Perhaps more than ever, there's a need for knowledgeable and skilled cybersecurity professionals to safeguard sensitive data and protect against costly data breaches. According to the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), "there has been an increase in most types of cyberattacks across the United States, and the cost of these attacks is also increasing."

If you're interested in launching or advancing a career in cybersecurity, now could be a great time to pursue your MS in Cybersecurity and Forensics from Neumann University. No matter where your specific interests may lie within the field, there are plenty of diverse and rewarding cybersecurity careers you can explore with this degree.

What Can You Do with a Cybersecurity Degree?

Cybersecurity is a broad field encompassing many potential niches and specializations. From cyber defense and ethical hacking to threat intelligence and advanced leadership roles, there are plenty of possibilities to consider with an online degree in cybersecurity.

A graduate-level cybersecurity degree online program also comes with a rigorous curriculum and highly technical coursework, providing practical experience that prepares current and aspiring cybersecurity professionals to advance and thrive in this dynamic field.

The Growing Demand for Cybersecurity Professionals

Is cybersecurity a good career in this day and age? The simple answer is a resounding yes.

According to an annual Internet Crime Report released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), 2024 saw more than 859,000 reports of suspected cybercrime — with reported losses totaling over $6.5 billion. And, unfortunately, cybercrime doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

With instances of cybercrime on the rise (and the complexity of cyberattacks increasing), there is a growing need for knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced cybersecurity professionals to defend against, respond to, and investigate these types of crimes.

From Entry-Level Roles to Advanced Security Leadership

Whether you're already in an entry-level cybersecurity role or are looking to pivot from another field, a graduate-level degree allows you to build the specialized technical skills and industry knowledge that today's employers are looking for.

From entry- and mid-level roles to more advanced careers in cybersecurity, the experience and knowledge gained in a graduate-level cybersecurity degree program could set you up for long-term career advancement and professional growth. Below, you can explore different types of cybersecurity and digital forensics jobs that may be available to those with this degree.

Security Analyst and Cyber Defense Roles

In a graduate-level cybersecurity program, students learn how to effectively monitor, detect, and defend against cyber threats in organizational environments — all of which may lead to opportunities in security analyst and cyber defense roles.

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts are cybersecurity professionals who protect organizational networks and systems against the growing threat of cyberattacks. These experts rely on threat monitoring, vulnerability assessment, security auditing, and adherence to regulatory compliance standards to keep information systems secure.

Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst

SOC analysts provide round-the-clock monitoring of organizational security systems, allowing for rapid detection and prevention of attempted cybersecurity breaches and other types of attacks. These professionals rely on skills such as incident detection, log analysis, and response coordination to carry out their everyday responsibilities.

Risk and Compliance Analyst

Risk and compliance analysts help organizations assess their own cybersecurity risks by evaluating their security frameworks and ensuring they meet certain regulatory compliance standards. They can then make recommendations as needed for updating policies or changing security measures to maintain compliance and avoid potential issues down the road.

Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing Careers

With dedicated coursework in ethical hacking and penetration testing, graduates of a cybersecurity program may be better prepared to identify and address system vulnerabilities in a number of rewarding roles.

Ethical Hacker / Penetration Tester

Ethical hackers and penetration testers are responsible for simulating cyberattacks on an organization's systems and networks to test them for weaknesses or vulnerabilities. From there, they can provide valuable reports and recommendations for improvement that may help reduce the risk of real attacks.

Red Team / Blue Team Specialist

These days, many organizations hire red team and/or blue team specialists. Red team specialists take on more of the "offensive" responsibilities when it comes to preventing cyberattacks, such as carrying out penetration testing and ethical hacking.

Meanwhile, blue team specialists adopt more of a defensive role, focusing their efforts on incident response, monitoring, and security strategy.

Vulnerability Assessment Specialist

Vulnerability assessment specialists handle all aspects of identifying potential weaknesses within an organization's cybersecurity systems. This may include using specialized tools to scan networks for vulnerabilities, as well as reporting and determining which weaknesses should be addressed first. All of this, in addition to remediation planning and proactive defense, is an important aspect of a vulnerability assessment specialist's job.

Digital Forensics and Investigation Roles

More interested in the investigative side of the field? A master's in cybersecurity could help you build valuable investigative, evidence-handling, and legal skills needed to pursue a variety of digital forensics jobs and similar support roles.

Digital Forensic Investigator

When a cyberattack occurs, digital forensics investigators play a critical role in locating, preserving, and analyzing digital evidence that may be used to solve a crime. They may examine hard drives, networks, and mobile devices to reconstruct events and ensure that all evidence is handled in accordance with legal standards.

