| What is a Cyber Technician? |
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 diploma is designed to provide students with an understanding of the concepts, principles, and techniques required in computer information processing. Program graduates receive a cybersecurity diploma.
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| Semester Program Begins |
Fall, spring, and summer semesters. |
| Application Process |
Applicants to the Cybersecurity 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. |
| Program Prerequisites |
1. Degree level proficiency is required to take degree level General Education courses.
2. Diploma level proficiency in English, reading and math is required for most CIST technical courses. Please refer to course descriptions in the online catalog for specific prerequisites.
3. Diploma level proficiency is required to take diploma level General Education courses.
FYES 1000 *
CIST 1001 *
CIST 1122 *
*These courses should be taken in the first semester.
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| Program Deadlines |
You may enter in the fall, spring or summer semesters. |
| Program Costs and Requirements |
Tuition and books |
| For more information, contact: |
Albena Asenova Belal, program director, abelal@gwinnetttech.edu, 678.226.6671 |
| 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
(This data was compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
| 2020 Median pay |
$103,590 per year / $49.80 per hour |
| Entry level education |
Associate degree |
| Number of jobs, 2020 |
141,200 |
| Job Growth, 2020 - 2030 |
33% (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 Cyber 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 cyber security analysts works full time. Cyber 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.
Employment
Employment of cyber security analysts is projected to grow 32 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for cyber 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. Banks and financial institutions, as well as other types of corporations, will need to increase their cyber security capabilities in the face of growing cybersecurity threats. 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 cyber security analysts are likely to be needed to create the safeguards that will satisfy patients’ concerns. Employment of cyber security analysts is projected to grow 55 percent in computer systems design and related services from 2018 to 2028. The increasing adoption of cloud services by small and medium-sized businesses and a rise in cybersecurity threats will create demand for managed security services providers in this industry.
Earnings
The median annual wage for information security analysts was $103,590 in May 2020. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $60,060, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $163,300.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Cyber Security Analysts, on the Internet
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm
(visited January 03, 2022).
Memberships and Affiliations
National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C)
Gwinnett Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Lisa Richardson, Title IX, and Section 504 Coordinator, 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Building 100, Room 407, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, 678-226-6691, LRichardson@GwinnettTech.edu.
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