The Intersection of Data Science and Cybersecurity: Using Information to Identify and Reduce Threats

According to cyber economy research firm Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime will cost businesses, institutions and individuals $9.5 trillion in 2024. In 2023, 53 percent of businesses suffered a cyberattack, and one in eight of these companies incurred costs of $250,000 or more. 

Cybersecurity threats are quickly accelerating. The emergence of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and cloud computing has vastly expanded opportunities for bad actors. It also creates opportunities for cybersecurity experts and innovators engaged in data protection. Cybersecurity Ventures predicts there will be 3.5 million cybersecurity job vacancies through 2025. 

Concurrently, businesses increasingly rely on data scientists to examine incidents and anticipate future risks. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the employment of information security analysts will grow 32 percent between 2022 and 2032.

This article examines the relationship between data science and cybersecurity and demonstrates how an advanced degree can help you prepare for a career in information security. 

Cyber Security vs. Data Analytics: How They Differ, How They Overlap

Cybersecurity involves protecting data, systems and networks from digital attacks. Cybersecurity professionals ensure systems and data security by implementing strong authentication methods, establishing robust access controls, encrypting data, conducting regular vulnerability assessments and developing incident response plans. 

Data analytics encompasses the analysis of raw data to draw conclusions and inform decision-making. Data scientists use analytical tools and techniques to extract meaningful insights from data. As more businesses prioritize data-driven decisions, the demand for data scientists soars (the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 35 percent growth in the field between 2022 and 2032). 

In today’s data-driven world, data science and cybersecurity closely intertwine. The two increasingly overlap, leading to many new job opportunities. 

How Data Science and Cybersecurity Work Together 

Data breaches and illegal access compromise privacy and proprietary information. They also imperil data accuracy, leading to skewed analysis or misleading insights. Cybersecurity professionals play an essential role in protecting the data collected, stored and analyzed by data scientists to maintain confidentiality and data integrity.

Data science techniques help companies analyze and identify cyber threats. Data scientists with information security expertise can help businesses strengthen their cybersecurity through: 

• Threat detection: Data scientists can analyze large datasets generated by network and security systems to identify patterns and anomalies that may indicate a potential threat.
• Vulnerability assessments: Data scientists can identify potential weaknesses in network systems and devices by analyzing data from vulnerability scanners.
• Security configuration management: Data scientists can analyze information from security configuration management systems and recommend changes if systems or devices do not comply with security policies.
• Risk assessment: Cybersecurity teams can assess the potential risk of a future cyberattack by examining external events and patterns. For instance, they may analyze recent data leaks in organizations with similar cybersecurity systems and use predictive modeling techniques to determine a specific organization’s risk.

Careers in Data Science and Cybersecurity 

Professionals interested in data science and cybersecurity can pursue careers across multiple industries. Industries requiring experts in cybersecurity and data science include: 

• Healthcare and finance: Both collect and process large amounts of sensitive data, making them prime targets for cyberattacks.
• IT and software: Software companies usually adopt new technologies early. The consequences of cyberattacks on the IT industry can radiate to other businesses and institutions with devastating results.
• Manufacturing: Manufacturers increasingly prioritize digital transformation and adopt cloud-based services, making them targets for cybercriminals who want to disrupt supply chains. 

Various job roles combine cybersecurity and data science, including: 

• Cybersecurity analyst: Cybersecurity analysts use reports from cybersecurity tools and software to identify unusual or abnormal network activity proactively.
• Computer forensics analyst: A computer forensics analyst—also known as a digital forensics examiner, forensic technician, or cyberforensic analyst—investigates past cybercrimes to determine how to prevent the same scenario from occurring again. 
• Data scientist: Data scientists focusing on cybersecurity use predictive analytics and statistical modeling techniques to assess potential threats.

Advance Your Skills with an MS in Business Cyber Security

According to the 2023 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, a lack of qualified talent represents the most significant contributor to the cybersecurity workforce shortage. Over 40 percent of businesses cited the inability to find enough qualified talent as the primary cause of their cybersecurity staff shortfalls; 92 percent of businesses believe their company’s current security team has one or more significant or critical skills gaps. 

Master’s degree programs focusing on cybersecurity, like the University of Tennessee, Knoxville online Master of Science in Business Cybersecurity (MSBC), can help professionals build the specialized skills needed to fill these gaps, enabling them to advance their careers.

Why Choose the UT Online MS in Business Cybersecurity Program?

Students from all academic and professional backgrounds can enroll in UT’s online MSBC degree program. You don’t need a technical background to apply. All you need is an interest in understanding cybersecurity and how it impacts businesses. 

The program curriculum teaches students how to leverage cybersecurity foundations to better inform business strategy. Coursework covers business cybersecurity foundations, business security governance and ethics, risk management, and business continuity and organizational security management. Online MSBC students also take an Emerging Topics in Business Cybersecurity course examining technological innovations that impact (disrupt and transform) the dynamic field of business cybersecurity.

Upon graduation, you should understand how to: 

• Evaluate the impact of cybersecurity on the business environment and the implications of regulations and external factors associated with organizational cybersecurity.
• Navigate the policies, operations and management of organizational cybersecurity business processes.
• Leverage key technologies to design, implement and protect organizational assets.
• Apply cybersecurity skills and functional knowledge to real-world business scenarios.

Study Alongside Data Science and Cybersecurity Experts at UT 

UT’s online MSBC degree program trains the next generation of business cybersecurity leaders. You can earn your degree part time from the Haslam College of Business through a flexible model that combines synchronous and asynchronous sessions, allowing working professionals to earn their advanced degrees without relocating or putting their careers on hold. As an online business cybersecurity student, you will benefit from an industry-relevant curriculum and will study alongside scholars and practitioners engaged in cutting-edge research in the information security field. 

To learn more about the UT online MS in Business Cybersecurity program and the admissions process, contact an enrollment advisor. If you’re ready to take the next step, start your application today.