Do you find yourself asking the question “is cyber security a good career?” Perhaps you are interested in a cyber security career because you have always loved the excitement of working with rapidly evolving technology. Maybe you want to leverage technology to make the world a better place by protecting information and resources from threats. 

No matter the reason for your interest in a cyber security career, learning about the latest skills, tools, and trends in the field is an important next step. Cyber security professionals have to be forward-thinking in order to anticipate and respond to security threats. Learning how to spot vulnerabilities, mitigate risks, and address attacks compose the foundation of a successful career in cyber security.

From mobile phones to computer networks, the technological world cannot be kept safe without experts. Today’s cyber security threats range from a hacker breaking into an individual’s bank account to one government attacking another government’s information systems.

The Allianz Risk Barometer ranked “cyber incidents” as a top business risk in 2023 — topping other serious issues like supply chain disruption, pandemic outbreak, and natural catastrophes — for only the second time in the report’s history. The current presidential administration has named cyber security a top priority for all levels of government, and only 20% of nonprofit organizations have a cyberattack policy in place.

Each of these statistics points to the tremendous need for qualified cyber security professionals who can implement protections, educate others about how to stay safe online, and combat attacks.  

St. Bonaventure University's online Master of Science in Cybersecurity provides graduates with the technical and soft skills needed to counteract these growing threats. Before pursuing a master’s in cyber security, consider the answer to the question: is cyber security a good career? 

Is Cyber Security in Demand?

Developments such as the healthcare industry relying more on electronic medical records, banking taking place largely online, and the increased use of cloud computing means that jobs for cyber security professionals are in high demand. In fact, the need is so high that there were 3.5 million unfilled positions in 2023, and the same number of openings is projected for 2025.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that careers in information technology (IT) fields will grow by 15 percent from 2021 to 2031, which is faster than the average rate projected for all occupations. The outlook for information security analyst jobs is even better: the BLS predicts a 35 percent growth rate for these roles and has ranked it as the Best Job of 2023.

Information security analysts earned an average of $102,600 in 2021, according to the BLS. These positions come with the immense responsibility of protecting the digital assets of government agencies, companies, and organizations. 

In the same vein are cyber security managers, who serve as experts in the protection of an organization’s security systems. According to Focal Point, the average salary for a cyber security manager position is $102,000. The field of Cyber Security Management is growing steadily, with almost 22,000 openings in 2021.

Cyber security professionals are needed across all sectors of industry, from healthcare to retail and banking to manufacturing. Beyond the private sector, nonprofit organizations and government agencies are also looking for cyber security professionals to help them keep information safe. 

Do Cyber Security Jobs Pay Well?

The high demand for cyber security professionals means that most positions in the field pay a high median salary. Salaries and benefits will likely continue to rise as cyberattacks increase due to hacking tools becoming more easily available, and vital information like health reports and financial documents having an increased presence online. 

Consider just a few examples of cyber security roles and their corresponding average salaries.

Computer Forensics Analyst

Computer forensics analysts are largely responsible for conducting investigations and recovering data related to computer-based crimes. They examine records and analyze system security, website traffic information, and log files in order to determine how an intrusion occurred. Digital forensics analysts write reports that share their findings and make recommendations for security improvements.

ZipRecruiter lists an average salary of $109,790 for computer forensics analysts.

Ethical Hacker

Ethical hackers, also referred to as white hat hackers, penetrate technology systems to identify vulnerabilities before a malicious hacker does. Through authorized hacking attempts, these professionals break into computers and networks as though they were a cybercriminal. They are able to strengthen and improve the security measures in place in response to what they discover while ethical hacking.

The St. Bonaventure University online Master’s in Cybersecurity prepares students for the Certified Ethical Hacker certification through coursework in penetration testing, assessment of software vulnerabilities, and more. 

ZipRecruiter lists an average salary of $135,269 for ethical hackers.

