Careers in Technology and Cybersecurity
The technology and cybersecurity industry encompasses a rapidly evolving profession that drives innovation, protects digital infrastructure, and shapes the way organizations operate in every field. Professionals in this space work across areas such as information systems, data analytics, software development, network administration, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity risk management. As technology exponentially advances and cyber threats grow increasingly complex, demand continues to rise for professionals who can build, analyze, secure, and manage the online systems that we use everyday. Technology itself is the backbone of every modern industry, from healthcare and finance to education and engineering, meaning that a career in technology and cybersecurity can lead you down dozens of potential career paths in varying industries.
What Can I Do With a Career in Technology and Cybersecurity?
There are a variety of career options available to those in the Technology and Cybersecurity industry. Focus areas in Technology and Cybersecurity include:
- Artificial Intelligence Career Overview: Develop and implement a set of techniques or analytics applications to transform raw data into meaningful information using data-oriented programming languages and visualization software. Apply data mining, data modeling, natural language processing, and machine learning to extract and analyze information from large structured and unstructured datasets. Visualize, interpret, and report data findings. For more information, visit BSU’s Center for Artificial Intelligence
- Business Intelligence Analysis Career Overview: Produce financial and market intelligence by querying data repositories and generating periodic reports. Devise methods for identifying data patterns and trends in available information sources.
- Computer Networks Career Overview: Design and implement computer and information networks, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), intranets, extranets, and other data communications networks. Perform network modeling, analysis, and planning, including analysis of capacity needs for network infrastructures.
- Cybersecurity Career Overview: Develop and oversee the implementation of information security procedures and policies. Build, maintain and upgrade security technology, such as firewalls, for the safe use of computer networks and the transmission and retrieval of information. Monitor and respond to computer security breaches, viruses, and intrusions, and perform forensic investigation.
- Data Services Career Overview: Administer, test, and implement computer databases, applying knowledge of database management systems. Coordinate changes to computer databases. Identify, investigate, and resolve database performance issues, database capacity, and database scalability.
- Digital Infrastructure Career Overview: Design strategies for enterprise databases, data warehouse systems, and multidimensional networks. Set standards for database operations, programming, query processes, and security. Model, design, and construct large relational databases or data warehouses. Create and optimize data models for warehouse infrastructure and workflow.
- Information Technology Support Career Overview: Analyze, test, troubleshoot, and evaluate existing network systems, such as local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), cloud networks, servers, and other data communications networks. Perform network maintenance to ensure networks operate correctly with minimal interruption.
- Software Development Career Overview: Research, design, update and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements.
- Telecommunications Career Overview: Design or configure wired, wireless, and satellite communications systems for voice, video, and data services. Supervise installation, service, and maintenance.
- Web Design Career Overview: Design digital user interfaces or websites. Develop and test layouts, interfaces, functionality, and navigation menus to ensure compatibility and usability across browsers or devices. May create graphics used in websites and manage website content and links.
For more info on the variety of career pathways available in the Technology and Cybersecurity industry, check out the “Artificial Intelligence, Business Analytics, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Game Design, Information Sciences, and Management Information Systems” majors categories within What Can I Do With This Major.
Gaining Experience in Technology and Cybersecurity
Students can gain valuable experience in technology and cybersecurity through a variety of hands-on opportunities both on and off campus. Early on campus experiences include working in IT departments, help desks, or computer labs, by assisting faculty with computing or cybersecurity projects, or by joining tech-focused student organizations.
While off campus, students can pursue internships at technology companies and government agencies or by taking on roles with local businesses and nonprofits that need support with software, technical troubleshooting, or basic security tasks.
These opportunities help students understand the many career paths within information technology, cybersecurity, data, and technology services, while developing practical and critical skills that can be utilized in a wide variety of industries.
