Reference no: EM133550658

Physical or Cyber Security 

While growing up I was always interested in how computers were built. As I grew up, I still maintained that interest in computers, however I had taken steps to learn how to troubleshoot problems with them and learned how to build them. As I finished high school and started my career and to further my education, I decided to continue my career in computer hardware and started getting my degree in CIS user support. However now I have had thoughts of switching careers and changing my education. Today, I will be looking at the different requirements for being a hardware technician and cyber security technician based on certifications, salary, and degrees.  

While on my search for which certification are recommended for a hardware technician, I stumbled upon Indeed.com. Indeed, a job searching website that I have been using to find a new job, has a section where they recommend the "7 Top Hardware Certifications for Computer Technicians," and I will go over the top 3. Of the seven certifications in the list, I already have one, the CompTIA IT Fundamentals+. The first recommendation is the Apple Certified Macintosh technician. This is a certificate that shows you know how to repair and diagnose apple computers. The prerequisites are that you be an apple technician and you take a three-hundred-dollar class. The second is Cisco Certified Technician; this certification establishes that you can diagnose, test, repair, and restore Cisco devices. The third one is Microsoft Technology Associate; this shows that you are understanding multiple IT platforms, software, and other components. 

After I started my search on Cyber Security certifications, a website called coursera.org had an article titled "10 Popular Cybersecurity Certifications [2023 Updated]." I do not have any of these certifications, however I was planning to work towards my Security +. Infact CompTIA Security+ is the most obtained security certification around. It is an entry level security certification that shows you know and understand the core skills that are required for cyber security. The next certification is Certified Information Systems Security Professional. This certification is the most sought out for since it shows you are an experienced security technician. The third certification is Certified Information Systems Auditor. This shows that you are experienced in finding and assessing security vulnerabilities. 

With certifications down, salaries were up next. I decided to use Indeed.com to use the salary finder implemented on the website. After thinking for a way to work It hardware technician, I decided to use IT Technician as my word of choice. In West Carrollton, Ohio, the average salary for an IT Technician is around $19.01 per hour, or $57,992 per year. As for cyber security, the average salary for a Cybersecurity specialist is $37.75 per hour, or $75,501 per year. Looking at this, I am slowly towards switching careers however I still want to look at potential degrees for both career options.  

For the Degrees, I decided to look at 3 different schools for both jobs. The schools I will be looking at are Sinclair, Wright State, and Ohio University. For Sinclair I will be looking at my current degree, Computer information Systems/User Support. In this course the minimal tuition is $8,433.86 for the entire course. For Wright State, there is no major for Information Technology, however they do have an undergraduate degree that would come to around $44,992 if I lived on campus and $25,076 if I lived off campus. Ohio University has a degree called Computer Technology Major. If I were to live on campus and do four years for the degree, it would cost $106,296. 

Now for Cyber Security I do not believe it will be much more different for Ohio University which will be $106,296, However I do think there will be a cost difference for Wright State and Sinclair. For Sinclair we will be using Cyber Investigation Technology. For the total cost, the minimum cost would be $8297.83 not including any class fees. For wright state I will be using Science in Information Technology and Cybersecurity. This will bring me to $89,984 if I decide to live on campus and $50,152 if I lived off campus. 

After my evaluation's finding, I believe I have decided which one I will do. I will finish m y current degree which is CIS User Support from Sinclair and then transfer all credits I can over to Wright State. The reason for this is that way I can start my career in Information Technology so I can save up to go to Wright State and get my bachelor's in Science in Information Technology and Cyber Security. 

1. On what criteria is the evaluation based??(Are these clearly established? If not, make suggestions.)
2. What is the thesis statement (criteria) of the paper? Is it clear by the end of the introduction what the writer will be evaluating, and on what criteria? Any suggestions?
3. Is the evaluation clear? Are judgments supported by examples? Is there too much summary or description? Is the evaluation fair and balanced?
4. Does the opening paragraph grab your attention? Does it give enough information to orient the reader to the topic and establish the writer's credibility? Too much? Too little?
5. Does the writer sound knowledgeable and fair? Does she/he anticipate and address other viewpoints? Make suggestions for improvement.
6. If the author has included an extended analogy, is it creative? Does it address both items that are being compared with explicit details? What can be done to improve it?
7. Does the conclusion successfully close the paper and persuade you to agree with the writer? Any suggestions for a better ending?
8. What is the greatest strength of the paper? What's the biggest weakness? (Please consider grammar/spelling errors and suggest tutoring if needed.)
9. Does the essay sound like a summary or provide too much detail without making a clear judgment? Help the writer see where she/he can be more objective.