Excelsior University President David Schejbal was interviewed for Militarily Speaking, a podcast dedicated to issues affecting the military community.
This episode details Excelsior’s commitment to serving military students through flexible online education, unique support systems, and innovative programs.
Nurses have a demanding and stressful job. They dedicate their work to helping others recover from illnesses and improve their health. Sometimes, nurses work in extreme situations. Disaster response nursing is a unique field where nurses provide medical care support before, during, and after critical emergencies.
Before crises, nurses help create disaster plans, make sure resources are available, conduct training, and more. They provide emergency care, manage casualties, prevent disease outbreaks, and offer support during crises. After disasters, nurses help with community recovery and restoration. This role requires nurses to have resilience, adaptability, and strong leadership skills. Let’s explore this role more to see whether you could be right for this exhilarating and rewarding nursing career.
Disasters can be natural or human-made and can include chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive incidents. Nurses play key roles in crisis management and are skilled in handling disaster responses by following specific steps and rules. For instance, they critically assess a situation to determine the impacts on the public and what kinds of health care response there should be; they need to communicate with colleagues and affected individuals to ensure an appropriate course of action; they should be able to demonstrate leadership and teamwork in stressful situations; and they should be able to manage stress while also providing support to others effectively.
Nurses carry out specific steps and protocols before, during, and after emergencies. Let’s break these down further.
Before a disaster, nurses work with other health care team members, emergency responders, and community leaders to provide accurate information, promote emergency preparedness, and ease panic. They compile and assess medical supplies, monitor staffing, and consider the needs of vulnerable populations so that the appropriate resources can be deployed during a disaster. Additionally, nurses participate in first-responder training, such as drills and simulations, to practice emergency plans and procedures. These steps proactively ensure that emergency responders and nurses are ready to respond to a disaster and that any risks and problems can be minimized.
When a disaster strikes, emergency nurses remain calm and prepared to provide care where needed most. Nurses offer first aid, assess and help injured patients, and deliver medications. They also offer disaster triage to prioritize patient care. They work closely with doctors, emergency medical technicians, and disaster relief teams throughout a crisis to ensure that victims receive adequate treatment and resources.
A nurse’s job isn’t done when a disaster ends. Nurses have essential roles to play after crises, as well. Disaster response nurses help patients with long-term medical conditions or illnesses that may arise after the disaster, provide mental and physical health support services, offer counseling, or deliver primary health care like screenings and chronic disease management. They may also educate the community on best health practices to prevent further infections. Additionally, nurses may help first responders with rehabilitation efforts and help support recovery efforts in the community.
Like other nurses, a disaster response nurse is a registered nurse. You need to earn an appropriate degree in nursing and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become an RN and move into the fast-paced and rewarding specialty of disaster response nursing.
In Excelsior’s Associate in Applied Science in Nursing program, you can expand on your knowledge as an LVN, LPN, or paramedic and work toward your RN license. The RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is an excellent opportunity to develop your nursing skills further and become an effective leader—an essential trait you’ll need to have if you want to be a disaster response nurse. With the appropriate education and certification, you can be well on your way to a rewarding and exciting career in disaster nursing.
View video of Excelsior University and OPSWAT Academy representatives announcing the partnership here.
ALBANY, N.Y. — Excelsior University and OPSWAT Academy™, a global leader in Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) cybersecurity training, are proud to announce a new partnership aimed at advancing cybersecurity education in an evolving global threat landscape. This collaboration will provide Excelsior faculty with the opportunity to engage in dialogue with industry leaders at OPSWAT to discuss current challenges in cybersecurity. OPSWAT employees, clients, and OPSWAT Academy™ students will benefit from the partnership, including a tuition discount for Excelsior’s more than 40 online degree and certificate programs.
“This collaboration reflects Excelsior’s dedication to meeting learners where they are, both educationally and geographically, with innovative, workforce-ready programs,” said David Schejbal, president of Excelsior University. “Our partnership will help develop the next generation of cybersecurity professionals by combining Excelsior’s nationally recognized cybersecurity degree programs with experiential training provided by industry leaders at OPSWAT Academy™.”
Excelsior University was recently redesignated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency, further underscoring its commitment to cybersecurity education.
