Program description
Cybersecurity is a broad and growing discipline intersecting with every industry. As digital information exchange has become the norm, it is critical to protect systems, networks, programs, and data from attacks and unauthorized access. As a graduate of Penn State Beaver’s interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations program, you will enter the workforce prepared to join the rapidly growing cybersecurity industry spanning organizations of almost every size with varied missions.
Students will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to critically assess and respond to modern information security threats, using approaches that are grounded in a holistic understanding of adversarial strategies and effective responses. The program offers an in-depth and domain-independent approach to the development of skills in cyber defense technologies; cybersecurity analytics and visualization; and cybersecurity risk analysis and management.
What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is a field that deals with the protection of computer systems, networks, programs, and data from attacks and unauthorized access. This includes the development of cyber defense tools to protect critical infrastructure as well as the analysis and mitigation of cyber threats.
Cybersecurity is a very broad field. This program focuses on the analysis of cybersecurity data, identification of cyber incidents, understanding the actions of malware, and communication of concerns to business stakeholders and the general public. High performing cyber analysts have a strong mathematical and computational background. They often employ computer programming and scripting to solve problems and integrate existing tools. They analyze the data they are presented with from intrusion detection sensors, firewalls, and anti-malware tools.
Cybersecurity professionals apply their skills to prevent cyber criminals, hacktivists, and persistent nation-state actors. They protect organizations, companies, healthcare institutions, and government agencies from the loss of confidential data.
You might like this program if ...
- You enjoy working with and on computers as well as their operating systems and applications.
- You want to protect digital information, data stores, and computer networks from threats.
- You want to learn the cyber defense strategies used to anticipate, recognize, and defend against computer attacks.
- You're passionate about how we can keep sensitive information out of the hands of hackers, cybercriminals, and terrorist organizations.
- You are interested in computer programming and mathematics.