No organization is immune from security attacks. In August 2010, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed that two years earlier it had suffered a significant compromise of classified military computer networks. And at the beginning of 2010, one of the largest online entities, Google, revealed it suffered a "highly sophisticated” and targeted hacker attack against its corporate network.

 

Because of attacks such as these—and the high value of information assets—cyber security has become a top priority. Demand for professionals with cyber security skills is growing across government and business, and there aren’t enough people to meet the need. Community Colleges are helping to close the gap.

 

A number of colleges around the country have launched cyber security programs, and they’re providing students with the skills they need to help companies and government agencies thwart the latest attacks.

 

“The government has recognized the importance of information security and has been quick to require education, training and certification of their employees,” says Al Heitcamper, head of the cyber security program at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC), which was launched in 2003.

 

 

Earlier this year, OCCC was one of six community colleges to be named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance (CAE) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The goal of the program is to reduce vulnerability in the national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in information assurance and producing a growing number of professionals with expertise in various disciplines.

 

The curriculum at OCCC consists of five core cyber security courses supplemented with courses in database, programming, operating systems, hardware, networking and general education. The program graduates about 10 students a year, and the number has risen steadily over the last several years.

 

“We are seeing a growth in cyber security majors,” Heitcamper says. “We currently have over 250 students pursuing a degree or certificate of mastery in cyber security.”

 

Heitcamper says jobs are plentiful in security, and based on anecdotal evidence, he says some former students working for the government are earning more than $75,000 per year.

 

The main challenge of operating the program is hiring and keeping qualified faculty, Heitcamper says.

 

“It is hard for someone to leave the corporate world and take the substantial cut in salary they would receive to become a faculty member,” he says.

 

 

Another Oklahoma college, Rose State College (RSC), started its program in 2003 with two instructors. Since its inception, the program has continued to grow, with more than 600 enrollments in the 2009-2010 academic year.

 

Also designated a CAE, RSC is the only two-year college in the nation to offer all six levels of certification in information assurance by the Committee on National Security System, which includes representatives from 21 U.S. federal government departments and agencies.

 

The program focuses on key areas of security, such as information assurance, secure systems administration, secure e-commerce and network security, says Ken Dewey, professor of networking and cyber security at RSC.

 

Dewey says the college has seen many of graduates obtain positions in security at the Federal Aviation Administration and Defense Information Systems Agency in Oklahoma City, as well as at organizations such as Chesapeake Energy, Dell, the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Department of Defense. They’re working as security auditors, information system security officers, help desk administrators and network engineers.

 

One of the challenges of maintaining the program has been keeping equipment up to date, Dewey says.

 

“We like to include the newest technology, and it seems to change every day,” he says. “We have also seen a decent percentage of students who are in it for the money but aren't willing to put in the time to learn the material.”

 

 

Another community college with a strong cyber security program is Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) in Maryland. AACC—another CAE—in July received a U.S. Department of Labor grant for its program. The college and its partners will receive $5 million from the department to train about 750 workers in cyber security and information assurance.

 

The college’s Cyber and Information Security program offers an associate of applied science degree, certificate, letters of recognition and stand-alone courses that prepare students for entry-level positions in cyber security and transferring to four-year institutions, says Kelly Koermer, dean of the program.

 

AACC is an active member of the CyberWATCH Center, a National Science Foundation-funded consortium of colleges, universities and industry focused on increasing the cyber workforce.

 

The AACC program and its courses prepare students for an array of industry certifications.

 

“The demand for this program is clearly evidenced by the incredible 450 percent growth in enrollments from the program’s inception in the fall ‘04 semester (40 students) to the fall ‘10 semester (217 students),” Koermer says.

 

Graduates of AACC’s cyber security program have gained employment with the federal government as well as military contractors.

 

“The starting salaries vary, but can be as high as $50,000 to $70,000 depending upon the employer, position and other industry certifications students earn in addition to their academic credential,” Koermer says. “It is a pretty good starting point and very attractive to those seeking to enter this career path.”

 

Like AACC, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College (BRCTC) in West Virginia, has benefited from a grant for its program. The college received a $220,000 West Virginia State Technology Grant to create a cyber security program that includes a certificate and associate degree track.

 

The program, which launched in fall 2010, allows students to select one of two tracks: network security hardware or network security application. 

 

“These two tracks will provide students with the knowledge to enter the cyber security workforce and/or transfer to a four-year institution for further undergraduate education,” says Michelle Morrison, cyber security program coordinator.

 

Students complete hands-on assignments that provide an overview of basic principles and security concepts, Morrison says. Among the classes offered are computer forensics, intrusion detection and cryptography.

 

The cyber security program at BRCTC was created to address the needs of government agencies and organizations and the private sector within the local West Virginia community and the Washington, D.C., metro area. Several large companies, including Northrop Grumman, have technical or security centers in the areas BRCTC serves.

 

“A degree in this field will provide students with an opportunity to work as a computer support technician, systems administrator, network administrator” and other positions, Morrison says.

 

And as demand for security expertise continues to rise, community colleges have an opportunity to help meet that demand.