Cyber security / defense (credit check, apply, degree, jobs)

[HurricaneDC]

Okay, so I've been hearing a lot about cybersecurity recently. The Economist even ran a couple articles on it this past issue. The US has recently established "Cyber Command" in the DoD, and I think DHS has something similar for the civilian side.

So how would one get into this field? Would a cybersecurity degree be good, or would a computer science degree be better?

[phogstenjr]

Hello,

You will want to earn a BA in Information Assurance, by attending a *CAE/IAE designated college or university:

* The National Security Agency (NSA) partnered with other organizations to designate a number of colleges and universities as Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education, CAE/IAE and Research, CAE/IAE-R. These institutions offer a wide range of undergraduate and graduate-level degree programs, both masters level and doctoral, in IA-related studies and discipline. The current list of designated centers is maintained by NSA.

National Centers of Academic Excellence - NSA/CSS

I am considering this path, here are two of the CAE/IAE designated institutions in my area in Michigan:

Eastern Michigan University/

http://www.udmercy.edu/apply/grad_st..._Assurance.pdf

Paul

[MagicTouch]

I've been in the Cyber-Security field, in the Defense Industry, almost 15 yrs. My actual job title is Lead Technical Engineer - Information Assurance. Interestingly enough I do not have a degree in this field, but I have the required experience and certification. In the defense industry you can have a degree, but they are also requiring a certification, the most popular being CISSP, and yes this is the certification I have. This is why I can make a 6 figure income, have no problem finding a job and I don't have the student loans to pay.

I travel all over and will admit I completely enjoy the work I do and find it very rewarding.

Most jobs in this category, in the Defense Industry, will require a clearance. They do a complete background, credit check, and polygraph. If you have a clearance + you go through a background and poly every 5 years. If something comes up in either of these you can/will lose your clearance, and your job.

Many of us in this field have been doing this for many years and find it interesting how this "job class" is growing now that it is being taken more seriously.

All groups "Agencies" in the Government have specialists (SME - Subject Matter Experts) in this field. So there are plenty of job opportunities if you can meet the mandatory requirements.

The previous poster mentioned NSA and they are only one of many groups in the Defense Industry/Government.

[wheelsup]

I know someone who has a software engineering degree and works as a government contractor, he got a clearance right out of college.

[Caldus]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

I know someone who has a software engineering degree and works as a government contractor, he got a clearance right out of college.

That's me! Seriously though, same situation for me. I'm a software engineer working for a defense contractor. I've always been sort of curious about the cybersecurity side of things.

Most jobs in this category, in the Defense Industry, will require a clearance. They do a complete background, credit check, and polygraph. If you have a clearance + you go through a background and poly every 5 years. If something comes up in either of these you can/will lose your clearance, and your job.

Yep, so be ready to spill every detail about your life to them!