Getting Started Working in Cyber Security in Ohio

Gaining an education within the cyber security sector is easy and flexible in the state of Ohio. There are a handful of programs at various levels and most associates and Bachelor’s degree will not require any prior work experience and little to no computer science classwork. JP Morgan Chase, CDW, and Accenture are some popular companies to work for in the cyber security industry.

• Undergraduate Degrees:

  At Columbus State Community College, the Associate of Applied Sciences has a Cybersecurity Major option for students that are looking to break into entry-level work opportunities or to be more prepared for programs at larger universities. They can also use this program to prepare themselves for certification exams. Six semesters will be needed to complete the program, and the equates to two years when adding a few classes during the summer term. There are subject requirements within arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and natural and physical sciences. Course examples include Linux Essentials, Statistical Concepts for Businesses, and Computer Forensics and Incident Response.

  Ohio State University has a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science and Engineering with various concentrations available, one of them being in Information and Computation Assurance. This provides a general education experience within the complicated topics of computer science and computer engineering, giving students background knowledge, and they pick a path to go down. For this specific concentration, there are required courses of Computer Networking and Internet Technologies, and Information Security, and an option between Information Security Projects and Network Security.

• Masters and Continuing Education:

  There are a few schools that have been accredited in cyber operations, and one of those is a Master of Science in Computer Engineering and a Graduate Certificate of Proficiency in Cyber Operations at the University of Cincinnati. In addition to Wright State University, the Air Force Institute of Technology is also accredited in cyber defense. There are Master and Doctoral degrees, with the former lasting approximately 18 months and start times are available in August. The following Master’s degrees are offered: Master of Computer Science, Master of Electrical Engineering, and cyber security concentrations within the Master of Computer Engineering and the Master of Science in Computer Operations.

• Cyber Security Employment Options:

  Entry-level and mid-level opportunities in cyber security are available in abundance in some of Ohio’s biggest cities. An information security analyst at JP Morgan Chase will have duties such as reviewing business processes and determining what the right software and hardware solutions should be for network security, work with others to implement these security features and make sure that all workers are able to follow company policies, and to find and eliminate any intrusion efforts and other unauthorized access. At least a Bachelor’s degree is recommended for this position.

Ohio Cyber Security Careers

Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati are three of the major cities in the state, and they have the most offerings for cyber security careers. According to CompTIA, Ohio is one of the top 10 states in terms of employing tech jobs and adding more opportunities in America. Systems and cyber security analysts account for around 34,000 positions statewide, and IT services have seen a 2.2 percent year-over-year growth.

Top Cyber Security and Tech Employers and Organizations in Ohio

One of the most employed cities for cyber security careers in Ohio is Columbus, and JPMorgan Chase has numerous positions available, such as information security associates, incident operations analyst, and threat intelligence engineer. The latter job puts the worker on the corporate technology team and will be strategizing and developing how to protect company and client data. Skills needed to success in this position include knowledge in computer programming languages like Java and Python, being able to pay close attention to detail, and be able to create IT projects on a specific budget.