Master’s in Information Technology

Combat Rising Threats with a Degree in Information Technology

Cyber security is one of the most pressing concerns of the digital era. And while no consensus has been reached on optimal cyber strategy, everyone agrees that cyber security risks will radically transform the way we live, from mundane goings-on to critical geopolitical activities. At the business and personal level, experts predict that cyber security attacks will cost $6 billion in annual damages by 2021, or twice as much suffered in 2016. In 2017, ransomware is projected to incur $5 billion in damages, or fifteen-times 2015 costs. Most notoriously, at least 143 million Americans’ data was stolen following the 2017 Equifax breach, which earned it the ignominious label of history’s largest identity theft; and yet because of the massive trove of personal data that was already trading on the black market — about 825 million records, per the Identity Theft Resource Center — it remains virtually impossible to know the full extent of the hack.

Still, despite such crisis-level statistics, the most dangerous cyber risks are state actors, both as victims and belligerents. In December 2016, Forbes predicted that 2017 would be the year of cyber warfare, and a series of major public hacks have since proved the magazine right, including the May 2017 WannaCry attack which affected nearly 200 countries (and which might have compromised 65 million more systems if not for an emergency kill switch.)
Governments have enhanced security protocols in recent years, but a significant portion of the tech community argues that policies are still insufficient, and online vigilantism has skyrocketed: single-actor hackers and hacktivist collectives are on the rise, and several of the most high-profile hacks in history have occurred within the last five years.

Why Get a Master’s in Information Technology?

Given all the above, you might be considering an advanced degree in IT, cyber security, or another computer science-related field, especially if you’re a cyber professional, preparing for a cyber security career, or debating whether to transition from a traditional IT role to cyber security. If so, good news. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts computer and IT jobs to grow 12% through 2024, which translates to about 500,000 openings. But how do you decide which master’s to pursue? What distinguishes a master’s in information technology from others?

Typically, the MS in Information Technology emphasizes a skill set and curriculum beyond generic tech course work, including business, strategic management, decision-making, and business and cyber ethics. In this way, it’s a great degree for current IT managers and professionals looking for upper-level managerial roles; less so for those looking for tech-intensive degrees, like a cyber security master’s. That said, the MSIT is also a highly customizable track, and many programs feature specializations and/or concentrations to tailor the degree by professional interests.

So, to break down your options…