The University of Central Florida’s Online MS in Digital Forensics

The University of Central Florida has an online program, the Master of Science in Digital Forensics, through the College of Engineering and Computer Science that has a specific focus on the investigation process of cyber crime.

30 credit hours are needed to complete the program with an option to choose a thesis or two additional electives. Categories to choose courses from include computing, criminal justice and electronic discovery, and forensic science and legal studies. While the program can be completed fully online, not all elective options will be available.

Students selecting the thesis option will have an on-campus requirement to defend their project. At least 50 percent of a student’s curriculum must contain courses at the 6000-level. Going into the program, students must have proper prerequisites from prior undergraduate work or related work experience established.

Getting Started Working in Cyber Security in Florida

18 different institutions have been designated as CAEs, with a handful of them being two-year institutions that offer associates degrees, and the vast majority being accredited in cyber defense and research for more thorough programs.

• Undergraduate Degrees:
  Florida State College at Jacksonville offers an Associate in Science in IT Security that explores subjects such as digital forensics, penetration testing, and the preparation for completing a vendor certification, such as CompTIA Security+. The program requires 60 total credits, and with its accelerated path, can be completed in less than two years. Coursework is divided up with a quarter of the curriculum being general education, and the remainder focusing on cyber security. To pass the program, students need to have at least a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and a quarter of the curriculum must be completed at the college.

  There are multiple programs to consider at St. Petersburg College. One of the associate degrees focuses specifically on Digital Forensics and Computer Investigations. Students will be able to use tools to detect intrusion attempts and fraudulent activity within a network, such as hacking or software piracy. Core courses include Identity Theft Investigations and Legal Aspects of Computer Related Criminal Investigations. An alternative path is completing a Certification in Cybersecurity, which requires 18 credit hours to obtain and is perfect those looking at network support or technician opportunities.

• Masters and Continuing Education:
  Florida State University offers a Master of Science in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity major. There are prerequisites needed in the discipline from an undergraduate program. 30 credit hours are needed to satisfy the degree, and specific courses that are required in the specialization include Cryptography, Computer and Network Administration, and Theory of Automata and Formal Languages. A certification within Information Security will be gained with this major. Within the core curriculum, at least one course needs to be completed in the categories of software, systems, and theory.

  On the main campus at the University of South Florida, and handful of graduate certifications can be obtained in the subject of cyber security. There is also a Master’s degree in the category with concentrations in Cyber Intelligence and Digital Forensics. There is no specific educational background in order to apply for the program, but prospective students should be able to be proficient in technology and security.

• Cyber Security Employment Options:
  The Florida Center for Cybersecurity, better known as Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida, is an organization that is focused to bringing in talented workers within the industry and helping to bolster the cyber security community in the state. They work with all 12 state universities as well as government agencies to build networking opportunities for professionals, summer camps for grade school children to establish early knowledge in network security and its importance, and research symposiums and conferences provide a path for established professionals to come together and discuss the latest innovations in the field.

Florida Cyber Security Careers

Thanks to a vast number of university program options and resources throughout the state, Florida has the fifth-highest employment level for cyber security professionals in the United States. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 5,600 are employed in the sector. Some of the biggest concentrations of workers are located in the metropolitan areas of Crestview,Fort Walton Beach, and Destin, and Palm Bay, Melbourne, and Titusville. Salary sits a bit lower than the US median at $91,950 on average, with the extreme averages sitting between $52,490 and $139,000 annually.

Top Cyber Security and Tech Employers and Organizations

Two of the biggest cyber security organizations in the state are Harris and Citrix. The Harris Land Mobile Radio networks protects wireless communications that meets federal government standards, those working in cyber security will help implement this protection to clients and the other tools it offers, such as data recovery, patching the operating system, and network hardening to prevent intrusions and outside attacks. Citrix offers a number of products within the digital workspace and networking, which includes security analytics and firewall defenses. They also offer services such as educating clients to fully optimize Citrix products and creating the best end-user experience.