Cybersecurity literacy is crucial across multiple Excelsior fields of study, including allied health, nursing, business, and technology. The partnership will connect students in Excelsior’s programs with OPSWAT Academy’s™ immersive learning experience. Excelsior students and alumni may be eligible for specialized training through OPSWAT Academy’s™ $10 million scholarship program, designed to enhance skills in addressing emerging critical infrastructure cybersecurity threats. This will help strengthen the capabilities of both current professionals and future cybersecurity leaders.
OPSWAT Academy™ is a world-class e-learning platform specializing in IT and OT security training for professionals in CIP. Designed by industry experts, courses provide hands-on experience to prepare learners for real-world challenges. Started as an educational venture by OPSWAT, the program is dedicated to transforming CIP cybersecurity training. By offering immersive educational programs, OPSWAT Academy™ strives to close the cybersecurity skills gap, cultivate a worldwide network of proficient cybersecurity experts, and reinforce the safeguarding of global critical infrastructure.
Irfan Shakeel, VP of training and certification services at OPSWAT, stated, “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to student-focused, career-oriented education. By collaborating with Excelsior University, we’re offering students and alumni valuable opportunities to enhance their learning with real-world cybersecurity training. Together, we aim to equip them with the skills needed to advance in this dynamic field.”
Employees of OPSWAT, its clients, and OPSWAT Academy™ students will have the opportunity to pursue Excelsior’s degree programs, such as the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Bachelor of Science in Business, Master of Business Administration (MBA), and the new Executive MBA. Excelsior’s Credit for Prior Learning program may award college credit for OPSWAT Academy’s™ Advanced Critical Infrastructure Protection Cybersecurity Bundle training, allowing students to leverage these workforce skills toward an Excelsior degree, saving both time and money. Excelsior faculty will evaluate additional OPSWAT Academy™ courses for potential credit transfer opportunities.
OPSWAT Academy’s™ focus aligns with Excelsior University’s educational offerings in Cybersecurity and Information Technology. The partnership opens doors for collaboration in sectors that both organizations serve, including corporate, government, and academic environments, creating new opportunities for students and professionals alike.
For more information on the partnership, visit https://www.excelsior.edu/partner/opswat.
Media Contacts
Excelsior University:
Jason Bonafide, communications manager, jbonafide@excelsior.edu, 518-608-8446
OPSWAT:
Kat Lewis, VP of global marketing & communications, kat.lewis@opswat.com
OPSWAT Academy™:
Irfan Shakeel, VP of training and certification services, irfan.shakeel@opswat.com
About Excelsior University
Excelsior University is an accredited, not-for-profit online institution focused on helping adults complete their degrees and advance their careers. Excelsior contributes to the development of a diverse, educated, and career-ready society by valuing lifelong learning with an emphasis on serving individuals historically underrepresented in higher education. Founded in 1971, Excelsior meets students where they are — academically and geographically — removing obstacles to the educational goals of adults pursuing continuing education and degree completion. Our pillars include innovation, flexibility, academic excellence, and integrity.
About OPSWAT Academy™
OPSWAT Academy™, an educational initiative by OPSWAT, is dedicated to transforming cybersecurity training that delivers cutting-edge, practical learning experiences that empower individuals and organizations to defend critical infrastructure effectively.
Through immersive educational programs, OPSWAT Academy™ aims to bridge the CIP cybersecurity skills gap, cultivate a global network of skilled CIP cybersecurity professionals, and strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure worldwide.
About OPSWAT
For the last 20 years OPSWAT, a global leader in IT, OT, and ICS critical infrastructure cybersecurity, has continuously evolved an end-to-end solutions platform that gives public and private sector organizations and enterprises the critical advantage needed to protect their complex networks and ensure compliance. Empowered by a “Trust no file. Trust no device.™” philosophy, OPSWAT solves customers’ challenges around the world with zero-trust solutions and patented technologies across every level of their infrastructure, securing their networks, data, and devices, and preventing known and unknown threats, zero-day attacks, and malware. Discover how OPSWAT protects the world’s critical infrastructure and helps secure our way of life; visit www.opswat.com.
Zeketra Grandy, part-time instructional faculty for the Excelsior University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, co-authored the article “Food for Thought Movie Night: A humanities-based, interprofessional discussion focused on food insecurity,” published in the Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice.
