Careers in Cybersecurity: 布鲁克Denney, MITS Program & OU

The Master’s in Information and Telecommunication Systems (MITS) program offers students the ability to strengthen their technological and networking skills to enter higher positions in the ITS industry. 布鲁克Denney, Shawnee State University (SSU) Information Systems Management alumna, is currently studying in the 麦克卢尔学校’s MITS program.

作为南苏大学的新生, Denney initially majored in 游戏开发 but quickly found a passion for integrated technology systems. 都发生在她上学的第一天, she interviewed for and received a position as the Primary 黑板上 Administrator for SSU’s IT Department.

“肖尼是一所很小的学校, so it actually gives a lot of opportunity to the students to fill roles that might be a full-time role somewhere else,丹尼说.

通过她的SSU导师, Dovel迈尔斯, Denney was encouraged to enter the expanding 网络安全 field. 在她大二的时候, she changed majors to a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Information Systems Management and minoring in 网络安全 to keep her options in the field open.

“What made me really want to do this rest of my life is the amount of problem-solving that goes into it. Somebody will come down with a wild issue, and you just have to figure it out,丹尼说. “My field is like that even in my new role. It’s intense problem solving, it's so fun, and it's not operational. It's not monotonous [because] you are always walking into something different.”

Myers also introduced Denney to newbb电子平台’s Dr. 阿劳兹和博士. Cruz sophomore year of her undergrad, and she started visiting the 麦克卢尔学校’s classrooms and facilities. This sparked her interest in furthering her education at OU and led her to the MITS program that would enhance her knowledge in the career she loves.

“[The 麦克卢尔学校 has] such a relevant master's degree, 特别是在这个领域内, because in order to be a good 网络安全 analyst, you have to understand the fundamental inner workings of networks and how everything works together,丹尼说. “This master's degree has really helped me paint that picture of those underpinnings that I used to not previously know.”

Since beginning her master’s degree, Denney has also begun her career and works full-time for newbb电子平台’s Office of Information Technology (OIT). To start out, she was a website administrator, assisting with website malfunctions. She then got a position as Information Security Analyst I where she worked on operational aspects, like website security and security training.

Since January 2020, Denney has been working as an Information Security Analyst II for OIT. This position requires her to configure security metrics, 管理云供应商, and consult different departments.

“I'm defending companies from bad actors. [Cybersecurity] really gives you a purpose within it because it's one thing to have your break-fix rolls but when you are on active defense, like defending the company you are working for, 这是你的个人利益,丹尼说. “You are like the protector of the institution, and it’s a really rewarding field.”

For Denney, the MITS program has already begun assisting her in her OIT position at OU today. “[The MITS program] forces you to really learn and understand the knowledge that they're dishing at you,丹尼说. “Even in my career right now, the things that I learned in class I use as a relevant example at work.”

Although the master’s program requires lots of time and attention, along with a high-grade point average, it is perfect for students who are looking to become well-rounded in their chosen career path. 教师, 工作人员, and students dedicate their time to hands-on, real-world issues within a myriad of IT industries.

“Continuous education just inherently gives you a leg up as opposed to halting your learning. It's important to continue learning no matter what stage you are in life,丹尼说. “[The MITS program] keeps me engaged with the field.”

The 麦克卢尔学校 of Emerging Communication Technologies strives to offer the best academic programs in the IT(资讯科技)，游戏开发和 Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR / AR)行业. Our programs and certificates cover numerous aspects of the rapidly changing industries of information networking, 网络安全、资料私隐; 游戏开发, digital animation and the academic side of 的电子竞技.