The threats facing the United States are diverse and ever-evolving. In its 2024 homeland threat assessment, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) highlighted a range of threats: domestic and foreign terrorism, drug trafficking, climate change and natural disasters, influence operations by hostile nation-states and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.
Because cyberattacks can impact so many different infrastructure sectors — energy, finance, communications, manufacturing and emergency services, to name a few — cybersecurity is one of the core components of DHS operations, particularly as the scale, sophistication and frequency of these attacks continue to increase.
According to Statista, federal agencies reported more than 32,000 cybersecurity incidents in 2023, a 5 percent increase from the previous year. Recent examples of notable cyberattacks that threatened national security and stability include:
In light of these threats, demand for cybersecurity experts at the federal level is high. Individuals with the right mix of education, experience and skills can pursue any of a variety of Homeland Security careers, each of which offers the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on national security.
The Department of Homeland Security was formed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, when 22 different federal departments and agencies were consolidated into a single, unified Cabinet department as a way to achieve greater interagency collaboration.
Today, DHS comprises 16 distinct agencies, including the following:
Through its various agencies, the department tackles the most pressing threats and public safety concerns facing the nation, handling everything from disaster response and infrastructure protection to border security and cybersecurity. The department works closely with many federal, state and local agencies to achieve its mission.
The following are some recent examples that illustrate what Homeland Security does.
DHS is instrumental in fighting against cartels and other transnational criminal organizations (TCO) to stem their human trafficking and drug trafficking operations. For example, the department reports that in 2024 it seized more than 27,000 pounds of fentanyl and arrested over 3,600 suspects connected to criminal networks involved in producing and distributing fentanyl.
In recent years, the U.S. has experienced significant numbers of border crossings straining the nation’s immigration system. Border security is a major part of DHS’s mission, including having responsibility for limiting the influx of noncitizens and preventing drug smuggling, particularly at the southern border.
DHS works to address the climate crisis in multiple ways, including:
Cybersecurity is an important part of Homeland Security’s mission, stretching across virtually every agency within the department. Bolstering the nation’s cyber infrastructure and policies achieves several aims, including strengthening the supply chain and helping ensure the resilience of fair and free elections.
Because of the highly important and often sensitive nature of the work DHS does, getting a job with the department requires more than simply filling out an application and submitting a resume. Aspiring employees typically need to meet certain prerequisites to qualify for many roles.
While each agency housed within the department has its own specific criteria for applicants, the general minimum requirements for all agencies include:
Depending on the type of job they’re seeking, prospective DHS employees may also have to apply for secret or top-secret security clearance, which allows them to have access to classified information and secure facilities. This entails providing at least 10 years of personal information — including where they’ve lived, worked and gone to school, as well as any military history or police records they have — and maybe more, depending on the level of access they need.
This process, which typically involves multiple rounds of interviews as well, can take a few months to complete.
In addition to these general requirements, applicants for Homeland Security jobs need to meet a baseline level of education and experience, which can vary based on the type of role.
At a minimum, DHS employees generally need to have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field. Depending on the career path they’re interested in, a degree in homeland security, criminal justice, criminology, emergency management or cybersecurity can help job seekers stand out. The programs for these degrees equip students with foundational skills and expertise in fields that align with DHS roles.
Some positions may require a graduate degree, such as a master’s, particularly for more specialized roles or those that involve leadership responsibilities.
Many DHS careers also require some form of previous practical experience. Individuals can gain this experience through an internship or apprenticeship, such as one of those offered by DHS itself.
For example, DHS has internship and apprenticeship programs specifically designed for cybersecurity students. These programs provide current students with opportunities to work alongside cybersecurity leaders at DHS, enabling them to apply the concepts, practices and tools they learn about in the classroom in real-world scenarios and settings. Forensics analysis, intrusion detection and prevention, data management and network operations are among the areas explored in these programs.
Successful Homeland Security professionals possess a broad skill set, comprising technical expertise as well as important analytical and interpersonal skills. Regardless of the type of job they have, DHS professionals can benefit from having skills in the following areas:
DHS employs more than 260,000 people who carry out the department’s mission across various arenas, including maritime and border security, emergency response, public health and cybersecurity.
For those seeking a job where they can help safeguard the nation, there is plenty of variety when it comes to careers in Homeland Security, including many roles that call for cybersecurity expertise.
Cybersecurity is one of the most urgent concerns for DHS, with the U.S. regularly facing a range of types of cyberthreats from criminals and hostile nation-states. DHS runs its cybersecurity operations primarily through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency — though cybersecurity is a concern for every agency within DHS.