The article is based on Interpersonal Education requirements at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, through facilitation of professional development workshops for students on improving patient care through collaboration. The piece provides a literature review and findings from data collected during a workshop on food insecurity and patient care and the role of the health care team in addressing the issue as it relates to the patient’s health.
Tomatoes are delicious and nutritious, but did you know they can also make your work more expeditious? Feeling suspicious? Don’t be! Named after the Italian word for tomato, the Pomodoro technique is a simple but surprisingly effective way to boost focus, manage time, and get more done.
In the 1980s, university student Francesco Cirillo was burnt out. Like many learners overwhelmed by deadlines and schoolwork, he was struggling to keep motivated. Seeking a better way stay focused, Cirillo was inspired by the tomato-shaped kitchen timer in his apartment and taught himself how to study effectively by breaking down work into targeted 25-minute intervals (called pomodoros) and using short breaks as rewards.
Today, the Pomodoro technique is embraced by students and professionals alike, and it’s perfect for anyone looking to add more time management into their day and train their brain to tune out distractions—no actual tomatoes required!
More than just a study hack, the Pomodoro technique can help improve concentration, boost productivity, and reduce procrastination. All you need to get started is a timer and something to write with, and you’re ready for your first pomodoro with these easy steps:
This technique takes discipline, but one of its benefits is that it can be flexible if you need different allotments for your work and breaks. Whatever the size of your pomodoro, there are a few key rules to follow to make sure you’re getting the most out of your time.
When picking a task, think small. This will help keep your work sessions focused and successful. If you have a complex job to do, use your pomodoros to break it up into manageable pieces.
Taking a single pomodoro to knock out several short tasks is a good way to eliminate those small items that can become distractions during your day.
Your timer should run until it’s done. If you must stop in the middle, reset and start fresh at the beginning of a new 25 minutes (or whatever time period you choose). If you complete your task before the time is up, take the remainder to review your work instead of starting something new or taking a longer break.
Pomodoro breaks are as important as work sessions, and their point is to give your eyes and mind a rest, so make sure you physically get up and away from your work.
Learning online takes time management, especially if where and how you study is completely up to you. Using the structured approach of the Pomodoro technique for your courses, with its focused work sessions and short breaks, can help you do more and feel more accomplished as you complete each pomodoro. Plus, the short breaks between study intervals allow the brain to process information more effectively, leading to better memory retention for what you’re learning.
If the Pomodoro technique has you feeling inspired, Excelsior University has even more tips for studying and resources for how to be successful in college.
Learn more about Excelsior and get started today.
Your customer relationship management system, or CRM for short, is a vital tool in contact management that helps you increase customer engagement. From lead management to nurturing ongoing profitable relationships, a well-optimized CRM helps you manage the customer life cycle and grow your business.
But simply having a CRM isn’t enough. When you can optimize your customer relationship management system, you can build strong and durable relationships, keep customer satisfaction high, automate workflows, and streamline communication, all while creating valuable data you can track to fuel continuous improvement. You’ll have efficiency, valuable data, and the ability to personalize customer interactions on your side. That’s good for productivity and ultimately boosts revenue—and what you can personally earn.
These tips, based on proven best practices, can help you get the most out of your customer relationship management system. Used correctly, your CRM can automate time-consuming repetitive tasks, support your increasing efficiency, and give you valuable insights about your customers and potential customers. Here are some essentials to keep in mind.
Getting the most from your customer relationship management system means connecting it to or integrating it with an email platform, a database, and perhaps other software. When everything is integrated, you can automate lead management, run outreach campaigns, and ensure that follow-ups are timely. You can easily access data and share it across departments.
Expert communication builds trust and keeps you and your customers in the loop. It’s about more than following up, answering questions, offering helpful information, and remembering important dates. When you also connect with customer care, you can make sure customers get what they need in a timely manner and that everyone on the team understands where the customer is in the life cycle to better serve them.
A data-driven approach to your CRM gives you useful information about customer preferences, past purchases, schedules, budgets, and patterns in behavior. You can tailor your marketing efforts and cater to individual needs. The right messaging at the right time with proactive support builds relationships and customer loyalty.
