Making the Choice: Cyber Security or Programming? What Experts Recommend.
Skills and Training Requirements
Both cyber security and programming require a strong foundation in math, logic, and analytical thinking. However, the specific skills and training requirements differ significantly between the two fields.
For cyber security, important skills include:
Networking: Understanding network protocols, infrastructure, and how to identify vulnerabilities.
Operating systems: Expertise in OS security, administration, logging, patching, etc.
Programming: Knowledge of languages like Python, JavaScript, C++ to analyse malware, automate tasks, build tools.
Risk analysis: Ability to conduct risk assessments, analyse impacts, and recommend safeguards.
Formal training options for cyber security include bachelor’s degrees, bootcamps, and certifications such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or CompTIA Security+. Hands-on training via cyber ranges that simulate real-world attacks is also valuable.
For programming, important skills include:
Coding: Expertise in languages like JavaScript, Python, Java, C#/C++, etc. depending on specialty.
Computer science: Algorithms, data structures, architecture, theory to write efficient programs.
Software engineering: Understanding full application development life cycle.
Problem-solving: Logical, analytical, and creative thinking to solve coding problems.
There are various paths to gain programming skills including computer science degrees, coding bootcamps, self-study, and experience working on real-world applications. Focus areas span many domains like web, mobile, game, and application development.
While cyber security and programming require some overlapping knowledge, they call for different specialisations. Cyber security focuses on safeguarding infrastructure, data, and systems whereas programming centers on building applications and software.
Career Prospects and Pay
Both cyber security and programming offer promising career prospects and above-average salaries. However, there are some key differences in growth projections and compensation to consider.
The cyber security job market is growing rapidly. With high-profile data breaches and increasing connectivity, the demand for cyber security expertise is quite high. According to CyberSeek, there are over 714,000 cyber security job openings in the US as of January 2023. The market is expected to grow by around 31% from 2019-2029, much faster than average.
Cyber security salaries also tend to be generous. PayScale reports an average base salary of $90,120 for information security analysts as of January 2023. With certifications and experience, cyber security professionals can earn well into six figures.
The programming and software development field is also growing quickly. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 22% growth for programming jobs from 2020 to 2030, over 3 times the national average. Software developers in particular are expected to see strong demand.
Programmer salaries vary based on factors like language, location, and experience level. PayScale reports an average base pay of $69,560 as of January 2023. Senior programmers and developers at top tech companies can make well over $100,000 per year.
In summary, both cyber security and programming offer lots of opportunities, above-average pay, and strong future growth. Cyber security may have slightly higher projected growth rates and salaries overall, but programming has a broader range of career paths to explore.
Work Environment
Cyber security professionals and programmers both typically work full-time office jobs. However, cyber security roles tend to involve more varied environments while programming is largely desk-bound.
Cyber security analysts often work in security operations centers (SOCs) monitoring networks, investigating anomalies, and responding to incidents. They may also offer on-site support to implement security controls across an organisation’s people, processes, and technology.
Information security engineers tend to focus on architecting and building an organisation’s cyber defenses. They may split their time between offices, data centers, and meeting with business leaders to discuss security priorities.
Auditors, risk managers, and other cyber security specialists tend to have more typical office-based roles but also get out to assess systems and controls across facilities.
By contrast, most programmers and software developers have largely sedentary roles working at computers to code applications and programs. They may collabourate with teams of other developers, product managers, and business leadership in office environments.
However, some programmers may get out more too. Game developers may visit studios and interact with the creative process for designing games. Field engineers may visit client sites to install solutions and offer technical support.
In general though, cyber security careers involve more diverse working environments while programming skews more heavily towards office-based desk jobs working on computers.
Work-Life Balance
Work-life balance is achievable in both cyber security and programming careers, though on-call responsibilities may cut more into personal time for cyber security roles.
Most cyber security and programming jobs involve standard 40 hour work weeks. Some technology companies are also known for having generous vacation policies for all employees.
However, cyber security analysts in particular need to be available to respond to incidents and breaches at all hours. They often work in shifts to provide 24/7 security operations center coverage.
While major incidents don’t happen every day, analysts need to be ready to log in and investigate even during their off-hours. For those interested in strict 9 to 5 schedules with little after-hours work, cyber security may not be the best fit.
Programming tends to have fewer on-call responsibilities outside of critical production incidents and launch times. As long as projects are planned well, developers can generally maintain consistent schedules and good work-life balance.
However, programmers may still face occasional crunch times to meet tight deadlines. Startups and gaming studios are also known for encouraging longer work hours and passion projects after hours.
In moderation this can be positive, but it’s important to establish boundaries. Overall there are good work-life balance opportunities in both fields, but cyber security likely involves more after hours work.
Stress Levels and Growth Potential
Both cyber security and programming careers bring moderate to high stress levels in many roles along with ample career growth potential.
Cyber security tends to be a high-stakes environment. Analysts and incident responders deal with attacks and intrusions directly, analysing threats and engaging adversaries. The consequences of mistakes or oversight can be severe.
Information security engineers also carry responsibility designing, building, and hardening defenses. They face pressure keeping complex environments secure amid constant changes.
However, cyber security offers many opportunities to take on more responsibility and advance to leadership roles. With technical depth and communication skills, professionals can grow into cyber security managers, CISOs, and other executive positions.
Programming also involves moderate stress handling complex logic, tight deadlines, and resource constraints. Code can break in many unexpected ways that prove difficult to diagnose and debug.
However, developers get the satisfaction of building functional products. They can grow technical skills before moving to team lead, manager, director and CTO-type positions.
There are also opportunities to switch into related roles like solutions architecture, sales engineering, developer advocacy, and beyond. Overall both fields bring above-average stress balanced by good growth prospects. Cyber security likely skews towards more high-pressure roles dealing with constant attacks. Developers face challenges building robust code but produce tangible applications.
Cyber security and programming offer growing career fields with strong compensation. While they require some overlapping skills, cyber security focuses more on safeguarding systems while programming centers on building software.
Those interested in dynamic, high-stakes roles analysing threats and stopping attackers may find cyber security more fulfilling. People who enjoy logic, problem solving, and creating functional products may prefer programming.
Both fields reward individuals with technical aptitude, attention to detail, and communication ability. While their day-to-day roles differ, cyber security professionals and developers have lots of opportunities to challenge themselves and advance their careers.
When choosing a career path, consider which types of work environments and responsibilities appeal more. Evaluate the stress levels, on-call expectations, and growth trajectories for each field. There is high demand for both skillsets so it is an excellent time to start specialised training.
