CS with Business/Management or CS with Cyber Security/ Information Security

Hi there,
So, next year I am supposed to go to university and my tutor from college told me to start looking for courses and universities. I found a few universities that I would like to go such as Royal Hollway, University of Surrey, University of Kent or City, University of London. The problem is that I cannot decide whether to do CS with Security/Information Security or CS with Business (Management or any other names for business).

I know that if I go to CS with Security, I will have a lot of coding to do which I don't really like, but I was thinking that for the future I will have more opportunities to get a job. On the other hand CS with Business, I don't really know what I can do after I graduate. Could you give me some jobs that I could do with CS with Bussines, please?

So, my question is, which one do you think is better CS with Security or CS with Bussines?

Thanks...

Hi there,
So, next year I am supposed to go to university and my tutor from college told me to start looking for courses and universities. I found a few universities that I would like to go such as Royal Hollway, University of Surrey, University of Kent or City, University of London. The problem is that I cannot decide whether to do CS with Security/Information Security or CS with Business (Management or any other names for business).

I know that if I go to CS with Security, I will have a lot of coding to do which I don't really like, but I was thinking that for the future I will have more opportunities to get a job. On the other hand CS with Business, I don't really know what I can do after I graduate. Could you give me some jobs that I could do with CS with Bussines, please?

So, my question is, which one do you think is better CS with Security or CS with Bussines?

Thanks...

Hey! Can't necessarily advise at all on the individual universities, but can talk (at least anecdotally) about both subjects.

My undergraduate degree was in Computing Science, and it was particularly tailored for the Cyber Security. It was the field I was interested in, and I was most keen on doing. I did Cyber Security modules, networking modules, got CompTIA Security+ certified and had a job lined up for Cyber Security.

I'm now back at university doing a taught post-graduate Master's degree in Computing for Business. So it's interesting that you're looking at both. Probably worth clearing a few things up.

Computing with Cyber Security doesn't necessarily mean it'll be more coding. Your course will tend to have core modules for your major - so in this case, Computing Science being the wider field. Then you will have other modules to take that will be based on Cyber Security. Your core computing modules will be predominantly programming based. These would be the same types of modules you would take were you to be studying Computing with Business. They are your core Computing modules and are strictly relevant to the Computing side of your degree. The difference comes in the modules that you will take for your minor or specialty (Cyber Security vs Business).

So my Cyber Security modules were mostly 'light' coding. Yes, obviously, the likes of penetration testing can be more sort of heavy coding, but simple things like learning to use Linux shell commands and understanding the networking layer of computing etc. aren't necessarily heavy code-y. Also, it's worth noting that (certainly I found this to be true) Cyber Security coding is hugely different from Computing Science/Software Engineering. Whilst it'll share programming principles, it is fundamentally different. Objectives are different, languages are different, and it's genuinely just *cooler*.

In Computing for Business programme, I have two programming modules this semester (which cover my computing side of the degree). Then I have one business module this semester, which is to do with management across different cultures, within business. It's the first time I've really done business at any form of education (didn't even do it at school level). I'm finding it really interesting.

As far as potential future career paths go, I'll skim over what I'm aware of briefly.

-Cyber Security Career Paths:
The UK (and the world, indeed) cannot get enough people in the field. Cyber Security is rapidly growing. Companies and the Government are actively seeking and training Cyber Security graduates. It's a field which has a mix of both technical skills (penetration testing/ethical hacking/network or database security) and soft/interpersonal skills (Social Engineering etc).
GCHQ and MI5 are always recruiting Cyber Security graduates.
There are organisations such as FDM, QA Consulting, and equivalents thereof, who have graduate programs which recruit and train you in Cyber Security specialisms before placing you with a major client for 2 years. Promotion prospects are good, but relocation is inevitable.

-Business and Computing Career Paths:
This is ultimately fairly open to whatever, really. Business consultancy is the obvious one. But the roles I've been looking at for when I graduate are like Business Intelligence Development: (this is effectively building secure software which can be used within either your own organisation or a client's organisation specifically for data analytics and data representation. Usually using a combination of software development tools, Business Intelligence tools, SQL, and security.
Business Development Manager: Optimize organisations' market positions and financial growth. Often internal roles, but can work as a BD Manager on a consultant basis for a client.
Financial Analyst: I'd say this does what it says on the tin.

There unequivocally are more options than what I list her; I reiterate that this is entirely anecdotal! It's worth noting that for either of these roles, an internship will stand you in good stead! Mine certainly did! Plus, they're fun - and they pay well!

Hopefully this helps a little. If you've any questions about stuff on Cyber Security or Business with Computing, give me a message and I'll try my best to answer.

~C

Sorry i am curious, what do you mean Cyber Security coding is different? What do you mean the languages are different? In my masters in Cyber Security we used multifunction paradigm languages like Python and C that have a lot of utility in many different areas.

I will also say that certain areas of cyber security, while getting a lot of attention now, are a bit of a bubble. Personally I would not expect to make a long term career out of them.

I'm not making a dogmatic assertion, and this is why I tried to emphasise throughout my message that it was strictly anecdotal. My apologies if it came over that way.

I certainly found that with a different objective entirely, the coding felt very unfamiliar at first. I guess it depends what type of programming is done at Degree level, so this is university specific. But one example - almost 75% of my undergraduate degree was Java and OOP. The approach to most of the general programming tasks for Java modules was entirely different to that of - say - my dissertation, where I developed an anti-virus software which also runs as a web-extension.
Programming is programming, so there are obvious similarities and I would be naive to assert otherwise. But the fundamental approach, objectives and overall feel was very different, despite the fact that at an abstract level both my dissertation and Java modules were based on the development of a piece of software. There was exposure to languages and to software that was not included in ANY module for general computing science at both undergraduate and postgraduate level at my university. This does not mean that there was not overlap, and I did try to make this clear in my first message.

While I agree about the 'bubble' analogy for some areas of security, I'm not sure I agree about expectation to make a long term career. I have both friends and family who are still in a long term career in that field, some of whom work in a very small bubble indeed. With the demand and opportunities available, I'd say it's perfectly reasonable to assume that a successful career with promotion prospects and very decent salary in either Cyber Security or Business Computing is achievable. Neither are going to disappear in the imminent future. They're fairly long term commitments. Especially with the introduction of the 'Internet of Things', where devices have been thrown the general populous with little to no security. It's a field that is ONLY going to grow, and I think it would be silly to think otherwise. It's not about attention just now, it's about attention for the foreseeable. It's one of the most 'certain to stick around' fields just now.

I guess it's subjective and depends on what you've done. But there are programming differences. Whether subtle or not, there unequivocally are.