Each year, thousands of companies are hit with cyberattacks and data breaches—often leading to the exposure of sensitive customer information. Set aside hardship for consumers, this costs corporations on average $4.45 million per breach, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report.
As a result, the need for investment in cyber infrastructure and experts is becoming more paramount across the globe—and the market agrees.
However, there remains a talent shortage of cybersecurity workers. According to the World Economic Forum, 3.4 million cybersecurity experts are needed to meet current global economic demands.
With the industry being among the top strategically emphasized skills in the current workforce, becoming a leader in cybersecurity could pave a path for a long career—and with a hefty salary.
Computer and information security managers earn $159,010 annually on average, with a job outlook growing much faster than the U.S. average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
For those looking to get ahead in cybersecurity, it can be difficult to discern what path can lead to advancement. That’s where an MBA with a cybersecurity concentration may be able to help.
Eric Douthirt, MBA programs director at the University of South Florida Muma College of Business says while the cybersecurity concentration is more technical than other MBA programs, it leads to graduates having a balance of leadership and highly demanded STEM-like skills. More often than not, students are mid-career professionals looking to get ahead.
“They do this to hone their skills and position themselves for a leap to advancement into leadership roles in their industry,” he tells Fortune.
This sentiment was also expressed by Benjamin Melamed, program director of the Rutgers Stackable Business Innovation program—where students can gain certificates or combine concentrations like cybersecurity into master’s degree programs, such as an MBA.
He says depending on students’ goals, the program can help them save time and money—while also providing flexibility.
USF and Rutgers are just two examples of schools where you can earn an MBA with a cybersecurity concentration—and where you may be able to gain skills for the next step in your career. Fortune has curated a selection of programs that may offer you the combined training you need in the worlds of business leadership and technology.
