What major should I study for career in Network Security?

Hello, Lenira. Let me start by clearing up a common misconception: most of the time, your degree won't get you your dream job. College won't give you the specialization needed to become a network security professional. My advice to you is to get your degree in network administration, focus your studies on routing and switching, as a good understanding of these is essential to any networking role, and find yourself a job in a NOC (network operations center). These jobs are usually no fun, but it is a solid, entry level job into the networking environment. From there, you will build up your experience in real-world networking issues, including network security threats and remediation. With this experience under your belt, you can begin a more focused study in network security. The sad fact is, after you graduate and get your degree, your days of studying won't be even remotely over if you want to flourish in networking, especially security. The good news is that security specialists who have a deep understanding of the HOWs and WHYs of security can make some serious money.
Also, you can look into online schools, such as Western Governor's University. They are cheap, accredited and have a specific degree track for network security: http://www.wgu.edu/online_it_degrees/information_technology_degree_security
Online universities are gaining some real traction in the HR departments as a credible way to get a valid degree.

Hi,

My major in college was Informational Technology, which is a somewhat blanket degree with the choice of concentrating in cyber security as a focus point. I have seen people in the field come from a variety of backgrounds and it's absolutely great because people of different educational backgrounds and focuses come with different ways of seeing data and how the big picture ties together. If you are set on doing cyber security and want a leg up from other candidates, then I do recommend finding a cyber degree, or a broader computer science or IT degree, and getting certifications for cyber security such as the Security+ from CompTIA.

I'll also throw in my earlier post to someone else regarding finding a role within the cyber field:

This is a great question, one that I often ask myself as someone who's been in the field a few years but is still young. There is absolutely so much to do and learn in the field - it can be somewhat daunting for those looking to get into cyber workforce. To answer your overall question of how do you figure out what you want to do within the field, I would say to learn about the different roles that exist within cybersecurity and then try out what they do.

Here's some examples:

Malware Analyst: These folks analyze malware, either by examining the code and strings within it (called static analysis) or by executing the malware and seeing what it does (called dynamic analysis). This position is for those who love breaking things down, experiment, and are always excited to find new things.

Intrusion Detection Analyst/SOC Analyst: This is what I do; these are the "detectives" that look for the bad guys getting in. Analysts need knowledge of networking, operating system, and malware principles. These folks are the inquisitive type, always paying attention to details to see what stands out as strange. The best analysts are those who can think like the bad guys.

Pentester: These guys focus on testing the security of websites, web applications, and computer systems by trying to exploit and break into them. This role is very hard on a technical level but is very rewarding. It's for those who love breaking things and then helping to fix it. There are a lot of videos and resources on learning how to do the things that pentesters do.

There are so many different roles in the field, some are technical, some not so much, but I would say there is no harm in learning about them all and see if they strike your fancy. The field is exciting and always changing, so you will never get bored, no matter what path you take.

If you want to do the career in the network security then you can read CCNA Security books and also refer some sites for videos related to basic network security from udemy.com , Ine.com ,Lynda ,safarionlinebooks.com.

After this you need to go on, when you dive deep in to this security areas, you will need to see career path in CCNA to acquire knowledge like CCNP, then till CCIE. Again i said you don't need to have certificate but you should have strong understanding of security concepts and technologies.

One of the things I look for as a hiring manager is someone with a broad education and experience. Cyber Security is a fast changing area of expertise and the most effective practitioners can bring together experience in multiple areas including coding, networking, administration and even psychology. For that reason I would try and get as broad a degree as possible. Consider a 4 year degree in computer science at a university that has a specialization in security. That way you can get the broad education while still focusing on where you want to be when you graduate.

One of the best ways to understand security is to first understand networking. Security+ certification is a great start to get a foundational base, then you can move to CCNA and CCNP in security, and eventually to CCIE and CISSP certifications. During the summer finding a job with a local IT consulting firm will provide you some experience, and allow you to better choose your IT Security specialization.

http://study.com/articles/Salary_and_Career_Info_for_a_Network_Security_Administrator.html

Hi, good question...great career choice. Above is a link to some basic information about network or cyber security careers. You may find some specific degree plans in Network security, but for the most part you will just take specific coursework in that area and have a degree in Computer or Information Technology.
You can also study and take a test for certification as a CCNA, Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA Security) validates associate-level knowledge and skills required to secure Cisco networks, here is a link with more information - this is just one of a few different networking certifications and is specialized to Cisco networks:

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/certifications/associate/ccna_security/index.html

Education Options
The BLS states that most employers prefer administrators to have a bachelor's degree in a technology-related area, but an associate degree or relevant certification is often acceptable for some entry-level positions. Colleges and universities offer associate and bachelor's degrees in management information systems, information science, and computer science. These provide foundational training for aspiring network security administrators. Courses typically include data and network protection methods, database management systems, project management, and software engineering.

I would strongly look at Software Development or Engineering as a key part of the program. Understanding how software works is critical because the attackers exploit vulnerabilities in the underlying software. So, to me, the more you understand how the software works, and how it can be exploited, is best because then you can do all sorts of things - design systems to protect, educate others on how to protect, sell solutions to others, work on protecting systems. With a solid understanding of software engineering and systems life cycle, you have a solid foundation to build upon. I would also recommend some project management classes because the ability to define good goals, and develop plans to achieve those goals is important in all aspects of business.

I came from a Network Security background (came there via studying Computer Science though).

Many studies can lead you to a career (I know a great guy working with Service Design and he started as a Zoologist).

But coming from Network Security I would recommend: don't limit yourself too much. IT Security needs to be viewed holistically so I would actually recommend Computer Science or maybe even one of the new Information Security or Cyber Security Majors.

BTW: Forensics is a skill that is being looked for a lot. Trying to analyze attacks and search for indicators is a skill that is direly needed.