The Top Information Security MBA
Online Programs

Organizations ranging from banks to businesses to governments rely on computer servers to store sensitive information. Such data include employee records, credit card numbers, government records, proprietary information and much more. In order to protect these data from being leaked – accidentally or otherwise – and stolen by hackers, thieves or business rivals, information security specialists must be hired to safeguard the organization’s network. The best way to enter such a professional arena is to first obtain an online Master of Business Administration in information security.

Earning an information security MBA online degree entails learning the tools and methodology for securing an organization’s information technology (IT) system. The top online information security MBA schools train future information security professionals in advanced topics like cryptography, digital forensics and risk mitigation. The top online MBA programs also instruct students in legal privacy issues and how to prevent fraud.

How can I tell if an online MBA information security degree is right for me?

Students who enjoy working with computers, who understand complex algorithms and want to prevent cyber crime might be interested in pursuing an MBA online information security degree.

Some additional that are common in many online MBA information security students include:

• A proclivity for interacting with computers
• A desire for processing information
• An inclination for evaluating information to determine compliance with standards
• An aptitude for identifying objects, actions, and events
• A flair for analyzing data or information

How long does it take to earn an MBA online information security degree?

The time it takes to earn an information security MBA degree online is comparable to the time it takes to earn other MBAs online. To earn this degree it normally takes 2 years of full-time schooling. But, part-time or accelerated programs are offered by some institutions to allow students to finish the program at their own pace.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA information security online?

Prior to enrolling in online MBA information security programs, business schools generally require students to possess a bachelor’s degree. Some schools that have an MBA information security online program prefer applicants who have degrees in related fields including information science, computer science, business administration, and network security.

The following criteria are also used by many online MBA in information security programs in making admissions decisions including:

• Work experience
• Academic transcripts
• Graduate Management Admission Test scores (GMAT)
• Personal interviews

What courses will I take in information security MBA programs online?

Most accredited online MBA information security programs first provide students with a basic foundation in business principles. Schools with satisfactory online information security MBA rankings ensure that their students are proficient in core business and managerial skills like accounting and finance, leadership and organizational behavior, business economics and information technology. Students seeking the best online Master of Business Administration in information security must also be well versed in the legal, political and ethical dimensions of business.

Following this coursework, information security MBA schools online prepare students to identify a company’s weaknesses in its IT network, establish solutions to safeguard data and implement their plans. Before earning an online MBA in information security, students must take advanced courses like network security, e-business security, information security law and ethics, contingency planning and cryptography and security mechanisms.

Students enrolled in online information security MBA programs often participate in internships in order to enhance their education. Internships are useful. Through them, students not only make useful business contacts, but they also get an opportunity to apply what they are learning in their classes.

What are the best online MBA in information security books I should consider reading?

Some books students interested in information security MBA careers may find helpful are:

1. IT Security Metrics: A Practical Framework for Measuring Security & Protecting Data (Lance Hayden) – This book uses real-world scenarios to teach how to best identify and neutralize risks to a company’s IT system.

2. Cyber Warfare: Techniques, Tactics and Tools for Security Practitioners (Jason Andress and Steve Winterfield) – The authors offer strategies on combating threats from a host of attackers including organized criminals and terrorists.

3. America the Vulnerable: Inside the New Threat Matrix of Digital Espionage, Crime, and Warfare (Joel Brenner) – Written by a former advisor at the National Security Agency, this book argues that “virtual battles” will only increase and become more dangerous, threatening even national security.

4. Beautiful Security: Leading Security Experts Explain What They Think (Andy Oram and John Viega, editors) – This anthology compiles informative essays and articles from some of the world’s best information security analysts.

5. Secrets and Lies: Digital Security in a Networked World (Bruce Schneier) – Schneier identifies misconceptions that information security analysts have about protecting digital property and offers suggestions on how to pick the best security systems for a company’s needs.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue information security MBA jobs?

In 2010 there were 302,300 positions available for information security analysts, network architects and other professionals holding an MBA information security online degree. The average information security MBA salary can vary depending on the position and employer, but workers in this field are generally paid well:

• Senior Information Security Analyst – $90,000
• IT Security Analyst – $81,000
• Information Systems Analyst – $70,000
• Information Security Analyst – $75,660

The projected job growth for those with an information security MBA online degree is 22%, which is faster than normal. The field is growing at an accelerated rate because more and more companies, organizations, schools and governments are converting to paperless systems, meaning that all important data and documents are stored digitally. Therefore, these groups need a security specialist to protect this information from hackers and criminals.

Employers often want students who have earned their degrees from AACSB accredited information security MBA programs because accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business can serve as a sign that a business school gives students a quality education.

What are the top online schools to pursue an online Information Security MBA degree?

• Saint Leo University Online
• Jones International University
• Brandman University