Cybersecurity analysts at DHS protect national security by monitoring computer systems and networks, identifying threats and responding to cyberattacks. They perform various types of intelligence analysis to assess threats, such as counterintelligence analysis, which involves identifying specific threats posed by foreign adversaries in order to counter them, and open-source intelligence analysis, which involves assessing publicly available data to proactively identify threats.
Their other core responsibilities include:
Given the high-priority, high-stakes nature of their job, cybersecurity analysts are generally well compensated, and there is significant demand for their skills. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for information security analysts was $120,360 as of May 2023.
Employment of cybersecurity analysts is projected to grow by 33 percent between 2023 and 2033, creating more than 59,000 new jobs.
Another Homeland Security role with an emphasis on cybersecurity and intelligence is that of cryptographers, who protect sensitive information from unauthorized access by converting it into an unreadable format using coded algorithms. They may also crack encrypted code to uncover threats to national security.
Some common responsibilities of cryptographers, including those who work for DHS, are:
Cryptographers play a vital role in cybersecurity efforts and possess a highly specialized skill set that often enables them to earn upward of six figures. According to Payscale data from November 2023, the median annual salary for a cryptographer was approximately $115,200. Numerous factors can influence an individual cryptographer’s earnings, such as their geographic location and their particular role.
The BLS projects robust job growth for a variety of information technology professions over the next decade. Given the critical role they play in protecting sensitive data and identifying security threats, there will likely be significant demand for cryptographers in the coming years, particularly as cybercriminals refine their methods.
Cyberattacks can substantially disrupt critical transportation systems, from freight rail to commercial aviation systems, posing a significant threat to national security.
A ransomware attack on Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in August 2024 resulted in stolen data and caused multiday outages in the airport’s internet, phone, email and other systems. In 2021, Chinese hackers penetrated New York City’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) computer systems. While no data was stolen or compromised, the hack exposed vulnerabilities in the country’s largest transportation network.
Transportation security specialists with TSA help bolster the security efforts of transportation entities across multiple sectors by contributing to cybersecurity policy. Their work is vital in identifying threats to the nation’s transportation infrastructure and preventing cyberattacks. Their responsibilities include:
According to a November 2024 listing on USAJOBS — a job search site for federal employment opportunities — the salary range for a transportation security specialist position with TSA was between $82,800 and $153,300.
Advancements in technology, including increased automation and digitalization, have made transportation systems more effective and efficient, but they have also heightened these systems’ vulnerability to cyberthreats. According to the World Economic Forum, the maritime industry alone experienced a 467 percent increase in successful ransomware attacks between 2023 and 2024.
Given the transportation sector’s societal and economic importance, there will likely be continued demand for specialists who can minimize these vulnerabilities, including transportation security specialists. The BLS notes that overall employment of professionals in a wide range of transportation occupations is expected to grow over the next decade.
As cyberthreats to national security continue to escalate in frequency, scope and sophistication, the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals is more critical than ever. Within the Department of Homeland Security, these experts play a vital role in national security by protecting our borders, transportation systems and infrastructure.
If you want to contribute to bolstering the nation’s cyberdefense, the Master of Arts in Intelligence and Security Studies program at Augusta University Online can equip you with the future-ready skills you’ll need to pursue a Homeland Security career. In our fully online program, we can help you prepare to become an industry leader by developing your expertise in the following areas:
AU Online is designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by DHS and the National Security Agency (NSA), making it a destination for those seeking to launch or advance their careers in intelligence and cybersecurity.
Discover how Augusta University Online can shape you into a skilled cyberdefense expert in less than a year.
Recommended Readings
Security Architect: Salary and Job Description
Handling Cyber Conflict in Military Operations
Digital Forensic Examiner: Salary and Job Description
Sources:
Associated Press, “Apparent Cyberattack Leaves Seattle Airport Facing Major Internet Outages”
CBS News, “MTA Says Hackers Breached Its Systems in April But No Threat Was Posed to Public”
Center for Strategic and International Studies, Significant Cyber Incidents
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Cyber Defense Analyst
FBI, The Cyber Threat
FBI, Meet the Cyber Action Team
Indeed, “How to Become a Homeland Security Agent”
SentinelOne, “Top 7 Cyber Attacks in the United States”
Statista, Number of Cyber Security Incident Reports by Federal Agencies in the United States From FY 2006 to 2022
USAJOBS, Special Agent — Cybersecurity/Technology Background
USAJOBS, Transportation Security Specialist (Cyber Analyst)
USAJOBS, What Are Background Checks and Security Clearances?
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Information Security Analysts
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Police and Detectives
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, About DHS
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Addressing Climate Change
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Combating Fentanyl
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Cybersecurity Student Programs
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, History
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, “Homeland Threat Assessment 2024”
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, In Focus
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Operational and Support Components
World Economic Forum, “Why Transport and Supply Chain Ecosystems Need to be Cyber Secured”
