Amid Surge in Data Breaches, Demand for Expert Digital Defenders Remains High

Become a cybersecurity professional and join one of the fastest-growing fields in the job market

Is it just your imagination that you are receiving more notifications of data hacking? It’s not. The problem is getting worse. Already this year, more than 1 billion people in the U.S. have been impacted by a data breach—a 409% increase compared to 2023.

The Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit organization that tracks these hacks, also found that more than 1,500 companies were targeted, including Ticketmaster, AT&T, Dell, Advanced Auto Parts and Change Healthcare.

Even though this October marks 21 years observing Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which calls on governments, businesses and the public to reduce the risk of cyber threats, these attacks on personal, corporate and institutional data continue to surge.

Why? There are several factors that are driving this increase. Here are some top reasons for the increase, as well as insight on how cybersecurity professionals work to prevent them.

Smarter cybercriminals

From new AI tools to tried-and-true malware, hackers’ ever-expanding toolboxes allow them to infiltrate and invade computer systems and gain unauthorized data access. Unfortunately, most people know about malware and the digital infections “contracted” through clicking links and online ads and visiting certain websites. Once the malware infiltrates a system, it searches for sensitive data, such as passwords, social security numbers and financial information.

Ransomware is a particularly destructive type of malware. Once the hacker has control of data or a device, the victim is threatened and told that unless they pay up, their data will remain locked, stolen or released to the public. These attempts at extortion can cost companies millions of dollars.

“Cybersecurity professionals play a crucial role in safeguarding individuals and businesses against cyberthreats,” said Igor Khokhlov, assistant professor of cybersecurity at Sacred Heart University. “They employ a multifaceted approach that includes establishing robust security measures, conducting security assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities and continuously monitoring the threat landscape to proactively address emerging threats.”

In SHU’s Master of Science in cybersecurity program, students acquire the skills and knowledge to prevent, respond to and recover from cyberattacks, along with strategies to minimize damage and downtime. At SHU’s cybersecurity lab, students gain hands-on experience in countering cyber threats through controlled simulations. Students design responses and defense strategies with today’s technologies, including security software and forensic tools.

Online transactions and storage on the cloud

There was a time when you would go to a doctor’s office and your medical records were in a paper folder amid thousands of others on row after row of shelves. Impractical for today’s interconnectivity? Yes. But it did cut down on the chances you would be hacked. With more companies and institutions storing their data in the cloud and using outside companies to own and operate it, cybercriminals have more avenues to access data. One report found that data stored in public clouds incurred the highest costs for a breach at $5.17 million.

Protecting cloud-based data is challenging, Khokhlov said, but there are ways to prepare for those eventualities through labs, simulations and analyzing real-world case studies. At SHU, students are given hands-on experiences, such as simulated cyber threats, so they can gain a deeper understanding of network and cloud-based security. Through these exercises they learn how to design responses and defense strategies.

Remote work

Since COVID, remote work has increased across many industries, as have security risks. Sometimes breaches happen because security measures are lacking, such as multifactor authentication. Or it’s a phishing scam or misplaced click. You’ve inevitably experienced this—an email or text that doesn’t quite look “official.” It has an odd URL or strange attachment. Or it could look like it’s from your organization, a client or trusted vendor. If the ruse works, you inadvertently open a harmful link or install malware. Perhaps you offer up personal or professional information that shouldn’t be revealed.

Students in SHU’s cybersecurity program are taught how to educate users on cybersecurity best practices, such as training employees how to recognize and avoid phishing scams and other social engineering tactics, Khokhlov said.

Interested in a career in cybersecurity?

At SHU, you’ll learn a range of topics in the cybersecurity program, including network security and ethical hacking. Students learn about understanding network protocols, investigating cybercrimes, improving defenses against hackers and securing data through encryption and decryption techniques.

This solid curriculum is teamed with faculty who have strong industry connections. This gives students opportunities to expand their network well before graduation and land a job after graduation. According to U.S. News & World Report, an IT security analyst is one of the top 10 best jobs to have, considering that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 33% employment growth through 2032. Average annual pay for a cyber security professional in the U.S. is $132,962, with those at the higher end earning more than $170,000.

Interested in studying cybersecurity at SHU?

SHU is the first university in Connecticut to be designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) for its Master of Science in cybersecurity program. Employers have a high level of confidence in prospects who have a master’s degree in cybersecurity from a CAE-CD designated university. To learn more about the program, schedule a meeting with Ed Nassr or reach out at nassre@sacredheart.edu or 203-396-6877.