Cyber Security: Your Complete Guide
In today’s ever-evolving technological landscape, cyber security professionals must be aware of the impact of artificial intelligence on potential threats. The FBI
American individuals and businesses that AI tools allow malicious parties to conduct more sophisticated and targeted phishing attacks and clone voices or videos to scam targets. Companies and individuals can fall prey to convincing schemes that compromise their data.
The types of cyberattacks listed above can lead to widespread data breaches, which are expensive to solve and potentially ruinous to a target’s reputation. A data breach in the United States in 2023 cost targets an average of $4.45 million. IBM Security found that the United States has been the global leader in data breach costs for 13 years, proving that more cyber security experts are needed in today’s technological landscape.
Harvard Business Review studied the effects of a cyber security attack. They found that a data breach increases the company’s cost of doing business, which can, in turn, diminish the company’s market value and credit rating and cause higher prices for consumers. With effects this devastating, a widespread breach could be the demise of some companies.
In the early months of 2024, Americans have already seen some of the most widespread cyber security attacks.
In February of 2024, Change Healthcare, a large medical claim processing company, fell victim to one of the largest breaches of medical records in history. The breach affected sensitive information like medical records, billing payment data, social security numbers, and health insurance details for up to one-third of Americans.
The same month, Prudential Financial underwent a ransomware attack that affected 2.5 million customers. Both Change and Prudential have offered two years of identity theft and credit monitoring services to affected customers at no cost.
In 2023, 37 million T-Mobile customers were affected by a breach that leaked names, addresses, and dates of birth. The company stock dropped nearly 1.5% when the news was announced.
MGM Resorts took a major financial hit after a cyberattack, with reports estimating the cost to the company at around $100 million.
The Kaseya compromise in July 2021 was a major supply chain attack where the REvil ransomware group exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Kaseya’s VSA remote management software. This allowed the attackers to deploy ransomware to Kaseya’s Managed Service Provider (MSP) customers, and subsequently to thousands of their clients globally, causing widespread operational disruption and data encryption.
These companies and many more needed the services of cyber security teams to protect consumer and employee data, help them retain a good reputation, and shield their market value from a significant downturn.
Small businesses, multinational corporations and everyone in between should be wary of online attacks. The University of California, Berkeley’s Information Security Office provides the following advice to deal with the most frequent threats to digital assets:
Professionals in top jobs in 2025 receive salaries averaging $150,163, far exceeding salaries in most career paths. The job titles and salaries listed below exemplify the high ceiling awaiting top performers in the field:
What Types of Employers Look for Cyber Security Professionals?
When cyber security jobs first experienced explosive growth, they were met with a 1.3% decline in user clicks on listings due to vague job titles and poor promotion. In recent years, however, employers have improved their ability to recruit qualified cyber security professionals and provide work environments that allow them to thrive.
Cyber security professionals — including managers, engineers, analysts, and consultants — continue to find growing opportunities across both public and private sectors. The 2024 ISC2 Workforce Study shows demand remains high globally, with a workforce gap of 4 million professionals. Despite economic uncertainty and reduced hiring in some sectors, nearly 92% of organizations reported they still need more cyber security staff, especially in areas like cloud security, risk assessment, and threat detection.
From startups to global enterprises, nonprofits, and government agencies, organizations are actively seeking cyber security talent to safeguard against escalating threats and data breaches.
What Are the Benefits of Working in Cyber Security?
The BLS estimated a 33% growth rate of available jobs for information security analysts from 2022 to 2032. Analysts earned average salaries of $120,360 in 2023, but there is a high earnings ceiling for information security careers, and making a good living is not the only benefit of working in this field.
Low Supply Means High Demand
Even more telling? The cyber security workforce grew by just 0.1% between 2023 and 2024, a dramatic slowdown from the 8.7% growth rate the previous year. This plateau in hiring is not due to a lack of need — it’s due to a shortage of qualified professionals. For job seekers and career changers alike, this shortage translates into strong job security, high earning potential, and opportunities for rapid advancement.
Clear and Consistent Mission
Future cyber security professionals may be wondering about long-term career satisfaction. The 2024 ISC2 report show the majority of respondents felt cyber security is their calling in life and extremely passionate about it. Not only is this career path in high demand, but it provides high levels of satisfaction for those who pursue it. To compete with the satisfied crowd of cyber security professionals, it is essential to build skills through education and certifications.
Cyber security professionals know they are working to protect sensitive or confidential information from people with bad intentions each day. This mission crosses career paths, employers and countries, providing consistency throughout a professional’s growth.
How Do You Prepare for a Cyber Security Career?
According to ISC2, hiring managers today place greater emphasis on soft skills — such as problem-solving, collaboration, curiosity, and communication — than on even the most in-demand technical competencies like cloud security, risk assessment, and AI.
Cyber Security Certifications Boost Job Prospects
ISC2 found that among those who earned a cyber security certification before landing their first job in the field, 90% found it to be valuable to their career; highlighting the strong impact certifications can have early on. Many cyber security professionals earn their first certifications concurrently with their degree programs.
The EC-Council offers the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification for future “white hats” who find and repair system repair vulnerabilities before hackers invade. The Cisco Certified Network Associates (CCNA) certification demonstrates competencies in automation, network security and IP tools.
Students can look for an MS in cyber security program that partners with these certification agencies. Certification will be part of their training, saving them time and money on their comprehensive education.
Who Should Become a Cyber Security Professional?
Career Changers
Gender and Racial Diversity
Security analysts and consultants just entering the field will one day become leaders. The absence of diversity in entry-level and mid-level positions translates to senior roles. These facts should motivate women and minorities interested in digital security to pursue degrees that change the profession.
Why Choose St. Bonaventure for Your Cyber Security Degree?
This cybersecurity master’s program also offers a 100% online format. There is no GRE or GMAT requirement for applicants, eliminating the need for a costly entrance exam. The degree also blends real-world learning via hands-on labs utilizing industry software and tools with theoretical lessons in threat analysis, cryptography, detection engineering, penetration testing and and other skills to help career changers transition into cyber security.
A Long History of Educating Leaders
Graduates can tout their commitment to the school’s core values. The values of compassion, wisdom and integrity are inextricable from coursework, internships and other experiences.
In the cyber security world, university graduates who embrace these values along with creativity and good judgment can advance ethically in their careers.
Nationally Ranked
- No. 17 in Regional Universities North
- No. 14 in Most Innovative Schools
- No. 6 in Best Value Schools for 2024
Niche’s 2024 college rankings also show St. Bonaventure University as a great starting point for in-demand careers (source). They gave the following rankings to St. Bonaventure:
- No. 25 in Best Catholic Colleges in America
- No. 73 in Best Colleges with No Application Fee in America
- No. 110 in Best Small Colleges in America
Taking the Next Steps
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