Business professionals fluent in informatics and cybersecurity are in high demand as the world becomes more connected and businesses rely more heavily on systems that process, analyze and share data internally and with business partners.
Arun Prasad, writing for LinkedIn, describes business informatics as integrating “multiple aspects of information technology, business management, and informatics” to create systems that “streamline everyday business processes and operations,” noting that early adopters will have competitive advantages over businesses that are slow to scale it up.
To feed the demand for high-value professionals, Northern Kentucky UBusiness professionals fluent in informatics and cybersecurity are in high demand as the world becomes more connected and businesses rely more heavily on systems that process, analyze and share data internally and with business partners.niversity (NKU) offers an accredited online Master of Science in Business Informatics (MBI) – Security Management program. By combining the explorations of data security theory and practice with advanced business leadership courses, the program equips graduates with the expertise to:
- Master current information and cybersecurity technologies.
- Evaluate and integrate new technologies into business processes.
- Manage information systems, deployment projects and personnel.
- Develop and implement policies to protect digital assets from cyberattacks.
- Compete successfully for executive and senior management roles.
“Informatics is becoming a must-have on the list of skills,” according to the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). This organization is an IT professional development group for the healthcare industry, which accounts for nearly 20% of the U.S. GDP, and is an early informatics adopter.
In-Demand Roles for Informatics Professionals With Data Security Expertise
NKU’s online MBI – Security Management program develops skillsets in network security, cryptography, vulnerability detection and application hardening to prepare graduates for critical roles such as:
Data Scientist
A data scientist with insights into cybersecurity is “a vigilant and resourceful guardian,” as DATAFOREST describes the role of defending sensitive data and networks from increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Expertise in analytics, statistics, machine learning and artificial intelligence development positions data scientists for crucial cybersecurity activities, including:
- Detecting anomalies in complex data sets
- Developing threat-assessment protocols
- Analyzing trends and patterns to identify potential bad-actor behaviors
- Setting baselines in network traffic, user activity and system access
With dual know-how in business leadership and data science fundamentals, informatics professionals add value to cybersecurity programs by ensuring they support organizational business goals.
Data Analyst
The data analyst role is related to but distinct from that of the data scientist. While the scientist uses machine learning and analytics to potential threats, information security analysts are responsible for:
- Installing and maintaining data encryption software
- Developing and directing the implementation of cybersecurity best-practice protocols
- Identifying internal risks and vulnerabilities in networked systems
- Investigating breaches, containing the damage and restoring processes
U.S. News & World Report ranks information security analyst as the No. 2 best technology career and No. 5 on its lists of best professions and best STEM careers, adding that employers predict a 34.7% growth in available positions through 2031.
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
The CISO is the C-suite position responsible for developing cybersecurity strategies and policies that support organizational culture committed to protecting an enterprise’s information assets. Cybersecurity Exchange lists key performance indicators for CISOs, such as:
- Ensuring compliance with data security and privacy regulations
- Developing incident response, mitigation, operational continuity and recovery strategies
- Overseeing return on investment by ensuring the value of security practices, technologies and training contributes to the enterprise’s bottom line
NKU’s interdisciplinary online MBI – Security Management program equips graduates with the skills an effective CISO possesses. InfoSecChamp lists skills like “leadership, technical proficiency, risk management, communication, teamwork, and adaptability.”
Security Architect
InfosecTrain predicts a “widening skills gap” for security architects who design and develop software and hardware that harden applications and data against potential attacks. Activities and responsibilities of the role include:
- Assessing risk to digital assets
- Controlling access to organizational networks, data streams and storage
- Monitoring systems for telltales of potential breaches
- Performing penetration testing such as ethical hacking
Security architects “have to acquire and cultivate emerging skills to ensure that they correctly select and put in place a balanced set of controls,” Gartner notes.
Why Is NKU’s Online MBI – Security Management Program a Career-Maker?
The program’s multidisciplinary approach sets graduates apart from the competition for roles that require business and security leadership skills, such as the following:
- Developing an understanding of cryptography, confidentiality and authentication protocols
- Exploring web security botnets, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, logging and auditing systems
- Building data virtualization and analysis skills
- Strengthening leadership expertise in advanced business proficiency in communication, finance, data analysis and project management
If you’re looking for a way to progress your career and achieve professional goals, NKU’s online MBI program might be the perfect fit.
Learn more about NKU’s online Master of Science in Business Informatics – Security Management program.
