Why Developing Cybersecurity Skills Is Vital for Your Career
| 5 Min Read
Cybersecurity has always been a fast-paced field, but recent AI and machine learning advancements have kicked it into overdrive. Now, cyber threats are evolving at warp speed, and cybersecurity professionals must keep up. If you’re a current or aspiring digital defense expert, it’s important that you continuously sharpen your cybersecurity skills to stay at the forefront of this rapidly changing industry.
Developing cutting-edge cybersecurity skills will help you defend others from cyber risk and nab your ideal job. As businesses struggle with an increasing number of cyberattacks, they are actively hiring cybersecurity experts who understand incident response, ethical hacking, and threat intelligence. From 2023 to 2033, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts there will be 59,100 openings for information security analysts. That’s a job outlook growth rate of 33%, which is significantly higher than the average growth rate of 4%.1
Whether you want to take the next step in your current role or explore different careers in cybersecurity, gaining new skills through Middlebury’s MS in Cybersecurity online program will help you stand out. Continue reading to learn about the most important skills for a cybersecurity analyst.
Why Cybersecurity Skills Are in High Demand
Not long ago, identifying a cyber threat came down to a few simple questions. Does this email have poor grammar? Were you expecting a text from an unknown number? Is that low-quality robot voice requesting personal data really your insurance provider calling? We all knew the drill: If it looked like a scam and sounded like a scam, it probably was a scam. But thanks to AI’s lightning-fast growth, times have changed.
While improvements in machine learning make our daily lives easier, cybercrime is also becoming easier. Tech-savvy criminals can now use AI tools to quickly create a wide range of convincing cyberattacks with little effort. Plus, they aren’t just targeting individuals. They’re also after businesses and their huge reservoirs of valuable information.
As AI becomes increasingly normalized and accessible, both its benefits and disadvantages will become more apparent. The FBI reported a 33% increase in financial losses from cyberattacks from 2023 to 2024,2 and issued a press release warning the public about the dangers of generative AI and its ability to facilitate financial fraud.3
Facing more cyber risks than ever, businesses are actively seeking professionals with the skills needed for cybersecurity. Motivated professionals interested in cybersecurity can take advantage of this demand by earning an online cybersecurity master’s degree from Middlebury Institute. You can gain state-of-the-art cybersecurity skills with a flexible graduate program designed for working adults and taught by top-tier faculty.
Core Cybersecurity Skills to Develop
If you are building a successful cybersecurity career, upgrading your skills will demonstrate your knowledge and expand your opportunities. Discover cybersecurity skills for your résumé that Middlebury Institute’s online curriculum covers:
- Cybersecurity principles: Understand the foundational principles of cybersecurity, including confidentiality, integrity, availability, and risk management.
- Network security: Design, implement, and manage secure network infrastructures to defend against internal and external cyber threats.
- Cryptography and data privacy: Ensure data privacy through cryptographic solutions and learn how Quantum safe encryption can defend sensitive data.
- Defending critical infrastructure and resilience: Assess vulnerabilities and develop defense strategies for essential services like energy and health care.
- Cyber policy and emerging threats: Evaluate and influence cybersecurity policies that address global threats.
- Cyber-Physical Defense: Master OT and automation security and develop technical skills to secure critical infrastructure.
- Cyber warfare: Develop strategies to defend against sophisticated state-sponsored cyberattacks.
- Cybercrime, risk, and compliance: Ensure adherence to legal and regulatory standards.
- Cyber threat intelligence: Develop threat profiles and intelligence reports to enhance organizational security strategies.
- Security operations: Use security information and event management (SIEM) tools to manage security operations, detect incidents, and improve an organization’s security posture.
- Security technology: Configure and manage security technologies, such as firewalls and vulnerability scanners.
Position yourself for even more success as a cybersecurity professional when you become fluent in one or more of these programming languages:
- PowerShell
- SQL
- Python
The Role Certifications Play in Your Skill Set
Once you’ve acquired the cybersecurity skills corporations want, your résumé should reflect your updated expertise. Show employers you’ve mastered the latest cybersecurity skills by completing relevant certifications, such as those offered by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) and the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2).
These well-known and respected cybersecurity certifications will help further your career:
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
- ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)
Get ready to sit for industry-recognized CompTIA and ISC2 certification exams with the Middlebury MS in Cybersecurity online program. Since Middlebury is a CompTIA Authorized Academy Partner, their 100% online coursework is aligned with the association’s standards and features specialized certification preparation resources. Additionally, Middlebury students receive discounted CompTIA exam vouchers.
Level Up Your Cybersecurity Skills at Middlebury
Middlebury is the ideal institution to hone your cybersecurity skills. In two years, you will complete 36 credit hours over 12 courses to earn your MS in Cybersecurity. Throughout the online program, knowledgeable faculty will teach a curriculum that blends theoretical studies and hands-on experiences, so you’ll be ready for what’s next in cybersecurity.
Upon graduation from MIIS, you will be qualified to sit for several career-relevant certification exams, including several offered by CompTIA. Additionally, you will benefit from MIIS’s unique specialization track in cyber defense and intelligence.
Right now, businesses are searching for highly qualified cybersecurity professionals to protect their valuable data. Meet the job market’s demand with a valuable cybersecurity graduate degree that will help put your résumé at the top of the stack.
Sources
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Information Security Analysts.” Retrieved July 7, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internet Complaint Center (IC3), “Internet Crime Report.” Retrieved July 7, 2025, from https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf.
- Federal Bureau of Investigation, Public Service Announcement, “Criminals Use Generative Artificial Intelligence to Facilitate Financial Fraud.” Retrieved July 7, 2025, from https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA241203.
