9 answers
Nickolas
Student
Burleson, Texas
2
Questions
Asked
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Does Cyber Security require alot of math?
Lets just say I am no math buff, It has to be my worst subject.
I have always had a hard time with mathematics,and I am curious is Cyber Security require alot of math or not.
#cybersecurity #computer-security #computer-networking #computer-and-network-security #cyber-security
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9 answers
Marianne Olsen
Security Consultant at PwC
2
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Marianne’s Answer
Hi Nickolas,
Being a Junior in High School and thinking about this long term is a great start to a great future!
Like Farrah, I also work at PwC in Cybersecurity and complex math is primarily reserved for individuals working in cryptography (very small portion of cyber jobs). There is some leverage of math when doing computer forensics as well, however that is nowhere near the calculus you are nervous about.
I did undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Information Systems and then a Master's in Cybersecurity. Both of the undergraduate degrees were out of the business school. The only time we got into math was the two subjects I mentioned above and some in coding. This led me to jobs doing incident response, security tool implementation, security strategy, and security architecture.
The other route you could go is through the computer science field, which will drive you more into coding and, consequently, math. This is useful for jobs which require secure code reviews, penetration testing, etc.
Ultimately, there are SO many jobs in cybersecurity right now and so there is flexibility in following the path that suits you best. I also encourage you to reach out now and ask to shadow people doing jobs that sound interesting to you. Usually, people are willing to show you what they do and it will help you decide what path you want to go on.
Being a Junior in High School and thinking about this long term is a great start to a great future!
Like Farrah, I also work at PwC in Cybersecurity and complex math is primarily reserved for individuals working in cryptography (very small portion of cyber jobs). There is some leverage of math when doing computer forensics as well, however that is nowhere near the calculus you are nervous about.
I did undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Information Systems and then a Master's in Cybersecurity. Both of the undergraduate degrees were out of the business school. The only time we got into math was the two subjects I mentioned above and some in coding. This led me to jobs doing incident response, security tool implementation, security strategy, and security architecture.
The other route you could go is through the computer science field, which will drive you more into coding and, consequently, math. This is useful for jobs which require secure code reviews, penetration testing, etc.
Ultimately, there are SO many jobs in cybersecurity right now and so there is flexibility in following the path that suits you best. I also encourage you to reach out now and ask to shadow people doing jobs that sound interesting to you. Usually, people are willing to show you what they do and it will help you decide what path you want to go on.
Marc Yu
Cybersecurity Group Vice President
2
Answers
Atlanta, Georgia
Updated
Marc’s Answer
I have never used anything above algebra during my entire 30 year IT career, the past 11 in cybersecurity, per se. Understand at least logic (they teach that in Geometry) because you'll need that for scripting/programming firewalls and Splunk.
Stacy Shields, PhD
Career Counselor
7
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Stacy’s Answer
Good question, Nickolas! Having self awareness about both your interests and skills/abilities will help you as you make career decisions - it's great that you're asking yourself these types of questions before fully jumping into a degree program.
Requirements for mathematics will depend on school/degree program, so the most helpful way to find this information would be to take a look at the degree plans at the university where you will do your studies. Schools will have these posted on their program websites (e.g., UT-Dallas's degree plan for Computer Science can be found here: https://catalog.utdallas.edu/2017/undergraduate/programs/ecs/computer-science#degree-requirements). A lot of schools will have a minor, certificate, or concentration in cybersecurity that you'll do in addition to or alongside a more general major (e.g., Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, etc.). Generally, it is my understanding that there is a fair amount of math involved in training within the field of computer science, especially when you start looking at degree options that require in-depth training in programming (e.g., it looks like UT-Dallas requires at least up to Calculus II). So, a degree in Computer Science will likely require more math than a degree in Computer Information Systems.
Keep in mind that most schools will have resources like tutoring and supplemental instruction available to students. People's definition of being bad at math really varies. You will know you best - so, if you think having a bit more support would help you get through the math courses you'd have to take, this would be something worth looking into.
Additionally, I would suggest conducting an informational interview with someone who currently works in Cybersecurity to get an idea from them about what their day-to-day job is like and how that matches with your interests/skills.
