As a result of the rash of hacking, ransomware and data breaches in recent years, information security professionals are in high demand. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be an 18% increase in information security analyst positions between 2014 and 2024. This expected growth far exceeds that of other occupations, even those that also deal with computers.
While the BLS found that demand for information security professionals was increasing across all sectors, there was an even greater demand within healthcare. This is no surprise considering the high profile attacks on medical facilities like Hollywood Presbyterian, the Los Angeles County Department of Health, Methodist Hospital in Kentucky, and MedStar Health in Washington DC. The greater reliance of electronic medic records means a greater need to protect patient data.
According to the BLS, in 2015 the median salary for information security analysts was $90,120, with analysts typically having a bachelor’s degree in computer science or programming. Many have a background in a related field and employers look for those with a Master’s in Business Administration with a focus on information systems.