If you don’t follow up, your customers may think you don’t care and are not interested in their business. Following up shows a willingness to help. Whether scheduling next steps after a meeting, reminding customers of deadlines, or offering timely information, you keep the conversation going. Engagement through your CRM may use methods such as phone calls and texts, email, social media touchpoints, and even traditional paper mail.
Customer data needs to be kept current. People change jobs, retire, or move on to other companies. For accurate keep-in-touch data, lead management, and business strategy information, you should regularly scrub the CRM to remove duplicates, outdated information, and empty fields. You’ll enjoy more productivity and usefulness.
Lead management, customer engagement, and uncovering opportunities through data analysis are all made easier by your CRM. However, as invaluable as this software is to modern business, like any tool, it’s only as good as the people who use it. How you optimize your customer relationship management system depends on the kind of knowledge, skills, and insight you possess—the kind on offer in Excelsior University’s MBA program.
Take your career to the next level with a 100% online program that fits into your busy life; there’s no need to pause your career or your other commitments to earn your degree. And if you already are a seasoned professional, consider Excelsior’s executive MBA program, an excellent option for those looking for a unique hybrid learning experience that can be completed in 12 months.
Relationships with customers are the heart of business administration at every level and function. An optimized CRM ensures you’re doing your best to engage and nurture them. And with Excelsior as your education partner, you can be confident in the decisions you make to improve customer relationships, your business, and your career.
Are you interested in human behavior and how and why people think, feel, and act the way they do? Do you often find yourself trying to help others navigate everyday challenges? A career in psychology could be right for you. Psychology isn’t just about studying the mind; it’s about understanding people on a deep level and helping to make an impact in their lives. You can follow many different paths in this career field, from counseling to research and lots more in between.
But how can you be sure this field is for you? Let’s take a closer look.
Psychologists study human emotions, thoughts, and actions by observing and interviewing patients as well as conducting studies and tests. They diagnose and treat psychological, emotional, and behavioral conditions and disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other issues using psychotherapy, behavior modification techniques, and assessments.
There are many different types of psychologists that specialize in various fields. Clinical and counseling psychologists diagnose and treat mental health disorders, industrial-organizational psychologists help in workplaces, school psychologists focus on educational and developmental behaviors, and forensic psychologists work on legal cases. What specific kind of psychology you should pursue depends on your career and goal aspirations.
A career in psychology can be a rewarding way to make a meaningful impact on other peoples’ lives. Let’s explore some of the skills and traits that make for a good psychology professional.
Being naturally curious is a good trait to have if you want to be successful in psychology. It drives your desire to understand human thoughts, emotions, and actions and pushes you to explore patterns of behavior and seek answers to complex questions about mental health. Being inquisitive is a positive indicator that psychology is the career path for you.
It’s essential in psychology to be a good listener. It helps you build trust; you spend a lot of time listening to a patient’s problems and concerns and need to analyze and interpret their words carefully before responding. Active listening makes for productive communication and therefore effective diagnosis and treatment.
Psychologists are masters at empathy and showing genuine concern. Through their active listening and body language, they can create a safe place for patients. They are also able to notice subtle clues in their patients’ tone of voice and body language so they can respond appropriately to put them at ease.
If you’re the friend everyone turns to for reliable advice, you’re likely a trustworthy person. This is an important trait to be successful in psychology. Building trust with clients is essential. A psychologist’s ability to maintain confidentiality and offer nonjudgmental support helps foster strong relationships and leads to better insights and treatment.
Open-mindedness is an excellent way to build trust and offer effective care as a psychologist. In this role, you must approach each client without bias and remain open to diverse perspectives and be able to adapt to novel ideas. Being easy to talk to can be a strong asset for you.
Strong communication skills are essential for psychologists. Effective communication allows you to explain and share complex ideas, build good rapport, and ensure patients understand their treatment plans. If you’re skilled at expressing yourself clearly and reading other people’s verbal and nonverbal clues, you are likely able to build strong therapeutic relationships.
If you’re interested in helping others live and feel their best, a career in psychology might be for you. The first step is to earn the right degree. Excelsior University’s Bachelor of Science in Psychology program can prepare you to enter the psychology field by teaching you about basic psychology and human intelligence principles, cognition, personality theories, and more. If you’re ready for a fulfilling and dynamic path in understanding human behavior and helping others, contact an Excelsior admissions counselor and get started on your psychology career.
