ments and increasingly sophisticated cyber- attacks," said Brooks, who is also a professor in Information Systems and Analytics at MTSU. What is cybersecurity? Cybersecurity focuses on managing, creat- ing, and maintaining secure digital systems. Cybersecurity experts work to protect our most important and private information, such as bank accounts, medical records, mil- itary communications, and more. Cyberseek.org reports a “dangerous short- age of cybersecurity workers in the United States,” which puts “digital privacy and in- frastructure at risk.” “Cybersecurity is something that must be managed across people, processes, and tech- nology within an organization. It is critical to ensure business continuity,” Brooks said. A degree in cybersecurity management helps equip graduates with an understand- ing of both the technical and management sides of cybersecurity, which allows them to progress higher up an organizational ladder more quickly. A business degree also helps equip graduates with people skills that aren’t part of a traditional cur- riculum focusing on the computer science side of cybersecurity. “The cybersecurity field has a high global demand,” Brooks said. “There are oppor- tunities for change and growth within the profession. There are numerous degree and certification opportunities that allow individuals to specialize and to move into managerial positions.” While cybersecurity programs are offered at multiple Tennessee institutions ranging from community to public and private col- leges, MTSU is the only one in the state that has a degree related explicitly to cy- bersecurity management, where the cur- riculum is designed to support students interested in pursuing careers such as se- curity analysts and information security managers. “There are many different career paths within cybersecurity that would build upon various skill sets. You can be very technical, managerial, or somewhere in between,” Brooks said. Positions Within the Cybersecurity Profession Cybersecurity describes the general prac- tice of protecting and defending computer networks and systems from unauthorized access to data. Inside the practice, there are several career pathways that you can pursue in line with your capabilities and interests. Below is a list of several in-de- mand cybersecurity careers: n SECURITY ANALYST - a security ana- lyst monitors security protocols, ensuring that best practices are fully adhered to ac- cording to industry guidelines. n SECURITY SOFTWARE DEVELOPER - A security software developer is someone who develops security software as well as integrates security into software during the course of design and development. n SECURITY ENGINEER - A security en- gineer builds and maintains security sys- tems to help safeguard essential infrastruc- ture and data. n ETHICAL HACKER - also referred to as a penetration tester, an ethical hacker works toward unearthing computer system and network vulnerabilities and fixing them before a cybersecurity event occurs. Learn More About Cybersecurity www.mtsu.edu/cyber www.cyberseek.org Tennessee Career Guide | 2024-2025 55 Tennessee’s Top Careers Middle Tennessee State University’s Jen- nings A. Jones College of Business is ex- cited to pave the way for future cyberse- curity leaders with its new Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Management. The program provides students with the foundational knowledge and focused ex- pertise necessary to excel in this high-de- mand field. It covers various areas, includ- ing development and programming for cybersecurity, cloud computing, digital forensics, infrastructure design and man- agement, database design, and systems analysis and design—all from a cyberse- curity perspective. The degree consists of 120 hours of coursework. To accom- modate diverse learning preferences, MTSU’s program is offered with both on- ground and online course options. To learn more about this program, visit mtsu.edu/cyber. The Information on this career is submitted and sponsored by