Chief Information Security Officer

Chief information security officers (CISO) are senior-level executives who lead and direct company or organization-wide cyber security efforts. They oversee categories such as security operations, fraud prevention, and security architecture. If a breach occurs, the CISO will be responsible for leading the response and taking steps to prevent such attacks in the future. 

ZipRecruiter lists an average salary of $162,150 for chief information security officers.

The St. Bonaventure University online Master’s in Cybersecurity prepares students for multiple certifications, including the Certified Ethical Hacker certification through coursework in penetration testing, assessment of software vulnerabilities, and more. With an MS in Cyber Security, you enhance your marketability for advanced cyber security roles and leadership positions from which you can keep people and information safe and influence new developments in the field.

How Do Cyber Security Professionals Make the World a Better Place?

From the corporate world to the nonprofit sector and local government to national agencies, cyber security professionals work to serve the people by protecting them and their information from cyber attacks. 

Here are some of the ways that cyber security professionals serve others in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. 

• Government departments and agencies including The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, The United Nations, and state commissions regularly hire professionals like systems analysts and cyber security officers to prevent and respond to attacks against governments.
• Cyber security professionals in the private sector serve in many ways, including protecting financial information by implementing safety measures within banks and keeping medical records safe in healthcare systems.
• Nonprofit cyber security professionals may be responsible for building and implementing systems that protect donor information and maintain client confidentiality.

How Does Working in Cyber Security Challenge You?

News stories frequently point out the complexity of the modern world. A global thought leader in cyber security and emergent tech Chuck Brooks published an article in Forbes in 2022 that detailed the layered difficulties for todays’ cyber security experts. Brooks noted a few specific and timely challenges, including:

• Growing threats to the Internet of Things
• The increase in ransomware, which cost the world $20 billion in 2021 and is expected to cost $265 billion by 2031
• The United States is the most highly targeted country for cyberattacks as the target of 46% of global attacks 

U.S. News & World Report’s coverage of cyber security issues conveys the growing complexity in this field. Government agencies like the CIA and FBI have worked with private-sector partners to develop cyber security protections against hacks through social media platforms. Frequent coverage of ransomware attacks reveals the urgent need for creative minds to prevent hackers from hijacking computer systems. And current events, such as those involving Russia, Ukraine, and China, increasingly involve a cyber security component.

As a cyber security expert, you would be at the forefront of addressing concerns raised by Brooks and U.S. News & World Report. Successful professionals in the field are invigorated by the prospect of combating threats and pursuing innovations. As a rapidly growing field, emerging professionals have the opportunity to contribute ideas to a developing sector. 

Today’s cyber security professionals must be lifelong learners and effective problem solvers to keep up with rapid innovation. But hard knowledge and technical skills are not the only elements that matter. Cyber security professionals must also know how to communicate their discoveries and innovations in order to flourish in the field. 

“Technology is always changing,” explains Pouya Ghotbi, SBU’s Associate Director of the MS in Cybersecurity Program. “It's changing so fast that when we develop courses, we make sure we go back and refresh the content every single semester. Soft skills are very important too. I, myself, had to learn this. Early on in my career, I had technical blinders on. SBU places emphasis on your softer skills giving you the confidence to present your findings.”

How Can I Become a Cyber Security Professional?

This blog post has shared just a few of the reasons why the answer to the question “is cyber security a good career choice?” is a resounding “yes!”

If you’re ready to take the next step toward an exciting, meaningful career, consider the St. Bonaventure University online Master of Science in Cybersecurity. Our program will prepare you for the industry through courses that cover topics such as cloud security, machine learning & AI, and data mining. You will learn how to approach security, risk, and compliance components, as well as how to prevent, respond to, and present findings related to cyberattacks. 

Build global cyber security skills through key partnerships with Amazon Web Services Academy, Cisco Academy, and EC Council, and prepare to move into managerial and senior leadership roles with our highly accredited MS in Cybersecurity. The program takes place 100% online, does not require a GRE or GMAT, and can be completed in as few as 18 months. 

Make a difference in the growing field of cyber security with SBU’s online Master of Science in Cybersecurity.