The Importance of Master’s Degree in Information Security

The field of information security is one that is growing exponentially. Statistics show that the opportunities in this field far outnumber the number of qualified professionals. This is because this is a relatively new field and people are only now starting to wake up to the potential and possibilities of this job market. With almost every organization, business, and institution, from governmental to non-governmental, business to personal, having an online presence, doing business online, conducting various transactions online, and storing valuable data online, there is no chance of this field becoming redundant in the near future. With more jobs being created (the predicted number is 6 million jobs by the year 2019 worldwide), it makes sense to prepare yourself for this career by investing your time and energy to get certified in the field.

The fact is that there are more people today who are aware of this field and getting certified to enter it. Chances are the job market in this field could even get saturated in a few years. Most people who enter this field right now are those who have a bachelor’s in information technology or computer science with a specialization in information security. There are also people who may not have specialized in information security at the graduate level but have undergone specific courses which offer certificates and postgraduate diplomas in information security. Then there are those who get trained on the job, as an intern or as a junior information security officer, in any firm that specializes in information security, which helps to jump start their careers in this field. It is in this scenario that you need to weigh your options and consider how you could set yourself apart from others who may be competing for that plum position that you have set your eyes on. What sets you apart from them? What would make you catch the eye of a recruiter or a company looking for talented and qualified information security specialists?

The answer is simple: a Master’s Degree in Information security! There are a number of reasons for this:

• There are still only a limited number of people with a Master’s degree in this field, being that it is so new and cutting edge. When you get a Master’s degree, you are automatically elevated to a position that is higher than those who have just a Bachelor’s degree or a certificate or a diploma.
• Corporates and other organizations are looking for talented, competent, well trained, and knowledgeable candidates in this field. What could be more telling of your knowledge base than a Master’s degree?
• Recruiters are also looking for people who are passionate and dedicated to this field. When you get a Master’s degree in Information security, you are putting out the message that this is an area of study that you are so passionate about that you were willing to go back to college for a Master’s degree for it. You are also showing future potential recruiters that you have the discipline and work ethics to stick it out for the long run.
• In a Master’s degree, you will be covering many more specific and niche areas in the field of information security which would not be taught at the Bachelors level or at the certificate/diploma level.
• A Master’s degree opens up other vistas for you in the areas of research and development. You could purse doctoral or postdoctoral studies in this field which would give you exciting opportunities to make your own contribution to it.
• Some colleges also offer students the opportunity to specialize in even more specialized and niche areas of information security, which will give you a sharper edge over others. You could specialize in criminal justice, financial risk, security education, computer science, etc.
• A Master’s degree gives you opportunities to get into teaching the subject at the college and university level. Since this is a field that is growing, the number of colleges that are adding this course are increasing, so you can expect more job opportunities in the teaching field.
• When you have a Master’s degree, you will be given higher levels of responsibility which offer more challenges and more creative fulfillment.
• A Master’s degree makes you eligible for the high-profile information security jobs in top firms.

There is no doubt that a Master’s degree in Information security will be a smart investment in your career that leads to greater security and stability in an evolving job market.

Image Courtesy: www.freepik.com