Security Management Careers Opportunities

The desire for increased security is reaching new heights. An individual with an aptitude toward this field has more options than ever, especially with the proliferation of online degrees. Jobs in security management include a broad spectrum of career choices, from mall security guard to hi-tech security system analyst. The online degree a person seeks should be specific to the type of career he has chosen.

Security Management
Security management encompasses various types of protection. The goal of a security manager is to keep people, organizations-and sometimes even a country-safe and protected. The career can be one of physical security, asset management, or risk assessment and analysis. Security managers often have the task of keeping an organization's telecommunications' network free from unwanted access.

Job Opportunities
Careers in security management include, but are not limited to, the following:

Information security: These individuals work for organizations such as financial institutions or government agencies, protecting sensitive information that is kept in electronic storage.

Information systems security: These workers safeguard against such dilemmas as computer hacking and viruses that may seep into the technical data housed by an organization.

Physical security: They work with individuals and facilities such as hospitals, casinos or museums.

Personal security: These workers are employed generally by large companies or government agencies. They do background checks, drug tests and screenings on potential employees.

Homeland security: They might secure U.S. air space, protect public transportation, or secure government computer networks.

Education
An entry job such as a security guard or gaming surveillance officer doesn't require a degree. Certificates can be earned online, however, in areas such as security management and private investigating. At the least, employers want an applicant to have a high school diploma and a driver's license. Organizations generally have in-house training programs in place. As a rule, a career in information or system security management requires a degree.

Online Degree Programs
Online degrees programs in security management can result in an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree or a master's degree.

The online associate's degree caters to front-line jobs. It provides legal and ethical training to the student. Students typically take business and computer classes and introductions to criminal justice and criminal law. This online security management degree would be useful when working with small businesses and homeowners who have private security needs.

An online bachelor's degree in security management characteristically teaches a student to identify risk factors in an organization. Cost-effective strategies for better security are covered. Students learn to run risk assessments and conduct system analyses.

Master's degrees are increasingly required for advanced security management positions. Large corporations feel the advanced degree is important, due to the fact that a security manager makes decisions pertinent to the security of the company and has a direct impact on profits. A master's degree in security management can also be earned online.

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary of a computer and information systems analyst in 2008 was $112, 210. That rate varied according to specialties and responsibilities. A security guard would expect to make in the $20,000 to $30,000 range.

Sources:
Degree Directory: What Are Some Security Management Career Options?
Bureau of Labor Statistics