Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree in Kentucky

Kentucky, also known as the Bluegrass State, has many diverse industries. The four biggest industries in Kentucky, contributing the most to the state’s total economy, according to World Atlas, as of 2020, are: manufacturing (which accounts for 18 percent, or one-fifth, of Kentucky’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP); agriculture; coal; and logistics. Kentucky’s annual GDP is $212 billion in 2020, which has increased by 1.4 percent since 2019.

You might not think of cybersecurity when pondering these four industries, but in truth, cybersecurity is important within any and all industries. Protecting sensitive data, preventing security breaches, and teaching others risk management are all vital to the success of any business. Manufacturing, which employs 14.3 percent of Kentucky’s population, relies on cybersecurity to protect its sensitive data and that of the many different and varied companies it deals with (as manufacturers are the victims of 16 percent of all ransomware attacks).

Cybersecurity is also a threat to the agriculture industry. As more and more farmers are using technology to farm, more data is available to be exploited. Access to services, personal privacy, proprietary information, and intellectual property are all threatened by cyberattacks.

The increasing focus on gas pipeline cybersecurity has made some legislators propose coal as an alternative energy source, affecting Kentucky’s third largest industry. Some have suggested subsidizing existing coal power plants in order to maintain our country’s energy mix.

Kentucky’s fourth largest industry, logistics, relies heavily on technology and is definitely subject to cyberattacks. Americans have become more reliant on companies like UPS and Fed Ex during the coronavirus crisis, as more people are ordering necessity items and having them shipped to their homes. This industry is particularly vulnerable to cyber warfare.

If you are a Kentucky resident and are considering different careers, cybersecurity is one which you should most certainly think about. Getting a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity can prepare you to work in a variety of diverse available jobs within Kentucky, helping all of these industries and more. Please keep reading to discover how you can get a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Kentucky.

Kentucky’s Cybersecurity Laws

In 2014, Kentucky’s Governor Steve Beshear signed some new cybersecurity regulations into law, making it the 47th state to sign cybersecurity measures into law. Statutes HB5 and HB232 change the way that Kentucky businesses do business electronically and store client information. House Bill 5 establishes statewide data security protocols and requirements for state and local government agencies and third-party service providers, including education service providers. House Bill 232 establishes restrictions on cloud computing service providers that handle student data. Businesses must notify affected individuals within 72 hours of a data breach. These laws are to be enforced by the Kentucky Attorney General.

Cybersecurity Education in Kentucky

If you get an undergraduate degree in cybersecurity in Kentucky, you open yourself up to possibilities for jobs in the state like:

  • Special Agent: Cybersecurity/Technology – Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville
  • Information Technology Specialist (Cyber Security) – US Department of Energy, Lexington
  • IT Specialist (Information Security) – US Department of Defense, Louisville
  • Computer Security System Specialist – CACI International, Louisville
  • Cyber Security/Info Assurance Engineer- Exeter Government Services, Fort Knox
  • Senior Information Security Analyst – Toyota Tsusho America, Inc., Georgetown
  • CISSP-Security Specialist – Tech USA, Paducah
  • IT Support Engineer – Service Solutions Cyber Security Solutions, Jeffersontown
  • Security Specialist – DHL Express, Erlanger
  • Cyber Security Specialist – S&K Logistics Services, Lexington

What Are Examples of Kentucky Bachelor’s Degrees in Cybersecurity?

Names of cybersecurity degrees vary from college to college. The most popular in Kentucky include:

  • Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Network Management
  • Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology Sciences
  • Bachelor of Science in Cyber Systems Technology
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Computer Information Security specialization

Kentucky Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree Programs

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) lists a variety of regional accreditation agencies that accredit universities and colleges across the United States. Be sure that the school where you choose to study cybersecurity in Kentucky is accredited by an agency listed there.

Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)

The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established a program called the  National Centers of Academic Excellence. This program recognizes the best cybersecurity degree programs in the U.S., including Kentucky.

Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Kentucky

These cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programs in Kentucky are known as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD):

Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering & Technology, Institute of Engineering

102 Curris Center

Murray, KY 42071

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024

(800) 272-4678

Nunn Drive

Highland Heights, KY 41099

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024

Dr. James Walden, Director of Cybersecurity Program

(859) 572-5571; [email protected]

School of Computer and Information Sciences

6178 College Station Drive

Williamsburg, KY 40769

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022

(606) 539-4240; [email protected]

Are There Additional Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Cybersecurity in Kentucky?

Other cybersecurity programs in Kentucky leading to a bachelor’s degree are:

Accredited by the Association of Technology, Management & Applied Engineering (ATMAE)

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

Department of Applied Engineering & Technology

307 Whalin Complex

521 Lancaster Ave.

Richmond, KY 40475-3102

(859) 622-3232

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

School of Mathematics & Computer Science

400 East Main St.

Frankfort, KY 40601

(502) 597-6000; [email protected]

Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

College of Technology & Design

3101 Bardstown Rd.

Louisville, KY 40205

(502) 456-6505; [email protected]

What Types of Classes Will I Take in a Kentucky Cybersecurity Program?

In order to classify as a CAE-CD program, a cybersecurity program must cover the following areas (which are usually included within most cybersecurity curricula):

  • Security Program Management
  • Security Risk Analysis
  • Network Defense
  • Policy, Legal, Ethics, and Compliance
  • Operating Systems Concepts
  • Cyber Threats
  • Cybersecurity Foundations
  • Cybersecurity Planning and Management
  • Cybersecurity Principles
  • Basic Cryptography
  • Basic Networking
  • Basic Scripting and Programming
  • IT Systems Components

Kentucky Cybersecurity Certifications

Cybersecurity certifications are suggested, and may also be part of your bachelor’s degree curriculum, in Kentucky. Common certifications include:

  • CompTIA Security+
  • CompTIA Network+
  • CompTIA Linux+
  • Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
  • Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
  • Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)

What is the Outlook for Cybersecurity Employment in Kentucky?

The Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet notes that jobs for computer systems analysts, in which cybersecurity analysts are included, are projected to increase by 10.5 percent from 2016 through 2026. Computer and mathematical occupations, as a group, are projected to increase by 1.5 percent each year during that decade. This means that if you obtain a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Kentucky today, you should be sitting pretty for at least the next six years, and likely for much longer!.