Cybersecurity Degrees in Colorado

Cybersecurity Degrees in Colorado- This guide is about Colorado cybersecurity schools. It also includes details on some of the variables that are driving the state’s burgeoning cybersecurity industry.

Colorado is well-known for its breathtaking beauty, ski resorts, tourism economy, and reputation as an adventure playground. Colorado has been diversifying its economy for decades, which is a little-known fact. For a long time, it was also one of the fastest-growing state economies in the United States, though growth has slowed in 2019. On the other hand, the labour market in Colorado is exceptionally tight, which has curbed the state’s growth rate. The unemployment rate in the state is significantly lower than the national average.

Government, professional business services, education and health services, manufacturing, and leisure and hospitality were the major employers in Colorado’s economy in 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Financial services is the state’s sixth largest employer.

Technology-related occupations are predicted to be among Colorado’s fastest-growing. This is due in part to the reliance on technology that these leading businesses have.

What does this signify for those working in the field of cybersecurity? Financial services, government, professional business services, and health services are some of the industries that use cybersecurity services the most. In addition, a tight labour market means that there are few applicants for any given job positions.

Growing Importance of Cybersecurity in Colorado

As Colorado’s economy grows and diversifies, the companies that are emerging as leaders are some of the most significant employers of cybersecurity employees and services.

Because information security is so important in government, financial services, healthcare, and professional business services, there will undoubtedly be a surge in demand for cybersecurity professionals in Colorado. When you combine it with the state’s already limited labour pool, the Rocky Mountain state should be a fertile field for cybersecurity for many years to come.

Colorado’s state government has been one of the most forward-thinking in the country since 2016. The state legislature has enacted legislation to ensure that governmental resources are used effectively to tackle the growing threat of cyber-attacks. This awareness sparked a slew of new efforts.

In Colorado Springs, the National Cybersecurity Center, an infosec think tank, was created in 2016. Colorado Springs, which is located near Pikes Peak, is swiftly establishing itself as one of the nation’s leading cybersecurity centres, and not just because of the National Cybersecurity Center.

According to the Colorado Springs Cybersecurity Project, approximately 3,000 cybersecurity specialists are employed by over 125 cybersecurity firms in the Pikes Peak region. More than 80 of these businesses are focused on cybersecurity. There are also five military installations looking for cybersecurity workers, as well as five institutions with cybersecurity programmes that have been designated as Centers for Academic Excellence by the National Security Administration (CAE).

A number of prominent enterprises with significant cybersecurity demands have operations in the Pikes Peak area. Boeing, Apogee Enterprises, Booz Allen Hamilton, Cisco, General Dynamics, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Northrop Grumman, Oracle, Raytheon, Verizon, and VMWare are just a few of the companies involved.

Furthermore, Colorado Springs is home to two cybersecurity groups, both of which have regional chapters. The Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) has a wealth of resources for information security professionals and those considering a career in the field. ISSA holds yearly conventions and offers several networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities in addition to educational options. The Pikes Peak Region has a chapter of (ISC)2, one of the most well-known cybersecurity certification organisations.

Cybersecurity Education in Colorado

The list of higher education programmes offered by Colorado educational institutions demonstrates the state’s emphasis on cybersecurity as a future-ready skill. Students have a wide range of degree programmes and certification options to choose from. And students who live in the state will find a fast expanding job market with an insufficient number of competent applicants for open positions.

Students in other states, however, will discover a solid selection of online schools that provide all degrees and a variety of certifications.

ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE

For people who don’t have the time or resources to complete a full four-year degree programme, an associate’s degree in cybersecurity is a viable method to break into certain entry-level employment. Professionals can then advance their careers by earning industry certifications or maybe using the associate’s degree to complete a bachelor’s degree programme with this educational base and a starting position.

Campus-based associate’s degrees in Colorado

Five Colorado community colleges offer cybersecurity associate’s degrees through campus-based programmes (Front Range Community College, Pikes Peak Community College, Pueblo Community College, and Red Rocks Community College). In addition, Pikes Peak Community College provides a dual degree programme that allows students to earn associate’s degrees in both cybersecurity and computer networking. The ACC Cyber Center is located on the Arapahoe Community College Castle Rock campus and is a state-of-the-art cyber learning centre with hands-on lab equipment, a full-scale NDG-Netlabs virtual lab environment, and a game-based cyber range. At the Sturm Collaboration Campus of CSU Pueblo, students can receive an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Cybersecurity and a BS in Computer Information Systems with a focus in Cybersecurity. More details can be found in the table below.

CYBERSECURITY ASSOCIATE’S PROGRAMS IN COLORADO