered.

If you desire the interaction derived from physical class attendance, don’t worry! You can select a synchronous program. Synchronous programs allow you to learn in real-time: you can ask your lecture question through instant messages and receive instant answers.

Additionally, you can take part in class discussions to network, socialize, and collaborate with other students. Depending on the program you’re taking, you can interact with more students than you would on a standard college campus.

If you’re a lone wolf, select an asynchronous program. These programs let you study at your pace at any time of the day. You’ll receive your coursework via email, the web, and message boards.

Also, you can watch lectures or presentations, plus access lectures at your own time, meaning you can fit your education into your busy schedule: a benefit you couldn’t receive in a physical college.

Cyber Security Degrees Are Flexible

According to Monster.com, cyber experts are in demand in government, information technology, consulting, and banking and finance.

All the information stored online by individuals, companies, and institutions is susceptible to cyber-attacks. That’s why companies and organizations across the globe are on the lookout for cyber security professions.

They can help protect personal information from falling to the wrong hand. They also design security plans, set up firewalls, and even monitor activity, to protect networks and important files. If a system gets hacked, they tend to react faster to address the threat and prevent future incidents.

Their roles become even more complicated across the existing sectors. Here’s a list of the various career paths you can pursue with a degree in cybersecurity. We’ve also mentioned the salary you can earn, according to Cyberdgreess.org.

Security analyst

As an analyst, you get to work on security protocols and policies. You’ll conduct an in-depth system audit to identify a weakness in a system and anticipate future compromises. You will also track vulnerability over time. Most cybersecurity analyst can earn between $67,790 to $99,000 per year.

Forensic engineer

The work of a forensic engineer is to identify and investigate security threats and data breaches. You will get to dismantle and rebuild systems, look for networks and systems that have been hacked, and extract and examine data. Forensic engineers can walk home with an annual income ranging from $55,700 to $119,000.

Security software developer

Security software developers create detection tools or incorporate security during the software design process. Their annual salary ranges from $43,410 to $101,380.

Cryptographer

Cryptographers work to encrypt data for different organizations, like the FBI and Hospitals. They rely heavily on their good math skills to encrypt sensitive data and design new algorithms.

They run tests on their models for accuracy and security and investigate communication lines for signs of weakness. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the median salary of mathematicians was $102,010 in 2017.

Starting Your Online Cyber Security Degree

While selecting an online degree program and applying for it is easy, it wise to research a little. First, not all colleges are accredited. Secondly, not all credits are transferable.

Once you’ve found a college offering an online cybersecurity program, check out their ratings, reputation, and the quality of education they offer.

You can also compare it with other colleges offering the same option. Remember to look into tuition fees as well as financial aid and scholarships to reduce the money you will pay.

Cybersecurity is crucial to most companies, organizations, and government offices. So start your online degree and become part of a dynamic longtime career.