

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) views law enforcement as performing an essential role in realizing the United States’ cybersecurity objectives through investigation and prosecution of cyber crimes, 3 yet according to the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), there is a gap in the United States between the need for competent individuals to secure networks from cyber attacks and the quality of cyber education and training. When it comes to cyber crime degree programs, there are indeed many academic options that can be considered. There are even opportunities in the business and management area of study for individuals who want to concentrate on cybersecurity or homeland security.
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If you’re drawn to the law enforcement side of thwarting cyber crime, where you might be involved in investigating or prosecuting cyber espionage cases, or if you would like to study how to create plans, analyze risk, and develop solutions for technology and critical infrastructure protection, a criminal justice degree program with a concentration in cyber crime and security or homeland security and emergency management, respectively, might be attractive alternatives. If being the first line of defense against cyber threats appeals to you, then a computer science or information technology degree program might align well with your interests. 1 Cyber Crime and Homeland Security Degree Programsįor those interested in combating and mitigating cyber threats, a homeland security degree or cybercrime degree online or on-campus program could be an important early step on the path toward achieving your educational goals, and there are a number of different types of programs to choose from. 2 Because cyber crime threats such as these are increasing by the day, it’s little wonder that employment of information security analysts, is projected to grow 32 percent from 2018 to 2028 (much faster than the average for all occupations). 2 Adversaries are relentlessly targeting the United States’ critical infrastructure in a number of ways: these hackers carry out cyber espionage against American companies for trade secrets and against universities for their research and development, they target private citizens for identity theft purposes, and a number of cyber criminals prey on children for illicit purposes. The Current State of the Cybersecurity LandscapeĪccording to the FBI, cyber intrusions are not only on the rise but are becoming more commonplace, more dangerous, and more sophisticated.

If you’re interested in combating cyber crime, an on-campus or online cybercrime degree program or homeland security degree program could provide the opportunity to acquire essential foundational knowledge to help you prepare to pursue various career paths in the field. While information security analysts 1 and similar occupations may function as a first line of defense against such attacks, it is the responsibility of those working in the criminal justice system to investigate and prosecute the criminals perpetuating cyber sabotage and other cyber crime threats. Cyber espionage, meanwhile, is a subset of cyber crime-a form of cyber attack in which criminals target governments and organizations in order to steal sensitive and valuable information. As its name suggests, cyber crime is criminal activity carried out on computers via the Internet. Though related, these terms are not completely synonymous.

Cyber crime and cyber espionage are endemic in the modern technological age.
