Information security careers offer IT professionals compensation, benefits and job opportunities that exceed those of other technical disciplines. The high demand for skilled security experts fuels tremendous interest in this field and many aspiring security professionals find themselves wondering the best way to get started. Should you invest four years in earning a degree in security or are you better off diving right in and getting some hands-on work experience?

Each of these approaches offers both benefits and drawbacks and there is no one correct path to an information security career. In this article, I address each of the alternatives and provide you with the questions that you need to ask yourself as you approach this significant career decision.

Read More: “Getting Started in Security: Experience or Education?”

Published February 16, 2015 in Certification Magazine