Requirements for mathematics will depend on school/degree program, so the most helpful way to find this information would be to take a look at the degree plans at the university where you will do your studies. Schools will have these posted on their program websites (e.g., UT-Dallas's degree plan for Computer Science can be found here: https://catalog.utdallas.edu/2017/undergraduate/programs/ecs/computer-science#degree-requirements). A lot of schools will have a minor, certificate, or concentration in cybersecurity that you'll do in addition to or alongside a more general major (e.g., Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, etc.). Generally, it is my understanding that there is a fair amount of math involved in training within the field of computer science, especially when you start looking at degree options that require in-depth training in programming (e.g., it looks like UT-Dallas requires at least up to Calculus II). So, a degree in Computer Science will likely require more math than a degree in Computer Information Systems.
Keep in mind that most schools will have resources like tutoring and supplemental instruction available to students. People's definition of being bad at math really varies. You will know you best - so, if you think having a bit more support would help you get through the math courses you'd have to take, this would be something worth looking into.
Additionally, I would suggest conducting an informational interview with someone who currently works in Cybersecurity to get an idea from them about what their day-to-day job is like and how that matches with your interests/skills.
Thank you,I am a junior in High school and I am currently making up credits from last year like geometry,And when I read calculus II my jaw dropped.
I definitely need to make sure I get a tutor for math.
Nickolas
Scott Ostrander
IT Security Director
5
Answers
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Updated
Scott’s Answer
Practically speaking, unless you're going deep into cryptography, the math demands aren't going to be that high.
Kevin Lam CISSP, PMP, ITIL
Sr. Manager, Incident Response
35
Answers
Santa Clarita, California
Updated
Kevin’s Answer
Most of the folks answered the question already so I'll take a different perspective. For cybersecurity, I would say critical thinking and being methodical in understanding and assessing technical and business impact is an important skillset to have in this field. Also, being able to communicate, both verbally and in writing, is key to being successful. A talented security practitioner can take very complex issues and articulate them in a digestible components so that a security program can drive key bodies of work (to reduce security risk for a company).
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6193
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Nickolas,
Does Cyber Security require a lot of math?
Cybersecurity is a complex and multidisciplinary field that encompasses various aspects of technology, risk management, and defense strategies. While mathematics plays a role in certain areas of cybersecurity, it is not necessarily a requirement for every aspect of the field. Understanding the relationship between cybersecurity and mathematics can provide insight into the specific areas where mathematical knowledge is beneficial.
Mathematics in Cryptography: One area of cybersecurity where mathematics is heavily utilized is cryptography. Cryptography involves creating secure communication channels through the use of algorithms and mathematical principles. Understanding concepts such as prime numbers, modular arithmetic, and discrete logarithms is crucial for developing and analyzing cryptographic algorithms. Additionally, knowledge of probability theory and statistical analysis is important for assessing the strength of encryption methods.
Mathematics in Network Security: In network security, mathematical concepts are used to analyze network traffic patterns, detect anomalies, and develop intrusion detection systems. Mathematical models are employed to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities within network infrastructures. Furthermore, understanding concepts such as graph theory and combinatorics can aid in designing secure network topologies and optimizing data routing.
Mathematics in Security Analytics: In the realm of security analytics, mathematical techniques are applied to process large volumes of data, identify patterns, and extract meaningful insights. Concepts from linear algebra, calculus, and statistics are utilized to develop machine learning algorithms for anomaly detection, threat intelligence analysis, and predictive security measures.
Mathematics in Risk Assessment: Risk assessment and management in cybersecurity often involve quantitative analysis to evaluate potential threats and their impact on an organization’s assets. Mathematical models such as Bayesian inference, decision trees, and game theory are employed to assess the likelihood of security breaches and calculate the associated risks.
Conclusion: While mathematics plays a significant role in specific areas of cybersecurity such as cryptography, network security, security analytics, and risk assessment, it is important to note that not all aspects of cybersecurity require advanced mathematical proficiency. Practical skills in areas such as system administration, incident response, policy development, and compliance also form integral parts of cybersecurity roles. However, having a foundational understanding of mathematical concepts can undoubtedly enhance one’s capabilities in certain specialized domains within cybersecurity.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - NIST provides comprehensive guidelines and standards for cryptographic algorithms, cybersecurity frameworks, and risk management practices.
IEEE Computer Society - The IEEE Computer Society publishes research papers and articles on various aspects of cybersecurity including cryptography, network security, and security analytics.
SANS Institute - SANS offers training programs and resources covering diverse topics in cybersecurity including cryptography, risk assessment, and network security.
