Cyber Operations Overview

Every security incident leaves a trail. The question is whether you know how to follow it.

The Cyber Operations concentration puts you inside the technical side of cybersecurity, where you’ll get hands-on experience studying malware, recovering digital evidence, analyzing algorithms, and investigating how systems become compromised. Rather than learning security from a policy perspective, you’ll learn how attacks unfold and how experienced practitioners uncover what happened.

Through virtual labs, you’ll practice both sides of real attack scenarios to develop a cybersecurity skill set that directly maps to the roles organizations are competing to fill.

No.18

Our program was ranked the No. 18 Best Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Degree Programs according to Intelligent.com (2025).

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Core Skills You’ll Master

Graduates of the Cyber Operations concentration build expertise in:

  • Mobile device forensics and digital evidence collection
  • Algorithmic analysis and computing theory applied to security problems
  • Malware analysis, reverse engineering, and source code auditing
  • Penetration testing and ethical hacking across web applications and enterprise systems
  • Network architecture, intrusion detection, and threat intelligence
  • Security operations and incident response

Where This Concentration Takes You

Cyber operations professionals are in demand across government, defense, financial services, healthcare, and the private sector. According to Lightcast labor market data, graduates of this concentration are prepared for technical security roles including:

Role
Median Annual Salary

Cybersecurity Architect
$151,300

Big Data Architect
$143,100

Cybersecurity Consultant
$141,000

Cyber Security Analyst
$115,100

Cyber Crime Investigator
$84,082

Source: Lightcast

Cyber Operations Curriculum

The concentration consists of three required courses. These courses can also be taken as electives without the formal concentration.

Cyber Operations Concentration (0-9 Credits)

These courses can also be taken as electives without the concentration.

The field of mobile forensics has expanded exponentially over the past few years as more of our lives are captured on smartphones and other mobile devices. This course will provide students with an overview of cellular networks and the various devices that operate on these networks. Moreover, an in-depth analysis of the file systems and operating systems, including iOS and Android platforms will be explained. Students will have the opportunity to use professional mobile forensic tools utilized to examine mobile telephones, SIM cards, media cards, and synced data on paired computers in a forensic manner. The course will introduce students to professional investigative techniques, legal procedures, and reporting standards necessary to build a successful case. Other topics in the course will include investigations involving tablet computers, digital cameras, multimedia players, and Global Positioning System (GPS) electronics.

The purpose of this course is to acquire a thorough grounding in the core principles and foundations of computer science. Students will learn methods for expressing and comparing algorithm complexity (worst- and average-case upper bounds, lower bounds) as well as to verify correctness. Algorithm-design techniques (divide-and-conquer, dynamic programming) as well as data structures (trees, heaps, hash tables) widely used in modern software development will be studied. The knowledge gained will be applied to a variety of practical problems, such as searching, sorting, and graph problems (shortest paths, minimum spanning trees). The question of what problems are hard to compute will be addressed with an introduction to NP-completeness theory, including the development of the NP-complete classification and the identification of NP-hard problems by reductions.

This course provides fundamental knowledge of secure software development methodologies and applied security topics related to compiled programs. In-depth coverage of source code auditing, fuzzing, introduction to reverse engineering, and exploitation will be emphasized.

Complete the MS in Cybersecurity in 10 Courses

Understand how to identify and counter security risks as well as implement protective measures.

Learn More About The Concentration

Frequently Asked Questions

Cyber Operations focuses on the technical side of security and teaches you to investigate incidents, analyze malware, test systems, and solve technical security problems. It’s designed for students who enjoy working with technology.

Cybersecurity Leadership takes a different approach. Its coursework centers on governance, risk management, compliance, and security strategy to prepare you to lead security programs and teams.

Yes. All three Cyber Operations courses are also available as electives. You can take one or two without committing to the full concentration.

A foundational background in computer science or a related field is helpful for the online MS in Cybersecurity as a whole. The program requires three prerequisite courses covering computational statistics, an introduction to coding, and business data communications before core coursework begins. Students who complete those prerequisites are well positioned for the technical demands of this concentration.

Not Sure Cyber Operations Is Your Path?

The Pace online MS in Cybersecurity offers a second concentration, as well as the flexibility to design your own. Explore the other options:

Cybersecurity Leadership

Build the policy, risk management, and governance skills that senior security roles.

Build Your Own Path

Draw from both concentrations and the broader elective list to build a curriculum that fits your goals.

Explore the Curriculum

Contact Us

Email
seidenbergonline@pace.edu

Phone Number
(914) 758-1080

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