Machine learning certification opens many exciting doors. Amazon Web Services (AWS) surveys of IT leaders found that 94% of them agreed that certified team members provide added value above and beyond the cost of certification. Some 73% of them are prioritizing job candidates with skills in artificial intelligence (AI). AWS has added three new certifications and resources to help you prepare for these exams. Given the high demand for these skills, there’s never been a better time to get certified.
The growth of artificial intelligence and specifically machine learning (ML) is revolutionizing nearly every field. It has the potential to reshape the world and every aspect of information technology. If you want to be part of this AI revolution, AWS machine learning certification makes sense to include in your education journey. You have a choice of AWS machine learning certifications, each with different exams.
Amazon Web Services offers three levels of AI/machine learning certification. Which one is right for you depends on your knowledge and experience.
This is a basic certification that gives you a foundational understanding of core concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning and how to use them in the AWS environment.
Key knowledge areas covered by the exam include:
Since this is a basic certification, you won’t be diving into the technical details such as:
This certification takes your AI and ML knowledge to the next level in developing, deploying, and managing applications using AWS services.
The exam to earn this machine learning certification covers the following:
You won’t be expected to design algorithms and understand the mathematical foundations of ML. Although it helps to have some knowledge of coding at a basic level, you won’t be doing in-depth programming on the test.
This certification is currently the highest level offered, intended for people with at least two years of experience working on ML apps on AWS. You’ll need to demonstrate your expertise in building, training, tuning, and deploying ML through AWS services.
You will need to show proficiency in:
You won’t be tested on:
A certification in machine learning opens doors and helps you stand out as a job candidate. Which is the best credential for your career goals? The AWS Certified AI Practitioner is for beginners with some familiarity with AI/ML tech and solutions on AWS; it will help you find entry-level jobs. If you have a year or so of AI or ML experience, and you seek a role as a software, MLOps, or data engineer, earning your AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate is a great option. If you have two or more years and want to roll up your sleeves designing ML solutions or working as an AI data scientist, choose the AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty credential.
Machine learning and AI roles are in high demand, making them an attractive career path in the field of computer science. A bachelor’s degree program in computer science, particularly one with a concentration in artificial intelligence, gives you not only the knowledge and skills you need to pass AWS machine learning certification exams but also a solid foundation for a variety of roles, setting you up for a career of steady advancement in the field.
Given the central role that artificial intelligence and machine learning will play in nearly all technology roles across industries, getting certified makes sense for your career. Each of the three levels of certification offered by AWS validate your skills and knowledge while helping you stand out in the job market. If you want to thrive in the AI-powered future, these certifications open a pathway.
Patrick Adcock, Excelsior University’s associate director of military outreach and veteran partnerships, was interviewed on an episode of the VET S.O.S. podcast titled “Unlocking Education Benefits for Veterans: Excelsior University.” In the episode, Patrick shares his journey from Army service to higher education advocate, and discusses ways that Excelsior supports service members, veterans, and their families.
When most people think of criminal justice, they probably think of police officers patrolling the streets or well-dressed lawyers prosecuting criminals in courtrooms. These are apt examples of careers you can land with a criminal justice degree, but while noble pursuits, they aren’t the only jobs available in the field. In fact, there are plenty of other careers that don’t relate to police work or courtrooms at all that you can set your sights on with a criminal justice degree in hand.
If you have your heart set on earning a criminal justice degree but want to explore other careers besides the common ones in law enforcement, don’t worry; there are plenty of roles to choose from. From forensics to intelligence, you’re bound to find the position that meets your interests and goals.
Cryptologists use encryption and decryption tools and software to ensure secure communication. They encrypt data, design and analyze surveys, interpret and present data, create visual aids for decision-making, and apply mathematical theories to solve problems. Unlike cryptographers, who only create codes, cryptologists create and break them.
A forensics specialist collects, analyzes, and preserves evidence at crime scenes or in labs. They work with law enforcement to identify, document, and ensure that evidence is usable in court. Some forensics specialists might focus their work in areas like forensic psychology or DNA analysis. They may also testify in court to explain their findings.
