While many states have a thriving manufacturing business, Tennessee is particularly proud of its advanced manufacturing sector. Tennessee is one of America’s most important producers of high-tech durable products, with companies like Nissan, LG, and Porter-Cable calling the state home.
A look at the numbers demonstrates Tennessee’s dedication to manufacturing even more. More than 170,000 people work in advanced manufacturing in the state, and more than $10 billion has been spent in manufacturing in the last five years.
That’s a lot of money to put up, but the returns have been impressive. Tennessee exports more than $24 billion in manufactured goods each year.
However, there are some prerequisites for all of that manufacturing infrastructure. The majority of the time, there is a lot of electricity. Tennessee is the United States’ 21st highest consumer of electricity per capita, and that electricity has to come from somewhere.
“The nation’s largest government-owned power provider,” according to the Tennessee Valley Authority. The TVA sells about 150 billion kilowatt-hours of power each year using a combination of nuclear, coal, solar, wind, and natural gas.
Tennessee’s energy output helps manufacturing, but it also makes it an enticing target for cyber-terrorists. If the increasingly computerised power infrastructure is disrupted, factories may be forced to shut down, resulting in costly disruptions.
Fortunately, the TVA is well aware of the danger. They have over 50 cybersecurity experts on staff who are constantly scanning for threats in order to keep the grid safe.
Employing a small company’s worth of cybersecurity professionals isn’t cheap, but the TVA acknowledges the necessity of the professionals. In fact, Tennessee has proven to be a state that understands the importance of cybersecurity in the digitalized twenty-first century.
Cybersecurity in Tennessee
Tennessee’s premier cybersecurity conference is FutureCon. It’s an annual event that “brings high-level Cyber Security Training, uncovering cutting-edge security tactics, and risk management in the ever-changing threat of the cybersecurity workforce.”
Attendees will acquire a new perspective on what some of America’s top CTOs are doing to keep their digital empires safe, as well as sophisticated tactics for combating cybercrime.
Because fraudsters are always finding new strategies to circumvent existing security systems, this information could be particularly beneficial. As a result, cybersecurity specialists must keep up with the most recent industry best practises.
Aside from the conference, the city of Nashville maintains a current website with a wealth of cybersecurity tools. The website provides information on phishing schemes, cybersecurity careers, and data privacy best practises, among other topics.
Tennessee offers a variety of educational possibilities for anyone interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity, as one would expect from a state with such a strong focus on the subject.
Cybersecurity educational opportunities in Tennessee
A student pursuing an associate’s degree can expect to be exposed to a diverse set of subjects. They may study psychology, English, or arithmetic in addition to the coursework relating to their cybersecurity major.
With only an associate’s degree, it may be tough to break into the cybersecurity field. However, opportunities with an associate’s degree are accessible, particularly in sectors such as computer science and information technology.
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREES
Campus-based cybersecurity associate degrees in Tennessee
In Tennessee, there are two campus-based associate’s degrees. A community college provides both degrees. There are currently no online associate’s degrees in cybersecurity available in Tennessee.
The following are the two associate’s degrees:
- Jackson State Community College offers an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems: Cyber Defense Concentration
- Motlow State Community College offers an A.A.S. in Computer Information Technology – Cyber Defense Concentration
BACHELOR’S DEGREES
A bachelor’s degree is the minimal level of education required to secure suitable work for any job seeker serious about pursuing a career in cybersecurity.
Students who pursue a four-year bachelor’s degree are exposed to far more than those who pursue a two-year associate’s degree. Students will learn how to deal with a variety of cybersecurity threats, and they will have the option of minoring in a particular area of cybersecurity, such as network infrastructure or cyber forensics.
Campus-based cybersecurity bachelor’s degree in Tennessee
In Tennessee, students can choose from a surprising variety of campus-based bachelor’s degree programmes. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville are home to the majority of the programmes. Please consult the table below for more details.
Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Programs in Tennessee
| School | City | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| Lipscomb University | Nashville | Bachelor of Science in Information Security |
| Tennessee Technological University | Cookeville | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Cyber Security |
| The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Cyber Security |
| The University of Tennessee | Knoxville | Cybersecurity Minor |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Cyber Security Concentration |
| LeMoyne-Owen College | Memphis | Major Criminal Justice ( Cyber Defense/Cyber Security Concentration) |
Online cybersecurity bachelor’s degree in Tennessee
The biggest benefit of an online bachelor’s degree is its flexibility: it’s easier to work while studying online than it is on campus. Unfortunately, Tennessee only offers one online cybersecurity bachelor’s degree.
A Bachelor of Applied Science in Network Security and Forensics is available at Fountainhead College of Technology.
MASTER’S DEGREE
A master’s degree improves on a bachelor’s degree by providing students with additional exposure to cybersecurity detection, prevention, and investigative approaches. In order to apprehend cybercriminals, master’s degree students often learn cyber forensics and evidence collection.
Most master’s degree programmes require a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or computer science. Students pursuing a master’s degree may opt to concentrate in fields such as cryptography or ethical hacking.
Campus-based cybersecurity master’s degrees in Tennessee
In Tennessee, students interested in pursuing a master’s degree in cybersecurity can pick from nearly three different programmes. For more details, see the table below.
Cybersecurity Master’s Programs in Tennessee
| School | City | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Tennessee | Knoxville | Master of Science in Computer Engineering – Cybersecurity |
| The University of Tennessee | Knoxville | Master of Science in Computer Science – Cybersecurity |
| Middle Tennessee State University | Murfreesboro | Master of Science in Information Systems with a concentration in Information Security and Assurance |
PH.D. DEGREE
In the realm of cybersecurity, a Ph.D. is the highest level of study available. A Ph.D. almost guarantees an excellent career with plenty of prospects for promotion for the graduate.
In Tennessee, there are two cybersecurity-focused Ph.D. programmes.
- The University of Tennessee offers a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering – Cybersecurity
- The University of Tennessee also offers a Ph.D. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity
CERTIFICATIONS
Certifications are sometimes necessary for particular positions, and they can help any candidate improve their chances of getting recruited.
Campus-based cybersecurity certification programmes
Students in Tennessee can choose from four campus-based certification programmes. The table below contains further information.
Cybersecurity Certification Programs in Tennessee
| School | City | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville State Community College | Nashville | Information Security Technical Certificate |
| The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga | Chattanooga | Certificate in Information Systems Security |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Graduate Certificate Program in Business Information Assurance |
Cybersecurity jobs in Tennessee
There are more than 5,000 cybersecurity roles open in Tennessee, according to CyberSeek, a cybersecurity job placement data aggregator. Because there is a scarcity of cybersecurity workers, it is unlikely that such positions will be filled very soon.
The demand for cybersecurity professionals is expanding due to the ongoing growth of cybercrime and the increasing digitization of everything from refrigerators to self-driving automobiles. A person who starts university now has a good chance of finding work when they finish in four years.
In Tennessee, the average annual compensation for cybersecurity technicians is over $80,000. Even when compared to other IT jobs, that income makes a cybersecurity career look very profitable.
Cybersecurity in Tennessee
To modernise Tennessee’s industrial industry, billions of dollars have been invested. As a result, an advanced manufacturing sector based on robotic, digitally controlled assembly has emerged. While such systems are highly efficient, they are also vulnerable to hacking and other forms of cyber-theft.
This has not gone unnoticed by Tennessee’s major businesses, and demand for cybersecurity experts is high. A person with a cybersecurity degree in Tennessee may expect to find a job that suits their skill, whether it’s preserving secret manufacturing data or defending a large electrical infrastructure from cyber-interference.
