| What is the Cyber Security Certificate? |
Cyber Security is a career that has the responsibility to protect the Information assets of the entity that employs them. Cyber Technicians perform different functions in this effort. These functions include detecting and preventing cyber-attacks, monitoring network activity to prevent internal attacks, encryption techniques, disaster and incident recovery, auditing, and system testing.
The Cyber Security certificate is designed to provide students with an understanding of the concepts, principles and techniques required in the field of computer information systems. Program graduates receive a cybersecurity certificate. Technical courses apply to the degree or diploma program in cybersecurity. |
| Length of Program |
3 semesters minimum |
| Semester Program Begins |
Fall, spring, and summer semesters. |
| Application Process |
Applicants to the Computer Programming program must meet all Admission requirements; complete an application and pay the application fee. Individuals apply to Gwinnett Technical College at GwinnettTech.edu and submit all transcripts from high school and previous college work, and take the ACCUPLACER test, if required.
Students applying for this program must be accepted into the Networking or Cybersecurity degree or diploma program. |
| Program Prerequisites and Courses |
Diploma level proficiency in English, reading, and math. Some courses may have additional prerequisites which are not included in the program curriculum. For specific prerequisites please refer to the course descriptions in the online catalog.
CIST 1001 *
CIST 1401 *
*These courses should be taken in the first semester. |
| Program Deadlines |
You may enter in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. |
| Program Costs and Requirements |
Tuition and books. |
| For more information, contact: |
Garfield Anderson, Dean of Computer Science, GAnderson@GwinnettTech.edu, 678.226.6505. |
| For admission and enrollment, contact: |
Enrollment Support Center in Building 100 at the Lawrenceville campus, or Building A at the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus, or email CISTeam@GwinnettTech.edu. |
Quick Facts
| 2017 Median pay |
$90,120 per year/ $43.33 per hour |
| Entry level education |
Associate degree |
| Number of jobs, 2017 |
82,900 |
| Job growth, 2017 - 2024 |
18% (much faster than average) |
Nature of the Work
Monitor their organization’s networks for security breaches and investigate a violation when one occurs. Install and use software, such as firewalls and data encryption programs, to protect sensitive information. Prepare reports that document security breaches and the extent of the damage caused by the breaches. Conduct penetration testing, which in when analysts simulate attacks to look for vulnerabilities in their systems before they can be exploited. Research the latest Information Technology (IT) security trends. Help plan and carry out an organization’s way of handling security. Develop security standards and best practices for their organization. Recommend security enhancements to management or senior IT staff. Help computer users when they need to install or learn about new security products and procedures.
Work Environment
Most information security analysts works full time. Information security analysts sometimes have to be on call outside of normal business hours in case of an emergency at their organization. While there are some work from home jobs, most are on-site in an office, Network Operations Center, or Security Operations Center. About 1 in 4 worked more than 40 hours per week in 2014.
Employment
Employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 18 percent from 2017 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for information security analysts is expected to be very high. Cyberattacks have grown in frequency, and analysts will be needed to come up with innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or creating problems for computer networks. The Federal government is expected to greatly increase its use of information security analysts to protect the nation’s critical information technology (IT) systems. In addition, as the healthcare industry expands its use of electronic medical records, ensuring patients’ privacy and protecting personal data are becoming more important. More information security analysts are likely to be needed to create the safeguards that will satisfy patients’ concerns. Employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 36 percent in computer systems design and related services from 2017 to 2024. The increasing adoption of cloud services by small and medium sized businesses that do not have their own dedicated IT departments could increase the employment of information security analysts in those establishments.
Earnings
Median annual wages nationally of cyber security professionals were $90,120 in May 2015. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $51,280 and the top 10 percent earned more than $143,770.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Information Security Analysts, on the Internet
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm (visited April 29, 2016).
The Gwinnett Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
Lisa Richardson, Section 504/ADA, Title IX and Equity Coordinator, Building 100, Room 708, 678.226.6691, LRichardson@GwinnettTech.edu
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