If you’re interested in helping the incarcerated population reintegrate with society, a career as a parole officer might be right for you. Parole officers make sure that individuals released from prison follow parole conditions. They help parolees return to society by regularly meeting with them, overseeing drug testing, securing housing, assisting with employment or education, and connecting them to substance abuse treatment programs. They may also conduct home searches and make arrests.
Probation officers also work with criminal offenders, but in a slightly different way. Probation officers supervise individuals serving community-based sentences, making sure they follow court-ordered conditions. They develop supervision plans, conduct drug testing and home visits, and provide counseling and support services. The difference between probation officers and parole officers is that probation officers work with unincarcerated people serving community sentences, whereas parole officers work with people who have already served part of their sentence in prison.
If you would prefer directly helping victims of crimes, a career as a victim advocate might be for you. Victim advocates support victims of crimes by providing emotional support, information on rights, and assistance with resources and legal processes. They often support victims through criminal justice proceedings. Some advocates may even be survivors themselves.
Intelligence analysts monitor and analyze data to identify security threats and develop risk mitigation strategies. They monitor forms of communication for breaches, create filtering programs to identify risks, conduct risk assessments, and create reports with security recommendations. They often work with law enforcement agencies, the government, the military, private intelligence agencies, and more.
Fraud investigators analyze credit card and insurance fraud cases. They work in industries like finance, insurance, and government. Their job is to identify threats, develop fraud prevention systems, and collaborate with banks and law enforcement. Their work includes investigating security breaches, creating fraud analysis models, documenting cases, and interviewing suspects.
You don’t have to become a police officer to follow a career path in criminal justice. There are myriad career opportunities for you to explore, from forensics specialist to victim advocate. All these careers have one thing in common, though: a criminal justice degree. The right program can teach you the psychological, sociological, and criminological theories of criminal justice, as well supply you with the knowledge and skills you need to start a career anywhere in the field—even if it’s not with your local police department.
You have many paths to exciting careers in cybersecurity even if you’re not interested in a job that involves programming. Coding isn’t necessary for nontechnical cybersecurity roles that involve risk management, compliance policy analytics, and more. Protecting an organization from digital threats requires diverse skill sets in entry-level cybersecurity jobs and beyond. Here are some options to explore.
Careers in cybersecurity are varied in this fast-growing, high-demand field. It’s attracting people with backgrounds in law enforcement, communications, IT support, and general business. You can find entry-level cybersecurity jobs in each area, along with paths for career growth.
Risk management is at the heart of this role. You will work within cybersecurity frameworks and regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, NIST, and ISO 27001 and 27005 as you develop policies and procedures to stay in compliance to minimize risk. If you have strong analytical skills and are good at tracking the details of regulations, you may enjoy working as a specialist.
Working as a security risk analyst, you will identify, assess, and counteract cybersecurity threats. The work involves analyzing security incidents and keeping track of known issues. You will then develop strategies to mitigate vulnerabilities. You’ll thrive in this role if you enjoy solving problems to stay a step ahead of threat vectors.
If you enjoy writing and communication, content producing roles offer rewarding careers in cybersecurity. You’ll create material that engages and informs through blog articles, white papers, training materials, webinars, and technical documents. Cybersecurity topics like phishing, data privacy, and advanced threats require that you have strong writing skills and a basic understanding of the topics.
Data privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA impose strict frameworks on organizations and also can impose serious penalties for those that fail to comply with data protection requirements. Your role as a data protection officer will involve overseeing data protection processes and policies. You may conduct regular privacy impact assessments and advise on legal requirements for protecting data. If you have a background in law or information technology, you may find a natural fit with entry-level cybersecurity jobs in this area.
In this role, you’ll research cybersecurity issues and evaluate current regulations and frameworks. You will also track trends as part of your job recommending security strategies. You may work for organizations needing cybersecurity or for governmental entities that develop security frameworks for risk management. This is one of the careers in cybersecurity ideal for those with a background in law enforcement or policymaking.
Careers in cybersecurity follow paths that are tremendously varied. If you prefer a nontechnical role, you have many doors open to you. Programming and code writing are not needed for many of them.
That said, you will need specialized knowledge and specific skills to thrive in most roles. Excelsior University’s BS in Cybersecurity program is an excellent place to start. The academic curriculum aligns with National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requirements. You’ll have hands-on opportunities to learn the skills you’ll need on the front lines of cyber defense.
