Getting Started Working in Cyber Security in New Jersey

Whether prospective students need to gain foundational education in cyber security or seasoned workers in information technology are looking to break into the field, New Jersey has a wide variety of accredited options.

Many of the higher-level options have online course access or night sessions to provide flexibility for professionals that would rather continue working while obtaining a degree. For those looking for advanced positions, New Jersey is one of the higher-paying states for security analysts.

• Undergraduate Degrees:
  The Brookdale Cyber Center has been designated as one of the CAEs in cyber defense and has a focus to eliminate the shortage of workers in the cyber security industry. Two grants have given the college an ability to give scholarships and stipends to students that are pursuing a cyber security degree, and there is a specialized lab that provides valuable hands-on experience so students are more prepared when entering their career. An Associate of Applied Sciences in Network Information Technology can be obtained to gain abilities to create, maintain, and optimize a company’s network regardless of what vendor is used, and there is a certification that is geared toward students that have IT experience but are looking to transition into a cyber security job.

  The Schaefer School of Engineering and Science at Stevens Institute of Technology has a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. This program consists of various computer science and mathematics courses mixed in with network security education, and it is available on-campus only. The curriculum will also feature five electives that are divided up with two in computer science, two are related to cyber security, and there is a free option that is approved by the program advisor. Students that have taken this program have gone on to become security analysts, information security engineers, and senior IT auditors.

• Masters and Continuing Education:
  A graduate certificate in Information Assurance and Cyber Security is available at New Jersey City University for those that are looking for an alternative to a Master’s program. This requires four courses to complete: a general overview of Cyber Security, Computer Security Topics, Security and Privacy of Information and Information Systems, and Information Security Strategy and Policy Development. Those that wish to pursue a Master’s degree at a later time can use these credits toward the Master of Science in National security Studies offered by the university.

  If the certification is not enough at Rutgers, their Master of Business and Science degree has a concentration in Cybersecurity. This is a unique blend of cyber security courses along with business administration and computer science courses. There are additional pathways that students can take within Cybersecurity, which includes Digital Forensics, Technical Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Management, Computer Forensics and Big Data, and Cybersecurity Management and Policy. All of these specializations will require an undergraduate degree with specific coursework based on the option selected. It is recommended that all students have some IT and computer programming experience before taking this program.

• Cyber Security Employment Options:
  Jersey City, Florham Park, and Princeton are some of the cities in the state of New Jersey that have plenty of cyber security opportunities for those that are looking to break into the industry, with companies such as Deloitte, Verizon, and BNY Mellon all in the area. Example job positions include security analysts, network security engineers, IT associates, project managers in the cyber security sector, and risk management consultant.

New Jersey Cyber Security Careers

While New Jersey is a bit lower in tech occupation representation when compared to other states in the Northeast, they still have the 14th-most employed and it represents 7.9 percent of the entire state workforce according to CompTIA.

Cyber security occupations are on the lower end when compared to software development and network architecture. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Jersey is the second-highest state for annual salary for information security analysts at over $121,000, and that is only lower than New York.

New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell

One of the best governmental organizations in the state that provides awareness in cyber security activity is the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC).

Their bureau protects the state government networks with their own risk analysis, penetration testing, and auditing, and they provide security information to all citizens, businesses, and institutions in real-time through their website and social media. Those in the state are also encouraged to report any hazards to their officers to help identify the attack and prevent further intrusions.