Cybercrime Investigator

Cybercrime investigators often take the work of a digital forensic investigator a step further, collaborating with and supporting law enforcement or corporate investigations when cybercrime is suspected. Professionals may track digital footprints, identify perpetrators, and connect technical findings to criminal activity.

E-Discovery and Litigation Support Specialist

When a cybercrime incident makes it to court, organizations and even law enforcement agencies may rely on e-discovery and litigation support specialists to prepare digital evidence for important legal proceedings. These professionals organize, review, and present electronically stored information in a way that is accessible, compliant, and defensible in legal contexts.

Incident Response and Threat Intelligence Careers

When a cyberattack occurs, how organizations respond to a threat is critical to reputation management and damage mitigation. An MS in Cybersecurity program prepares students with valuable incident response, threat intelligence, and strategic security skills needed to pursue any number of specialized career paths.

Incident Responder

These experts manage data breaches as they occur and work to contain threats as a means of mitigating damage. From there, they also carry out proactive system recovery to restore a sense of normalcy as promptly as possible.

Threat Intelligence Analyst

Threat intelligence analysts are skilled cybersecurity professionals who carefully analyze attack patterns and predict emerging threats. They implement proactive measures to mitigate threats before they occur.

Cybersecurity Consultant

Many organizations hire cybersecurity consultants to provide professional advice and guidance. Specifically, they help organizations prevent cybersecurity attacks and become more resilient against emerging threats.

Leadership and Advanced Cybersecurity Positions

With an advanced education and the right amount of experience, cybersecurity professionals may move into high-level leadership and advanced security roles. An MS in Cybersecurity can help aspiring leaders prepare for such roles by instilling strategic decision-making, critical thinking, and management skills.

Security Manager or Director

These high-level leaders are responsible for overseeing entire security teams and managing various aspects of an organization's cybersecurity strategy. They also develop and enforce security policies, allocate resources, and ensure that security initiatives align with broader business objectives.

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

In this executive-level role, a Chief Information Security Officer oversees an organization's cybersecurity strategy — from risk management and everyday security operations to compliance, incident response, and disaster recovery. CISOs also serve as key advisors to executive leadership, translating complex security risks into strategic decisions that support organizational resilience.

Cybersecurity Program Manager

Cybersecurity program managers handle smaller-scale security initiatives and other cross-functional projects, often collaborating with interdisciplinary professionals to keep everybody on the same page. They are responsible for coordinating timelines, managing budgets, and ensuring that projects meet security requirements while staying aligned with organizational goals.

How an MS in Cybersecurity Builds Career Readiness

No matter how robust your prior education and/or experience with cybersecurity may be, a master's in cybersecurity can be a great way to develop the technical competencies needed in today's evolving threat landscape. This includes skills related to cyber defense, digital forensics, legal considerations, and ethical decision-making.

Technical Foundations in Cyber Defense

In an MS in Cybersecurity program, students explore coursework in foundational concepts such as network security, system hardening, and vulnerability management — all essential skills that cybersecurity professionals need to have at every level to safeguard data and protect systems against growing threats.

Digital Forensics Methodology

Those interested in digital forensics and investigation roles need to possess methodological skills to process, preserve, analyze, and report on digital evidence at all stages of investigation. These competencies are covered extensively in a graduate-level cybersecurity program, with specific skills including proper evidence handling, chain of custody, and investigative procedures.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

In all cybersecurity-related roles, professionals need a robust knowledge and understanding of the complex industry laws and regulations affecting their work. An MS in Cybersecurity program provides in-depth instruction on the latest industry regulations as they relate to cyber law, ethical hacking boundaries, data breach notification, and intellectual property.

With this knowledge, cybersecurity professionals can do their part to act ethically and responsibly in their work while maintaining regulatory compliance at all times.

Expand Your Opportunities with a Cybersecurity Degree at Neumann

From entry-level to advanced security leadership roles, a formal degree in cybersecurity can serve as a valuable stepping stone into many fulfilling cybersecurity and digital forensics jobs. Whether you're more interested in ethical hacking, cyber defense, investigation, or incident response, Neumann University's MS in Cybersecurity and Forensics degree program offers a career-ready curriculum that includes coursework in relevant topics such as:

• Cybersecurity management
• Cyber law and ethics
• Digital forensics and incident response
• Advanced penetration testing

And, because this program is offered entirely online, you can pursue your advanced degree without putting other responsibilities on the back burner. Want to learn more? Get in touch to request information or take the next step by completing your online application for admission now.