Cybersecurity Career Pathways

A security architect develops and maintains the security of an organization’s network.

The job may include the following responsibilities:

• Provide guidance and leadership on cybersecurity policy
• Collaborate with business leaders, developers, engineers and more to identify the organization’s business needs and make a plan for implementation
• Research and design all security features for IT projects
• Use cryptography to protect an organization’s data
• Stay up-to-date on cybersecurity threats, tools and best practices

Systems Security Track

• CYBR 3153: Database Systems
• CYBR 4843: Ethical Hacking for Effective Defense
  or CYBR 4883: Infrastructure Defense
• CYBR 4350: Management of Digital Forensics and eDiscovery
  or CYBR 4853: Computer Forensics

A cybersecurity manager is in charge of the overall cyber safety of an organization. This is an advanced-level job role that includes managing a staff of cybersecurity professionals.

Here are a few ways a cybersecurity manager supports an organization:

• Leads all facets of day-to-day cybersecurity operations
• Provides subject matter expertise in designing and implementing security safeguards to cloud, on-premises, endpoint, edge and mobile infrastructure
• Manages cybersecurity budget and creates metrics to track performance
• Maintains security protocols and policies
• Manages teams and projects

Systems Security Track

• CYBR 3153: Database Systems
• CYBR 4843: Ethical Hacking for Effective Defense
  or CYBR 4883: Infrastructure Defense
• CYBR 4350: Management of Digital Forensics and eDiscovery
  or CYBR 4853: Computer Forensics

Cybersecurity engineers work to build and maintain a system that’s safe against cyber attacks They focus on fixing and protecting these systems and stay up to date on new technology so they can keep their system secure. Cybersecurity engineers work closely with a company’s IT team to build an emergency plan to get things up and running quickly following a disaster.  

Some responsibilities of a cybersecurity engineer include:

• Creating new solutions to solve existing security issues
• Enhancing security capabilities by evaluating new technologies and processes
• Defining, implementing and maintaining corporate security policies
• Configuring and installing firewalls and intrusion detection systems
• Responding to information security issues
• Supervising changes in software, hardware, facilities, telecommunications and user needs
• Recommending modifications in legal, technical and regulatory areas that affect IT security

Systems Security Track

• CYBR 3153: Database Systems
• CYBR 4843: Ethical Hacking for Effective Defense
  or CYBR 4883: Infrastructure Defense
• CYBR 4350: Management of Digital Forensics and eDiscovery or CYBR 4853: Computer Forensics

A penetration tester, or pen tester, is considered a white hat or good hacker. Although they must think like a bad guy, the end goal is to help organizations improve their security practices to prevent theft and damage. Pen testers target traditional operating systems and devices as well as emerging technology, including Internet of Things (IoT devices, mobile devices, embedded systems and more.

Some responsibilities include:

• Applying appropriate tools for penetration testing
• Performing social engineering tests and reviewing physical security where appropriate
• Keeping up to date with latest testing and hacking methods
• Collecting data and deploying testing methodology
• Locating, assessing and managing vulnerabilities
• Making suggestions for security improvements and preparing technical responses to security questions

Systems Security Track

• CYBR 3153: Database Systems
• CYBR 4843: Ethical Hacking for Effective Defense
  or CYBR 4883: Infrastructure Defense
• CYBR 4350: Management of Digital Forensics and eDiscovery or CYBR 4853: Computer Forensics

A cybersecurity analyst detects cyber threats and then implements changes to protect an organization in the following ways:

• Manages and configures tools to monitor activity on the network
• Analyzes the reports from those tools to identify unusual behavior on the network
• Proactively identifies network vulnerabilities through penetration testing, vulnerability scans and vulnerability assessment reports
• Plans and recommends changes to increase the security of the network
• Applies security patches to protect the network

Network Security Track

• CYBR 4333: Network Configuration & Administration
• CYBR 4833: Wireless Security
• CYBR 4893: Internet of Things: Applications and Security

Cybersecurity specialists continually analyze risks and develop strategies to prevent breaches. They rely on teamwork because of the broad scope of security measures that need to be applied to protect the integrity of the network.

Other duties include:

• Keeping a close watch for the organization’s networks and making sure there are no security breaches
• Investigating any violations and running defensive protocols
• Protecting sensitive information by installing and using software, such as firewalls and data encryption programs
• Documenting security breaches and the extent of the damage caused by the breaches through extensive reports
• Simulating attacks to look for vulnerabilities in their systems before they can be exploited and write reports based on simulation results

Network Security Track

• CYBR 4333: Network Configuration & Administration
• CYBR 4833: Wireless Security
• CYBR 4893: Internet of Things: Applications and Security

Cyber Crime Track

• CCRJU1101: Foundations of Criminal Justice
• CYBR 3305: Technology and Criminal Justice
• CYBR 4305: Technology and Cyber Crime