Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree in Georgia

The Georgia Governor’s High Demand Career Initiative in 2018 noted cybersecurity as one of three focus areas for careers that are expected to remain in high demand within the state.  Georgia has also launched the Cybersecurity EDGE (Economic Differentiator for Georgia Enterprises) initiative to give the state’s small businesses information and resources on cyber awareness and risks.

As of 2020, the U.S. Army’s Cyber Command has moved to Fort Gordon in Georgia. This is the central post for all of the U.S. Army’s cybersecurity operations. It is home to 4700 military personnel with a high-tech background. The Army’s Cyber Center of Excellence, a cybersecurity training facility, is also located here to train and develop cybersecurity professionals. Additionally, the National Security Agency (NSA) Georgia operates a 600,000 square foot cryptologic center at Fort Gordon. A state-owned facility for public and private industries, the Hull McKnight Georgia Cyber Center for Innovation and Training, opened in Georgia in 2018.

The Georgia Department of Economic Development notes that Georgia is the third-highest information security hub in the United States as of 2018, home to over 120 cybersecurity companies with annual revenues of $5 billion.  Some of those companies include:

  • Cisco Systems of Atlanta
  • Check Point Software Technologies of Dunwoody
  • Ionic Security of Atlanta
  • IBM Security Services of Atlanta
  • NexDefense of Atlanta
  • WiKID Systems of Atlanta
  • VMware AirWatch of Sandy Springs
  • Verint Systems of Alpharetta
  • Oversight Systems of Marietta
  • Pindrop of Atlanta

It seems that there couldn’t be a better time to enter the field of cybersecurity in Georgia. If you would like to take advantage of this recent, and expected to be long-lasting, trend, getting a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity is a great first step. Read on to discover how you can do this.

Georgia’s Cybersecurity Players

The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) has identified the information security segment of the economy as being a leading contributor to Georgia’s larger economy. InfoSec generates more than $1.4 billion in yearly revenue and is responsible for more than 6700 jobs statewide in Georgia. Some of the state’s earliest organizations to work in information security include Internet Security Systems (ISS), founded in 1994 and Secureworks, founded in 1998. The top 20 employers as of 2018 in Georgia’s information security sector are:

  • Abacus Solutions
  • Lancope
  • Barracuda
  • Motorola Solutions
  • Blough Tech, Inc.
  • Numerex Solutions, LLC
  • ControlScan
  • Orasi Software, Inc.
  • Dell SecureWorks
  • Oversight Systems
  • EMC Corp/RSA Security
  • PerformanceIT, Inc.
  • Gladiator Technology Services
  • Pindrop Security
  • IBM Internet Security Systems
  • Safe Systems, Inc.
  • Ionic Security, Inc.
  • Secure Computing Corp.
  • Ipswitch, Inc.
  • Simei

Job Titles With a Cybersecurity Bachelor’s in Georgia

In order to get started in Georgia’s cybersecurity realm, you will need a bachelor’s degree. With that, you will be eligible for cybersecurity jobs in Georgia, like:

  • Cyber Security Engineer- Graphic Packing International, Atlanta
  • Information Technology Specialist- Cyber Security – US Department of Energy, Atlanta
  • Specialist, Cyber Security Operations- Kindred at Home, Conyers
  • Cybersecurity Analyst – Dawson, Augusta
  • Cyberspace Analyst – ASRC Federal, Augusta
  • Information Security Analyst – Avacend Corporation, Alpharetta
  • Information Systems Security Officer – Lockheed Martin, Moody AFB
  • Cybersecurity Analyst – CDIT-CHURN, Albany
  • IT Specialist (Infosec) – US Department of Veterans Affairs, Decatur
  • Delta information Assurance Leader, Information Security- Delta Air Lines, Atlanta

Cybersecurity Degrees Can You Earn in Georgia

Names of undergraduate cybersecurity degrees will vary depending upon the institution. In Georgia, some include:

  • Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology- Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Information Security and Assurance
  • Bachelor of Arts in Strategic and Security Studies – Concentration in Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Security and Assurance
  • Bachelor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity Management

Georgia Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree Programs

Most cybersecurity degree programs in Georgia, at the undergraduate level, are not accredited at the program level. Their colleges and universities do, however, hold accreditation with agencies listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Bachelor’s degree programs in cybersecurity that do hold programmatic accreditation are listed in the next section.

Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)

One level of programmatic accreditation for bachelor’s degrees in cybersecurity comes through the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These agencies have established the National Centers of Academic Excellence program to designate outstanding cybersecurity degree programs in the United States. Programs that hold this designation are honored to be called Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).

Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Georgia

The following Georgia cybersecurity programs have earned the credentials of Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) and represent the best in undergraduate cybersecurity education within the state of Georgia:

Computer & Cyber Sciences.

1120 15th St.

Augusta, GA 30912

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021

Tony Lawrence, Director of Undergraduate Studies

(706) 729-2774; [email protected]

  • Columbus State University –

—Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

—Bachelor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity Management

D. Abbott Turner College of Business

4225 University Ave.

Columbus, GA 31907

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021

Dr. Linda Hadley, Dean

(706) 507-8153; [email protected]

Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing/Center for Applied Cyber Education

11935 Abercorn Street

Savannah, GA 31419

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024

Frank Katz, Director

(912) 344-2750; [email protected]

  • Kennesaw State University –

—Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (online, hybrid)

—Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Security and Assurance (online)

Coles College of Business

1000 Chastain Road

Kennesaw, GA 30144

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021

Dr. Michael E. Whitman, Contact

(470) 578-3568; [email protected]

School of Computing, Dept. of Information Technology

100 University Parkway

Macon, GA 31206

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022

Also Accredited by ABET

Dr. Kevin Floyd, Contact

(478) 471-2801; [email protected]

  • University of North Georgia –

—Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

—Bachelor of Science in Computer Science- Concentration in Information Assurance and Security

—Bachelor of Arts in Strategic and Security Studies – Concentration in Cybersecurity

Mike Cottrell College of Business, Center for Cyber Operations Education

83 Dunbarton Farm Road

Blue Ridge, GA 30513

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021

Dr. Bryson Payne, Contact

(706) 864-1694; [email protected]

Cybersecurity Certifications in Georgia

Post-baccalaureate certifications will add to your marketability in Georgia’s cyber workspace. According to the University of North Georgia’s Center for Cyber Operations Education, some of the most common cybersecurity certifications to earn include:

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  • Comp TIA Security+
  • Certified Ethical Hacking (CEH) – EC- Council
  • Offensive Security Certified Professional Certification (OSCP)
  • Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)

Employment Projections for Cybersecurity in Georgia

Per the Georgia Department of Labor Office of Workforce Statistics and Economic Research, jobs for information security analysts are projected to increase by 22.5 percent from 2016 to 2026 statewide. It is clear that cybersecurity is a major force in Georgia, in terms of the state’s economy, workforce, and overall viability. Getting a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Georgia is your first step towards a very promising future.