What Are the Math Requirements for Cybersecurity?

The art and science of cybersecurity as a professional practice involves protecting systems, networks, devices, programs, and data from attacks such as criminal disruption or data breaches.

It also includes ensuring the privacy and integrity of digital information.

If you're considering entering the career field of cybersecurity, you might be curious about the cybersecurity math requirements.

Most cybersecurity professionals we spoke with said that while advanced mathematics skills are essential for working in the career niche of cryptography ?which requires a top-notch math brain ?most other subfields of cybersecurity require more computer science and information technology skill sets rather than an intensive math background.

You will likely need to take a handful of math classes for your bachelor's degree, depending upon the program you enter.

Keep reading to find out more about the role of math in the cybersecurity field.

What are the Various Subfields of Cybersecurity and How Much Does the Field Involve Math?

Cybersecurity practitioners emphasize the variety of skills you need in your skill repertoire to be successful in this career.

These vary depending on whether you're providing security at the network, operating system, application, or data level, to name a few.

Vijay Upadhyay on Quora lists ten layers of cybersecurity levels:

• Network Security: Includes web filtering, email filtering, firewall, IPS, proxy, APT detection, next-gen firewall, and more
• Endpoint Security: Applies mostly to desktops, mobile devices, and laptops
• Application Security: Involves code review, white box testing, black box testing
• Server Security: Involving web, application, and database servers
• Data Security: Requires knowledge of encryption, tokenization, compliance, DRM, data classification and policies, etc.
• Network Forensics or Endpoint Forensics: To investigate past breaches to understand how an exploit penetrated security
• Incident Response and Security Monitoring:Handling data breaches or security attacks
• Malware Reverse Engineering: Unraveling malware capabilities and functionalities to remediate threats
• Hardware Hacking: Manipulating devices like phones or smart meters to gain access to their functions or data
• Surveillance: Related to cell phones, sessions, cookie stealing, etc.

Bill Martin, also on Quora, explains the varying roles of math, related to cybersecurity math requirements, in these diverse job niches:

'For instance, the IT department is focused on securing a local area network. They do not need to know the math that cryptographic software architects need to know. Many companies have IT security experts as the extent of the cyber security?

While cryptographers need heavy-duty math skills, in most cases, software architects give programmers an algorithm to solve cryptographic problems.

In such cases, Martin notes, 'You don't even have to know the group theory that underlies the problem, but you just encode the algorithm.

You might not even know the difference between a symmetric key and an asymmetric key pair, yet still be productive.'

What are Some Important Practical Applications of Math in Cybersecurity?

Since cybersecurity is a computing career, it generally requires that you gain a foundational knowledge of mathematics in your college curriculum.

In cybersecurity, mathematical principles provide the foundation for algorithms, security protocols, and various encryption techniques.

Mathematics provides the understanding needed to design and analyze secure systems and to detect and mitigate threats.

Math is used in cybersecurity applications such as penetration testing, firewall rule creation, data encryption and decryption, network monitoring, threat analysis, and risk assessment.

While cybersecurity professionals need to know how to use information systems, they don't necessarily need to understand all the mathematical details of how they operate.

Instead, most cybersecurity professionals can get by on applied math and computer science principles gained from courses in their bachelor's degree programs.

What Math Topics are Essential for Cybersecurity?

You will not need advanced math for most entry- and mid-level cybersecurity positions.

However, you'll need to be able to read graphs, conduct data analysis, and handle basic problem-solving and programming.

The most important math topics you may need in cybersecurity include:

• Calculus (For Network Analysis)
• Discrete Mathematics (For Logic and Algorithms)
• Linear Algebra (For Cryptography)
• Number Theory (For Encryption)
• Probability and Statistics (For Risk Assessment)

Some examples of the kind of math knowledge you'll need to learn include:

• Binary Numbers (the 'language' of computer systems)
• Boolean Algebra (used extensively in computer programming and computer coding)
• Computer Programming Languages, such as Python or Java
• Complex Numbers, which you learn in linear algebra courses

A Few Words About Cryptography

Cryptography is the most math-intensive scientific discipline within the broader fields of cybersecurity, network security, and information security.

Cryptographers, usually high-level engineers, use mathematical principles to design complex algorithms through which they encode communications to protect messages and systems from unauthorized users.

Few entry-level cybersecurity practitioners are expert cryptographers.

If this is an area of interest to you, you will likely be able to develop and hone these skills as you progress throughout your career.

Math Requirements for a Cybersecurity Degree

The cybersecurity math requirements for college cybersecurity courses generally correspond to the technical demands of the specific degree program.

Bachelor's Degrees

Most bachelor's degree programs require a mixture of math and computer science courses.

Here are examples of three very different types of cybersecurity bachelor's degree programs and their math requirements.

Kansas State University

Kansas State University's Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity program requires four math courses (14 credit hours) beyond the general education courses.

These are:

• Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
• Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
• Discrete Mathematics
• Introductory Probability and Statistics I

The degree program also requires 35 hours of Computer Information Systems courses, 15 hours of specific cybersecurity courses, and 17 hours of math and science electives.

These latter electives give students the option to choose from a list of STEM classes including many other math courses, such as:

• Analytic Geometry and Calculus III
• Elementary Differential Equations
• Introduction to Number Theory
• Introduction to Algebraic Systems
• Introduction to Modern Algebra
• Introduction to Linear Algebra
• Applied Matrix Theory
• Foundations of Geometry
• Advanced Calculus I

Indiana University

As a student in Indiana University's very interdisciplinary Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Global Policy program, you would be required to take the following math courses:

• Discrete Structures for Computer Science
• Mathematical Foundations of Informatics
• Mathematics of Cybersecurity
• Finite Mathematics

George Mason University

At George Mason University's Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security Engineering, your math requirements would include coursework in:

• Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
• Analytic Geometry and Calculus II
• Analytic Geometry and Calculus III
• Discrete Mathematics I
• Linear Algebra
• Elementary Differential Equations
• Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists

Can I Major in Cybersecurity if I'm Not a Math Expert?

While math is a cornerstone of a technologically based cybersecurity degree, a STEM degree, it is not the primary component of most cybersecurity degrees or careers (except for cryptography).

While a strong mathematical background will benefit you as a cybersecurity professional, you can gain the necessary cybersecurity math requirements through dedicated study in your required courses.

If you feel challenged, most universities provide support services and tutors who can help you.

Overall, don't let a fear of math keep you from pursuing a career in cybersecurity if you feel a passion for the subject.

Math is only one of many areas your college coursework for a cybersecurity degree will cover.