Nicholas Malley
CYSE 201S
7 April 2023
Career Paper
The cyber security field is rapidly growing since the world is dominated and driven by technology. With technology continuously being innovated and becoming more sophisticated there is a increase in the number of cyber attacks and security breaches making cyber security professionals a hot commodity to ensure the stability and security of a company’s network and infrastructure. Cyber security is a staple for most businesses as they are only as successful as the strength of their network and security. There are many cyber security career paths that one may choose because there are a lot of job opportunities in the field currently. The cyber security career that I would like to pursue would be a security engineer.
The field of cyber security contains many knowledgeable individuals. Those individuals and many others are aware of the role of social science in cyber security. There are three major reasons why cyber security professionals specifically in my field of security engineering require and depend on social science research and principles. The first is related to human behavior, social science helps with understanding human behavior and manipulation is a major concern when dealing with security breaches. The human behavior aspect provides an insight into how people can respond to these cyber attacks and how to prevent them as well (How Human Behavior Affects Cybersecurity, 2021) The second is related to legal and ethical issues, there various concerns regarding the privacy issues and intellectual property theft when it comes to cyber security. Social science helps in understanding the development of regulations and policies that can protect individuals rights while ensuring cyber security (The Increasing Focus on Cyber Ethics Issues). The third is related to cybercrime. Cybercrime is a growing problem, and social science can provide insights into the motivations and patterns of cybercriminals (Brumfield, 2021).
The relation to the material we learned in class and a cybersecurity professionals daily routine is like the topic we learned explaining the connection between culture and cyber security. The connection between culture and cybersecurity is that organizational culture influences the way employees approach their work and interact with technology. A culture that stresses security and risk management will generate a workforce that is more cautious and responsible when it relates to cybersecurity. Also, becoming a security engineer places me in a position where I am fortunate enough to make a lot of money. I can use the resources that I have to help support marginalized groups and society in general. Low income individuals may not have access to secure Wi-Fi networks or antivirus software, which puts them at a greater risk of cyber attacks. Therefore it is important and a priority for me that society recognize and promote equal access to secure technology resources that help create a safe and secure online space for all to enjoy.
In summary, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is increasing as companies rely on technology and face greater threats from cyber attacks. The cyber security field offers many career paths, including security engineering. In this field, social science research and principles are crucial for understanding human behavior, addressing legal and ethical issues, and combating cybercrime. Cyber security professionals also need to consider organizational culture and its influence on employees’ approach to cybersecurity. With the potentially high earnings in this field, I can help support marginalized groups access to secure technology resources to promote equal and safe online spaces.
References
Brumfield, C. (2021, October 4). Why today’s cybersecurity threats are more dangerous. CSO Online. Retrieved April 7, 2023, from https://www.csoonline.com/article/3635097/why-today-s-cybersecurity-threats-are-more-dangerous.html
How Human Behavior Affects Cybersecurity. Columbia Southern University. (2021, February 5). Retrieved April 7, 2023, from https://www.columbiasouthern.edu/blog/blog-articles/2021/february/human-aspects-of-cyber-security/
The Increasing Focus on Cyber Ethics Issues. Maryville Online. (n.d.). Retrieved April 7, 2023, from https://online.maryville.edu/blog/cyber-security-ethics/