Decorative Decorative

Network Defense
Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity

Be the first line of defense for organizational networks and elevate your career as a cybersecurity professional. The MS in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, Network Defense at Capella prepares you to assess, develop and implement solutions that safeguard information assets in today’s complex digital environment. You’ll acquire hands-on experience in our virtual lab, managing real-time responses to security breaches and performing vulnerability assessments using Nessus®. Plus, you’ll gain the knowledge to prepare for certifications like the CEH, CNDA, and CISSP®.  

Gain valuable hands-on experience

Develop your agility and sharpen your skillset by participating in an immersive, gamified cybersecurity training simulation where you are tasked with defending your network against threats in real-time.

Know & use cybersecurity tools

Demonstrate use of tools appropriate for the information cybersecurity professional. Analyze the existing categories of network defense tools to meet identified network defense needs.  

Take certification exams on us 

Capella offers eligible students certification exam vouchers from CompTIA, Cisco, and SAS.

Classes start April 8

Use the code WINTER to waive the $50 application fee.

At a glance

  • Online
  • 6 Core courses
  • 5 Specialization courses
  • Capstone

Reduce your tuition by $2,500

Enroll in a qualified program and apply for a $2.5K Capella Progress Reward, a scholarship to help fund your master’s degree. Eligibility rules and exclusions apply. Connect with us for details.

What can you do with an MS in IAC Network Defense degree?

Your education can help you reach your professional and personal goals. While Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific career outcome, such as a job title, promotion, or salary increase, we encourage you to explore potential jobs and employment settings. Here are some ideas and examples for a graduate with an MS in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, Network Defense.

Job titles to explore

  • Chief information officer
  • Adjunct or part-time information security faculty
  • Security engineer
  • Information security officer
  • Network engineer
  • Security architect
  • Security analyst
  • Systems engineer
  • Information security engineer
  • Cybersecurity specialist
  • Information assurance analyst
  • Network security engineer

Employment settings to explore

  • Government – local, state, federal
  • Government system integrators
  • Military
  • Consulting firms
  • Defense contractors
  • Land-based or online college or university
  • Community college
  • Publicly traded companies
  • Technology
  • Finance
  • Health care
  • Retail 

*These are examples intended to serve as a general guide. Some positions may prefer or even require previous experience, licensure, certifications, and/or other designations along with a degree. Because many factors determine what position an individual may attain, Capella cannot guarantee that a graduate will secure any specific job title, a promotion, salary increase, or other career outcome. We encourage you to research requirements for your job target and career goals.