What You Will Learn in UT’s Online Master’s in Business Cybersecurity Program

The HiscoxCyber Readiness Report 2023 includes an astounding data point: more than half the companies in its survey suffered a cyberattack in the preceding year; one in eight of these businesses incurred costs of $250,000 or more. And criminals aren’t just targeting big players; according to the report, firms with fewer than ten employees saw a sharp increase in cyberattacks (36 percent, up from 23 percent the previous year). No wonder more and more companies seek professionals who can align cybersecurity initiatives with business strategy. 

Cybersecurity Ventures reported 3.5 million cybersecurity job vacancies worldwide in 2023, with more than 750,000 positions in the U.S. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects employment of information security analysts to grow by 32 percent over the next decade. Without question, cybersecurity is a growth industry.

If you’re an aspiring business cybersecurity leader, the University of Tennessee (UT) Knoxville’s online Master of Science in Business Cybersecurity (MSBC) program can help you gain the skills and expertise to advance your career. This article surveys what you will learn in UT’s MSBC program. 

The Landscape of Cybersecurity in Business Today 

Cyberattacks grow more frequent and sophisticated with each passing year. In 2023, The World Economic Forum (WEF), for the first time, ranked cybercrime and cybersecurity among the top ten global risks over a two-year and 10-year period. 

Cyberattacks regularly disrupt corporate operations and daily life. A recent data breach at UnitedHealth interrupted pharmacy and health system claims for over a week. German steel producer Thyssenkrupp was forced to take its systems offline after detecting an intrusion, temporarily halting automobile production. A cybersecurity specialist recently discovered a Bluetooth vulnerability that enables hackers to take over iOS, Android, Linux, and MacOS devices. 

Over the last year, U.S. water authorities and a multistate hospital were victims of cybercrime. These incidents prompted Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger to urge American companies and operators of critical infrastructure to “lock their digital doors.” 

To remain resilient, companies must establish a security culture involving the entire organization. As a result, executives increasingly need the advice of professionals with dual expertise in business and cybersecurity. UT’s MSBC program is designed to meet this need. 

How UT Teaches Cybersecurity to Inform Business Strategy

UT’s MSBC program combines technical cybersecurity training with the ability to understand, communicate, and use business strategies to protect critical information. Read on to learn more about what you will learn in the online program and how it will prepare you for a career in business cybersecurity. 

A Curriculum That Combines Business and Technology 

The UT online MSBC curriculum is designed to enable students to leverage cybersecurity principles and expertise to inform business strategy. It provides an advanced understanding of the technical aspects of cybersecurity and how to use this knowledge to inform risk-management business strategies.

Foundations of Business Cybersecurity is an entry-level course providing students essential knowledge about technologies and measures used to protect information assets. This course starts students off with knowledge to effectively communicate about cybersecurity topics and prepares students to build deeper knowledge through advanced business cybersecurity coursework, such as Business Communications and Network Security or Risk Management and Business Continuity.

Advanced courses help students bolster the technical skills and knowledge required for assessing, designing and managing security architectures. Students also learn about modern database management, monitoring tools for information security, and software development methods, all integral to understanding how security is integrated into applications and how that integration impacts business strategy and processes.

In addition to the technical components of cybersecurity, the curriculum covers business topics like governance and ethics, risk management and business continuity. These courses teach students how to navigate the digital business ecosystem successfully. The curriculum also includes a course focused on the opportunities and risks associated with trending and emerging technologies, preparing students to lead in future-focused organizations. 

The UT MSBC program concludes with a practical capstone project. During their capstone project, students develop cybersecurity solutions and must communicate their strategies to internal and external stakeholders. 

Upon graduation, UT MSBC students should be able to: 

• Evaluate the business impact of cybersecurity, considering regulatory and external factors
• Navigate the policies, operations and management of cybersecurity business processes 
• Leverage key technologies to design and implement mechanisms to protect organizational assets while being aware of how these technologies impact business processes and strategies 
• Apply their cybersecurity skills and functional knowledge to real-world business scenarios 

Led by Business and IT Experts Who Push the Field Forward

UT online business cybersecurity students learn from industry experts, including: 

• Assistant Professor Daniel Pienta, an award-winning researcher who has studied how manager training in IT can help control data breach risks 
• Assistant Professor Yuan Li, whose research focuses on online information security and privacy, information and knowledge management, and business analytics  

An Online Master’s in Business Built for Working Professionals

UT designed its online master’s in business cybersecurity with working professionals in mind. Students complete the 10-course program 100 percent online. Choose a pace that fits your work and life commitments, earning your degree in two to six years. 

The curriculum combines live, synchronous classes with asynchronous sessions, assignments, and virtual office hours to deliver an optimal learning experience. By continuing to work while you pursue your degree, you can apply the business cybersecurity principles you are learning in your job in real time. 

Upon graduation, students should have the skills and knowledge to pivot into a business cybersecurity career. Possible career paths for graduates include: 

• Business cybersecurity occupations, like cybersecurity consulting, business cybersecurity risk mitigation and cybersecurity auditing
• Cybersecurity jobs, like information security analyst, database administrator and computer network support specialist. 
• IT management occupations, like computer systems analyst, IT manager or project management specialist
• Business occupations, like management analyst 

Learn at the Leading Edge of Business Cybersecurity

As businesses embrace digital transformation, they’ll increasingly need cybersecurity-savvy professionals and leaders. The need for leaders who can translate cybersecurity information and initiatives into plain language that all organizational stakeholders can understand is even greater. UT’s online master’s in business cybersecurity aims to produce graduates who can step into these leadership roles. 

As a UT MSBC student, you can master core cybersecurity tenets and drive critical conversations around the implications for business strategy, operations and resilience. As a result, you’ll be able to tackle some of the most pressing cybersecurity challenges and create frameworks that protect business assets in any industry. 

If you are ready to accelerate your career by adding valuable business cybersecurity knowledge to your skill set, contact an enrollment advisor to learn more about the UT MSBC program, or start your application today.