What are your options when you get a degree in cyber security? Well, the answer is…you can do a lot! Modern technology has opened up a whole new world of opportunities, especially in the digital sense. While this has a ton of different benefits, it also poses some threats, especially from cybercriminals. This is where cyber security comes to save the day.
As people wake up to the need for cybersecurity experts, the job market for these professionals has exploded! In this article, we’ll cover the fundamentals of a cybersecurity degree and what careers you can pursue with one.
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What is Cyber Security Exactly?
These days, businesses store large quantities of their data and the personal information of their clients on huge servers. This information, if obtained, can be invaluable to those who have it for various reasons. For example, some servers may store individuals’ bank details or identity information, which can be used to steal their money or identity. This is what we refer to as cybercrime.
Like crime in the physical sense, cybercrime has to be dealt with by creating preventative measures that stop criminals from accessing business servers. Think of it as burglar bars or an alarm system, but for a digital building, This is where cybersecurity professionals come in. These individuals have the relative skills to design robust security software that protects a company’s data from outside access through various methods like end-to-end encryption, two-factor authentication settings, and response protocols for when there is a data breach.
Working with Cyber Security Service Providers
In addition to working in corporate or government roles, cybersecurity professionals often find rewarding careers at managed IT providers that specialize in delivering dedicated protection to businesses. One such company is GPK Group, a trusted name in IT and cyber security services across Australia.
Companies like GPK Group offer a range of solutions, including threat detection, firewall management, endpoint protection, and incident response planning. Cybersecurity professionals working with service providers often get hands-on experience across industries, helping multiple clients secure their digital infrastructure.
Whether you choose to work directly for a business or within a specialist service provider like GPK Group, the demand for qualified cybersecurity experts continues to rise—making this field both dynamic and full of opportunity.
What Careers Can You Pursue with a Cybersecurity Degree?
For a long time, cybersecurity was left up to the information technology department of many businesses and was only included as a subsection in related degrees. However, with the drastic technological improvements, the threat of cybercrime has grown exponentially, thrusting the business industry into needing professional cybersecurity technicians solely to protect their digital assets. As a result, several careers have also developed for individuals with a degree in cyber security.
For example, in the private sector, you could work as an information security analyst, protecting a company’s data, an ethical hacker, assisting companies in finding gaps in their cybersecurity systems defence, or you could even land a job in a national intelligence agency. Here are some specific jobs you could apply for:
Types of Cyber Security Jobs:
Cyber security consultant
A cyber security consultant is someone who is responsible for assisting businesses or the organisation they work for in creating a strategy to protect their most important assets from any cyber threats they may face.
Security architect
Very similar to the job of a software engineer, a cyber security architect will help design a computer security structure and will establish protocols that instruct the computer on how to protect the data on the server.
Penetration Tester
Another name for an ethical hacker, a penetration tester performs tests on a business system to see if the security software has any flaws that can be exploited by hackers. Once found, the tester will write up a report that allows the developers to patch the hole.
Security Systems Administrator
An administrator is the person who simply oversees the whole system. Their job would be to see that it’s allowed to run at an optimal level and to notify the right people if there are any issues.
Forensic expert
A forensic expert who specialises in cyber security will often analyse cyber attacks and track their origin in order to find the individual responsible. Their job is vital to exposing flaws in a businesses security system as well.
Network Security Manager
As a network security manager, you manage the business server or network on a daily basis, ensuring that it’s free from malware and monitoring possible threats to the system.
Security Software developer
A security software developer is involved in developing security software from the ground up. These individuals will be involved in every aspect of the development of security software, from its coding to how its implemented and customised for different businesses.
Security Code Auditor
When software is created and ready to be used, a security code auditor will inspect the code of the software to identify any floors before its release.
Chief Information Security Officer
The chief information security officer will oversee the security team tasked with managing the cyber security system.
Malware Analyst
A malware analyst is an individual who studies different types of malware or viruses to understand how they function and the potential risks they pose to a company. With this information, companies can better combat malware when detected.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, studying cyber security opens the door to multiple job opportunities, and the list above is just the start. So, if you’re a techie and are interested in studying one of the fastest-growing careers in the world currently, why not give a degree in cyber security a try?
