“Cybersecurity is a quickly growing and evolving field and it promises a successful and fulfilling career from the entry-level analyst all the way to senior engineers, security program managers and C-level positions,” said Katlyn Gallo who is currently working toward her master’s degree in cybersecurity at Quinnipiac.

Gallo wanted to share her passion for the field and knowledge she gained on a blog she called Dark Roast Security to discuss and educate others on cybersecurity and all that has to do with it.

“It's important to share our journey — both successes and failures — and to create content that's beginner-friendly and helps introduce some of the common concepts a security student or professional will come across,” said Gallo. “While we may learn about various concepts in class, it's always helpful to read about how it was applied in the real world or understand different perspectives on the topic.”

She explained that cybersecurity may seem like an intimidating field to get into, but it has a lot to offer in many different areas.

“People can work in cybersecurity and not be technical. There's a misconception that cybersecurity professionals are all hackers and sit at the computer coding all day, every day, but that's not true,” said Gallo. “There are plenty of roles within the cybersecurity industry that don't require technical skills like coding.”

Gallo explained that in addition to the great academics, the flexibility that Quinnipiac’s cybersecurity master program offers is what ultimately led to her journey.

“My master’s degree will help propel me toward the next step in my career which is management. The program has helped broaden my knowledge of various functions within cybersecurity,” said Gallo.

As a field that can fly under the radar, Gallo said the impact from cybersecurity professionals is essential.

“We may not be on the frontlines like healthcare workers and law enforcement, but the work we do at every level matters and plays an active part in defending our organizations against cyberattacks,” said Gallo.