Excelsior has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and is associated with the National Cybersecurity Institute. And the bachelor’s program prepares you to take industry certification exams such as Network+, Security+, CEH, CISP, CHFI, ESCP, and SSCP.
Start your career in cybersecurity at Excelsior University and embark on an exciting future in risk management and mitigation.
The CompTIA Security+ certification is a widely recognized credential that IT professionals with two years of experience obtain to show they have the essential cybersecurity skills and knowledge necessary for job placement in intermediate roles. It is accepted by many government agencies and can be used as a stepping stone to other more advanced certifications. The certification covers a wide range of topics, too, ensuring the user is well versed in topics such as risk management, incident response, cryptography, network security, and compliance.
When sitting for the CompTIA Security+ exam, you’ll be tested on a wide array of cybersecurity topics. Let’s explore some common skills this exam covers.
On the CompTIA Security+ exam, you’ll need to understand, identify, and explain different vulnerabilities, threats, and cyberattacks and how they affect various systems. Vulnerabilities are weaknesses in systems, software, or hardware that attackers can exploit; threats are potential dangers that can exploit these vulnerabilities, including malware and phishing; and cyberattacks are deliberate actions taken to exploit vulnerabilities.
The CompTIA Security+ exam covers how organizations manage user identities, authentication, authorization, and user control to protect systems and data. The test focuses on concepts like identity controls, account types, authentication methods, and access controls, which are all critical to securing data and resources.
The exam will cover cryptography and public key infrastructure (PKI), focusing on securing data through encryption, hashing, digital signatures, and key management, as well as testing your knowledge of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, certificate management, and security best practices. It covers areas in encryption concepts, certificate authorities, cryptographic protocols, and cryptographic attacks and defenses.
You will be evaluated on your knowledge of various cybersecurity technologies and tools used to detect, mitigate, and prevent threats. The exam covers the different attack vectors and common vulnerabilities, network security tools, security architecture, data protection, network security tools, endpoint security and system hardening topics, command-line tools, and wireless security topics.
Risk assessment and management covers identifying, analyzing, and managing risks to protect organizational assets. It includes concepts like risk management processes, risk analysis, and risk mitigation. It’s also smart to study up on cost-benefit analysis, risk frameworks and standards, and compliance and legal issues. This section ensures that test-takers are well prepared to evaluate risks, implement security controls, and maintain a secure environment.
Part of the exam concentrates on planning, deploying, and safeguarding IT infrastructures and networks. Test-takers must be able to prove their understanding of security architectures, secure network design, and the integration of security measures into an organization’s infrastructure.
You might be wondering how CompTIA Security+ certification would benefit you. Aside from providing you with more education and skills training you can use on the job, this certification looks great on resumes. You can land some big-time IT jobs with this certification under your belt, like network administrator, cybersecurity engineer, security specialist, security consultant, and penetration tester.
These roles can make you more money. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, network and computer systems administrators made a 2023 median annual salary of $95,360, and information security analysts made a median salary of $120,360. If you want to grow your career and increase your pay, earning this certification is an excellent choice.
Don’t feel discouraged about taking an exam to earn the CompTIA Security+ certification. There’s plenty of help out there to prepare you. Before taking the exam, CompTIA recommends earning your CompTIA Network+ certification and completing two years of experience working as a security or systems administrator, but many IT professionals choose to have a degree under their belt, as well.
A Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, for instance, provides students with the technical and theoretical knowledge needed to protect systems, networks, and data from cyberthreats. Students usually study a mix of computer science, networking, security principles, cryptography, ethical hacking, risk management, and legal aspects of cybersecurity.
You might also consider earning a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in something like cybersecurity. A typical IT program includes IT fundamentals, networking and cloud computing, computer hardware and software, etc., and your concentration would allow you to delve into cybersecurity components.
Some would-be test-takers also enroll in a course specifically geared toward passing the CompTIA Security+ exam. This option might make sense if earning a bachelor’s degree isn’t practical or if you need a refresher on some of the material.
If you want to grow your skills and education in cybersecurity and technology, taking the CompTIA Security+ exam is a solid choice. It can help take you to new career heights and improve your financial outlook. And don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to help prepare for such a big exam, including gaining real-world experience and taking courses. Soon, you’ll be on your way to becoming a certified technology professional.
