How To Land a Cybersecurity Job With a Criminal Justice Degree

The criminal justice field is broad and can lead to many careers outside of law enforcement and legal fields. If you're pursuing a criminal justice degree, you may wonder about future job opportunities. Could you pursue a cybersecurity career?

Getting a criminal justice degree is a great way to start your career in cybersecurity. Many criminal justice programs cover topics such as cyber threats, cybercrimes, and digital forensics, all of which will be helpful as you pursue cybersecurity jobs.

Keep reading to find out more.

Is a Criminal Justice Background Useful for Cybersecurity?

Criminal justice degree programs prepare students for public safety and security careers. A criminal justice background is useful for those hoping to work for government agencies, such as the FBI or Department of Homeland Security, and those who want to work in the private sector.

Cybersecurity is one of the many fields that can benefit from a criminal justice degree. Cybersecurity focuses on protecting computer systems and networks from malware, data breaches, and other cyber threats; a criminal justice background can help you understand the criminal hackers who perpetrate these intrusions.

Cybersecurity is so closely linked to criminal justice that some schools offer the two majors as a combined degree (such as Northeastern University's Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity and criminal justice). Other schools offer cybersecurity as a concentration in their criminal justice degree programs.

Steps for Getting a Cybersecurity Job With a Criminal Justice Degree

Once you've graduated with your criminal justice degree, there are additional steps you can take to improve your chances of getting started in cybersecurity. Let's take a closer look.

Consider Additional Education

If you completed your criminal justice degree at the bachelor's degree level, consider pursuing a second bachelor's degree in cybersecurity. This added degree could provide you with all the advanced skills you need for various cybersecurity positions.

Alternatively, you could complete a master's degree in cybersecurity. This advanced credential is not always required but may help you qualify for advanced or specialized cybersecurity roles and potentially higher pay. It could also help you become a more desirable job candidate.

Learn Cybersecurity Technical Skills

Cybersecurity is a highly technical field. You may still be able to work in cybersecurity without a degree specific to the field, but if you go this route, you will have to develop the necessary technical skills on your own. Consider working entry-level positions in cybersecurity, such as an IT help desk technician. You could also pursue cybersecurity internships to gain hands-on skills and take online courses to fill any knowledge gaps.

Complete a Cybersecurity Certification

Not all cybersecurity jobs require certification, but getting certified can help you stand out from the crowd and give you a better chance of landing your desired roles. It is useful to pursue certification if you don't have a specialized cybersecurity degree, or if your degree is in a different but related field such as criminal justice.

There are many different certifications in cybersecurity. Some of the more common options include:

• CompTIA Security+
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Network With Cybersecurity Professionals

Developing good relationships with others in cybersecurity can benefit you in several ways. Your professional network can help you learn about job opportunities you might not have been aware of and are often willing to put in a good name for you to help you land the role.

Additionally, knowing other cybersecurity professionals can help you better yourself. Those in your network with more experience will probably be happy to share their knowledge if you ask for advice or tips, and they can prove to be a valuable resource when it comes to finding other learning resources.

Build a Portfolio

Finally, building a portfolio of real-world cybersecurity experience can give you an edge when applying for new jobs. Even if you don't have a cybersecurity degree, a solid portfolio will demonstrate to potential employers that you have the appropriate job skills.

There are several ways to build your portfolio. Internships and entry-level roles are excellent experiences to include. Also, include any cyber-related practicums you completed while in school. You can also include any classes or courses you have taken outside of high school, and any certifications you have received. Doing freelance work is another great way to gain experience and add to your portfolio.

Cybersecurity Careers for Criminal Justice Majors

There are various cybersecurity job titles to consider as you begin your career. Let's take a closer look at some good career options for those with criminal justice degrees and a brief job description for each one.

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity analysts, also known as security analysts, perform many duties to protect a company's computer networks and security systems. They analyze these systems for vulnerabilities, fix any problems they encounter, and help out during cyberattacks.

Cybersecurity analysts may also write reports detailing current security measures and suggesting improvements. Finally, they often educate other company members on security best practices. Criminal justice majors are a good fit for this role because they have a solid background in criminal psychology, which can help them identify threats and stop potential crimes before they happen.

Cybersecurity Engineer

A cybersecurity engineer may also be known as a security engineer. These professionals are tasked with designing and implementing security systems within a company. They also perform regular tests to ensure all programs and systems run appropriately.

Those with a criminal justice background are particularly well suited for this career because of their ability to predict when and how criminals will attempt to compromise the system. This can help them design especially harder secure networks for hackers to breach.

Security Auditor

Sometimes called information assurance auditors, security auditors ensure the efficacy and performance of various networks and systems. They perform routine audits to analyze several systems and their components, checking for efficiency and compliance with company standards.

Having an understanding of criminal justice can help security auditors in performing vulnerability tests. Their comprehension of criminology can help them design and run more effective tests, promoting network security within the company.

Information Systems Analyst

An information systems analyst is more commonly known as an information security analyst. These security professionals. They are similar to cybersecurity analysts in analyzing and monitoring a company's networks and installing systems and software programs to promote security.

The ability to anticipate criminal behavior is important in this role. Criminal justice degree programs teach this skill, making them a good degree choice for aspiring information systems analysts.

Penetration Tester

A penetration tester is also known as an ethical hacker. These professionals test security systems by designing and staging intentional network breaches. This allows them to determine how secure a system is and how it could be improved. Penetration testers must be able to think like criminal hackers to anticipate how they may compromise a company's systems. For this reason, a criminal justice degree can give them the background they need to excel in their job.