Blake Carr, MS’19, enjoys being a technical expert. When he embarked on his master’s degree in cybersecurity at WMU, his interest gravitated toward the computer science courses in the degree, rather than those focused on the managerial concerns in the field. However, today in his role as a data analyst at Dohrn Transfer Company, he draws on all his courses in company discussions on everything from data management, to disaster recovery, to backup plans, to employee training and awareness.
“I was offered a data analyst position while I was still in the program,” he says. “While the role isn’t directly in cybersecurity, the background my company was looking for was someone who has a solid understanding of databases and the ability to learn and innovate independently. My work history checked the database box. The fact I was thriving in an entirely online master’s degree set me apart from other candidates, and checked that second box.”
His current position involves database administration and data mining in addition to analysis and reporting. “One thing that always stuck with me was something that both Dr. Rea and Jason Johnson said in a few classes. They stated how important it is to be security conscious in your coding, even if you aren’t the person responsible for security at your company. You can save everyone a lot of time and energy if you use best security practices during development rather than as an afterthought, and this is something I try to do every time I need to develop something new.”
The online program was the perfect fit for Carr’s career goals and work-life balance. “I live outside of Michigan and when I began the program, I had two kids (three when I graduated!) Both my wife and I worked full-time jobs and had an active lifestyle. Without the option for an entirely online program, I would have never enrolled in a master’s program or been able to succeed in balancing all my commitments. I definitely had some packed days, but I also got really good at planning ahead and managing my time.”
When Carr considers the cybersecurity landscape, he is concerned about the threat that a large-scale cyber-attack could have. “I think cyberwarfare is a very real and scary thing. Technical advancements should be treated in much the same way as other weapons—a race between offense and defense. The threat is real, the technology and tactics are getting more sophisticated, and our society is becoming increasingly dependent on technology. Meanwhile, the average person often sees security as a silly hindrance to their normal day-to-day activities.”
And helping people guard their data in an everyday context is important. Carr has seen a rise in phishing scams in recent months. His company’s security measures catch these threats, but he notes that they can look very credible, and he can see why end users might respond. Normalizing the best practices in data security is a critical priority for organizations of all sizes.
Crediting the cybersecurity master’s degree with helping to open up new career opportunities and giving him a well-rounded background, Carr’s advice for potential students is: “Reach out to one of the professors while you are considering the master’s program. I was concerned there would be programming languages I would need to learn in order to be successful. This was only true for one of the courses I took, but my preconception was that I wasn’t qualified to even begin because I didn’t have a strong academic background in computer science prior to the program. My talks with professors helped me see that I could be successful, nudged me into the initial courses, and eventually I decided to pursue the full master’s degree.”
The master’s in cybersecurity checked all the boxes for Carr: a thorough background in cybersecurity and data management, career advancement, and the flexibility that an online degree offers those with a busy lifestyle.
For more information about the cybersecurity program, inquire online.