How To Get Into Cybersecurity With a Finance Degree
While switching from a career in finance to a career in cybersecurity isn't easy, it's certainly possible. This career change usually requires completing another degree program.
When you start college fresh out of high school, it can be hard to choose the right major. It's common for students to change their major or even regret their major after graduating; some are eager to switch career fields upon graduation.
Many students opt for business or finance majors due to their popularity and career opportunities. If you've already earned a finance degree but want to pivot to a career in cybersecurity, you can take several steps to make this career change. Keep reading to learn how to get into cybersecurity with a finance degree.
How Is Cybersecurity Related to Finance?
Cybersecurity relates to finance in a few ways. Some common examples of these similarities include:
- Auditing: Cybersecurity experts audit cybersecurity systems, while finance professionals audit financial records.
- Sensitive data: Both careers work to protect sensitive user data.
- Risk management: Cybersecurity experts manage security risks, while financial experts manage financial risks.
- Various organizations: Both fields can work for many organizations, including banks, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and more.
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How Can a Finance Degree Be Leveraged for a Career in Cybersecurity?
While finance and cybersecurity seem worlds apart, in truth, some overlap occurs between the two. A degree in finance may help you with a career in cybersecurity in different ways.
For example, working in finance gives you the problem-solving and communication skills you'll need as a cybersecurity expert. It also gives you a strong knowledge of financial programs, which you may need to protect as a cybersecurity expert.
Steps for Transitioning Into Cybersecurity With a Finance Degree
If you want to transition into a cybersecurity career with a finance degree, you're likely going to return to school to learn cybersecurity so you can land a job in this field. We've broken down the steps you need to know below.
Consider Earning a Second Degree
To earn a degree in cybersecurity when you already hold a bachelor's degree in finance, you have two primary options: a second bachelor's degree in cybersecurity or a master's degree in cybersecurity.
Second bachelor's degree programs are often shorter than first bachelor's degree programs as you're not required to retake general education courses. They usually take two years of full-time study to complete.
Master's degrees in cybersecurity also take about two years to complete. Many programs allow students with a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field, like finance, to earn a master's degree in cybersecurity, but you will likely need some computer science and calculus prerequisites and other requirements.
Cybersecurity degrees at both levels may be offered as their own degree program or as a specialization in a computer science or information technology program. They often cover topics like:
- algorithms
- cyber crime
- data analytics
- data mining
- information systems
- information security
- network security
- risk management
An alternative to a degree program is a cybersecurity bootcamp or certificate program. These programs usually take less time, often three to nine months. Degrees, bootcamps, and certificate programs can all be found both on-campus and online; some include internships to give you hands-on experience.
Get a Cybersecurity Certification
There are a few different certification options available for cybersecurity professionals. While these certifications are not a requirement, they can help you land a cybersecurity job. Some standard cybersecurity certifications online or in-person for cybersecurity experts include:
- Certified Information System Auditor (CISA) from ISACA
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) from ISC2
- Certified Security Analyst from EC-Council
- Security+ from CompTIA
Note that some of these certifications require a few years of experience in the cybersecurity field, meaning you may not be able to earn them until after you've landed a job.
Learn the Necessary Skills for a Career in Cybersecurity
As you progress through your cybersecurity program of choice, you'll start developing a valuable skill set for this field. Some of the necessary skills needed for a career in cybersecurity include:
- networking and systems administration
- knowledge of operating systems, including Linux
- programming languages (i.e., Python, C, C++, JavaScript, and SQL)
- cloud security
- network security
- security incident response
Additionally, you'll need soft skills, which might already be developed with your finance experience, including communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and project management skills.
Network With Cybersecurity Professionals
Networking with cybersecurity professionals can help you transition from a role in finance to a cybersecurity career path. Some of the best networking opportunities are available through your degree program.
Many cybersecurity programs offer internships, which give you the chance to get your foot in the door. You can also see if your professors or advisors can help you network with cybersecurity professionals by attending cybersecurity conferences and seminars.
Apply for Cybersecurity Jobs
Once you've completed a degree or training program in cybersecurity, you can look for cybersecurity jobs. In many cases, you'll likely start out in entry-level cybersecurity roles, such as a cybersecurity analyst.
As you gain experience, you'll be able to look for a variety of roles, including:
- cybersecurity engineer
- IT security analyst
- network engineer
- penetration tester
- security specialist
Top Cybersecurity Jobs for Finance Majors
There are some cybersecurity jobs that are excellent for those who have previously earned a degree in finance. We've broken those down below.
Cybersecurity Specialist
Cybersecurity specialist roles are a broad field of cybersecurity professionals who protect computer systems, networks, and data from hackers and other types of cybercrime. Their specific role may vary depending on the company.
A cybersecurity specialist role can be an excellent opportunity for finance majors. These roles can encompass many areas of cybersecurity, giving you a chance to find an area of the field you enjoy.
Incident Response Analyst
Incident response analysts are members of a cybersecurity team who act as first responders when security incidents arise. Their job is to identify, investigate, and resolve these incidents.
Finance majors may enjoy these roles because there's a certain level of excitement to them. Just as someone working at a financial institution may need to quickly watch for changes in the market or a client's investment portfolio, incident response analysts need to be on their toes to watch for cyberattacks.
Cybersecurity Analyst
Cybersecurity analysts are entry-level cybersecurity jobs. They usually work under cybersecurity specialists and are responsible for monitoring networks and frameworks and investigating security incidents.
This role is good for those switching from finance to cybersecurity because it's entry-level. It gives professionals a chance to hone their skills before moving up the ladder.
IT Auditor
The role of an IT auditor is to analyze and assess an organization's technology infrastructure to find problems. It can be a good role for those coming from finance because it's similar to the types of audits seen in the financial industry.
IT auditors review an organization's technology infrastructure to look for errors and weaknesses. This is very similar to how financial experts audit financial reports to look for errors or areas of improvement.
