Getting Started Working in Cyber Security in Maryland

There are a tremendous amount of educational options when it comes to the cyber security industry, and that comes as no surprise with the wealth of government agencies, military services, and over a dozen of the top cyber security companies in the world located in the state. Whether it is a two-year specialized degree in a certain segment of cyber security, or looking at a convenient online Master’s program, there is something for any need in Maryland.

• Undergraduate Degrees:
  Howard Community College has a number associate degrees and certificates focused on cyber security and cyber forensics. The associate programs are geared for students that are planning to transfer to a four-year university to complete a Bachelor’s degree in a similar field. The certificate in Cyber Forensics Technology is specific to those wanting an entry-level position in the field. The 27-credit hour curriculum can be completed in three semesters, and includes an introduction to Python programming, how to maintain PCs and mobile devices, and fundamentals for the CompTIA Network+ certification.

  The Community College of Baltimore County offers an Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity. This will give eventual graduates the necessary education to begin an entry-level career, and it can be completed either online or on-campus. Holding this degree can also be a bridge to further graduate education. Required courses within the program include fundamental knowledge in firewalls, intrusion detection, and various levels of Cisco networking that aids in the vendor certification.

• Masters and Continuing Education:
  Among the many degrees offered at the University of Maryland Global Campus is the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Technology. The 36-credit hour program accepts up to six transfer credits, and all courses are available online. Specific courses are available in a hybrid option. Examples of core courses include Digital Forensics Technology and Practices, Prevention of Cyber Attack Methodologies, and Cyberspace and Cybersecurity Foundations. There are also a Master’s degree in Information Technology with specializations in Homeland Security Management and Information Assurance.

  Towson University offers the Master of Science in Applied Information Technology, which provides a large amount of education in how to respond to cyber attacks with computer forensics, developing the architecture of network technology, and information security and assurance. All categories are separated into graduate certificates, and students pick one to specialize in. 15 credit hours make up the concentration, while the remaining 18 credit hours are reserved for electives in computer science, human resources, management, and technical writing.

• Cyber Security Employment Options:
  For a change of pace, the United States Naval Academy has a major in Cyber Operations that explores technical and nontechnical portions of cyber security. Topics such as programming, information assurance, cryptography, and digital forensics will coincide with ethics, law, communication, leadership, and other soft skills. Specific courses available within this field include Computer and Network Security, Advanced Computer Networks, and Advanced Web and Internet Systems.

Maryland Cyber Security Careers

The state of Maryland is one of the top states for information security analysts, both in opportunities and salary. The average amount that cyber security professionals make is over $108,000, and that balloons to over $160,000 in the 90th percentile according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The metropolitan area of Baltimore, Columbia, and Towson is the seventh-largest in the country with over 2,610 employees with an average salary of over $110,000. Not only is this location one of the highest-concentrated areas for this sector, Maryland holds the third-highest concentration of workers, only below Virginia and Washington DC.

Top Cyber Security and Tech Employers and Organizations

Maryland provides numerous job opportunities within the federal government, military, or professional service organizations all in the cyber security sector. Not only is the NSA itself located at Fort Meade, but there is also the Defense Information Systems Agency and the Department of Defense’s Cyber Crime Center. The latter was formed in 1998 and is located in Linthicum. Its goals are to provide the training in exposing vulnerabilities and developing security solutions on a national scale. Workers that are able to achieve ethical hacking licensure are able to enhance their protection procedures with penetration testing creating vulnerability reports.