These sources were instrumental in providing authoritative information on the role of mathematics in cybersecurity and its applications across different domains within the field.
GOD BLESS!
James.
Does Cyber Security require a lot of math?
Cybersecurity is a complex and multidisciplinary field that encompasses various aspects of technology, risk management, and defense strategies. While mathematics plays a role in certain areas of cybersecurity, it is not necessarily a requirement for every aspect of the field. Understanding the relationship between cybersecurity and mathematics can provide insight into the specific areas where mathematical knowledge is beneficial.
Mathematics in Cryptography: One area of cybersecurity where mathematics is heavily utilized is cryptography. Cryptography involves creating secure communication channels through the use of algorithms and mathematical principles. Understanding concepts such as prime numbers, modular arithmetic, and discrete logarithms is crucial for developing and analyzing cryptographic algorithms. Additionally, knowledge of probability theory and statistical analysis is important for assessing the strength of encryption methods.
Mathematics in Network Security: In network security, mathematical concepts are used to analyze network traffic patterns, detect anomalies, and develop intrusion detection systems. Mathematical models are employed to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities within network infrastructures. Furthermore, understanding concepts such as graph theory and combinatorics can aid in designing secure network topologies and optimizing data routing.
Mathematics in Security Analytics: In the realm of security analytics, mathematical techniques are applied to process large volumes of data, identify patterns, and extract meaningful insights. Concepts from linear algebra, calculus, and statistics are utilized to develop machine learning algorithms for anomaly detection, threat intelligence analysis, and predictive security measures.
Mathematics in Risk Assessment: Risk assessment and management in cybersecurity often involve quantitative analysis to evaluate potential threats and their impact on an organization’s assets. Mathematical models such as Bayesian inference, decision trees, and game theory are employed to assess the likelihood of security breaches and calculate the associated risks.
Conclusion: While mathematics plays a significant role in specific areas of cybersecurity such as cryptography, network security, security analytics, and risk assessment, it is important to note that not all aspects of cybersecurity require advanced mathematical proficiency. Practical skills in areas such as system administration, incident response, policy development, and compliance also form integral parts of cybersecurity roles. However, having a foundational understanding of mathematical concepts can undoubtedly enhance one’s capabilities in certain specialized domains within cybersecurity.
Top 3 Authoritative Sources Used:
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) - NIST provides comprehensive guidelines and standards for cryptographic algorithms, cybersecurity frameworks, and risk management practices.
IEEE Computer Society - The IEEE Computer Society publishes research papers and articles on various aspects of cybersecurity including cryptography, network security, and security analytics.
SANS Institute - SANS offers training programs and resources covering diverse topics in cybersecurity including cryptography, risk assessment, and network security.
These sources were instrumental in providing authoritative information on the role of mathematics in cybersecurity and its applications across different domains within the field.
GOD BLESS!
James.
Theresa Menzel
Security Engineer
4
Answers
Bullock, NC
Updated
Theresa’s Answer
Cybersecurity covers a number of roles. The math needed will be highest if you are interested in cryptography or the methods in which computers use encryption. If you are interested in penetration testing you will need some higher math for developing exploits but mostly you need to be able to think outside the box for that job. The majority of the time in Cybersecurity you will not be using advanced levels of math.
Joshua Majors
Enterprise Security
9
Answers
San Jose, California
Updated
Joshua’s Answer
Depending on what part of Cybersecurity you want to go into, there may not be a lot of math involved. As time progresses, most of the tools we use are becoming more and more user friendly, requiring less user computation, and more architectural thinking (how you would deploy and maintain them). On the Enterprise side, the thought process is more "how can I see all the things", then "how can I affect change on all the things". Less math, more higher altitude thinking.
Tina Basch
Chief Information Security Officer
12
Answers
South Lyon, Michigan
Updated
Tina’s Answer
Thankfully, No! Unless, like the prior comments suggest you go into cryptography. Basic math is all you need.
The field of security is broad and most roles depend on basic math skills . Understanding vulnerability percentages and look at trend statistics pretty much cover it.
If looking into this field and still in school, I would recommend a statics course but it is not necessary. Communications and the ability to communicate effectively are crucial.
The field of security is broad and most roles depend on basic math skills . Understanding vulnerability percentages and look at trend statistics pretty much cover it.
If looking into this field and still in school, I would recommend a statics course but it is not necessary. Communications and the ability to communicate effectively are crucial.