According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Center, as of 2017, the state of Texas ranked third among all states in the number of victims of cybercrime. Moreover, Texas ranked second in financial losses due to cybercrime in 2017. JobsEQ notes that as of 2019, 9029 information security analysts were employed in Texas. The state added 1338 jobs in the occupation in the past five years, and is expected to add an additional 3757 jobs in information security in the next decade, for a total projected growth rate in this occupation of 41.6 percent.
Texas’ Comptroller’s office estimates that cybersecurity firms in Texas generated almost $36 billion in gross state product in 2017. It also prevented other industries and businesses in Texas from incurring financial losses and damages. Cybersecurity companies also create more positive economic impacts in Texas by buying supplies and services from state companies within other industries. The office estimates that the creation of just one job in cybersecurity in Texas generates one additional job, $187,000 in sales or economic output, and $62,000 in compensation for Texas’ economy.
A growing number of cybersecurity programs in Texas educate students at the undergraduate and graduate levels. More and more Texas residents are choosing to study information security and tap into this lucrative, innovative and exciting job market. If you would like to join them, and learn how to get your associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity in the Lone Star State, keep reading.
Cybersecurity in the News in Texas
A ransomware attack in May 2020 hit some of Texas’ most fundamental institutions and organizations, it was reported. Nonprofit organizations and universities that were affected during this cyberattack include:
- Communities Foundation of Texas
- George W. Bush Presidential Center
- Boy Scouts of America
- Texas Tech Foundation
- University of Texas at Austin
Blackbaud, a cloud-based data storage and software provider, provides services for all of these organizations and institutions and was subjected to a ransomware attack in May 2020. They did not report this attack until July. In addition to the Texas organizations that were affected, over 200 institutions worldwide had their data breached in the attack. Blackbaud notes that up to 1500 nonprofit clients were affected in the cyberattack.
It is thought that the hack exposed personal information of tens of thousands of Texas residents. The hack is believed to have started February 7, 2020 and lasted until May 20, 2020. Names, titles, dates of birth, phone numbers and email addresses of personal nonprofit donors may have been exposed in the attack, Blackbaud said.
Blackbaud paid an undisclosed sum to the hackers in the ransomware attack. It says that it thinks the hackers deleted the stolen data, but has no proof of such deletion.
Texas Cybersecurity Jobs for Associate Degree or Certificate Holders
Jobs such as the following for information security analysts in Texas may be available to those holding associate degrees or certificates:
- Junior Cyber Security Analyst – AMSYS Innovative Solutions, Houston
- IT Network Security Analyst – CenterPoint Energy, Houston
- Cyber Security Analyst – ECS, San Antonio
- Cyber Security Analyst – Apex Systems, Del Rio
- IT Professional Security/Cybersecurity Analyst – City of Houston
- Cyber Security Forensic Analyst – IBM, Austin
- Senior Information Security Analyst – Ion Idea, Dallas
- Security Analyst – Ramy Infotech, Austin
- Personnel Security Analyst – One Federal Solution, Fort Worth
- L1 Cybersecurity Analyst – Kforce, Round Rock
Associate Cybersecurity Degrees in Texas
Names of associate degrees in cybersecurity in Texas include:
- Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Science, Networking Cybersecurity
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Systems Networking-Cyber Security
- Associate in Applied Science- Computer Information Systems – Specialization in Network and Cyber Security Technology
- Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity Specialist
- Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist
Cybersecurity Associate Degree and Certificate Programs in Texas
When selection a Texas cybersecurity associate degree or certificate program, ensure that the school that offers it is accredited by an agency listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)
The National Centers of Academic Excellence program of the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security recognizes cybersecurity degree programs as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education Within Texas
These Texas cybersecurity associate degree and certificate programs have been designated as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE):
- El Paso Community College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security
—Certificate of Completion in Networking & Security Technologies
Dept. of Information Technology Systems, Cyber Security Center
919 Hunter Drive
El Paso, TX 79915
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2023
(915) 831-2056; [email protected]
- Hill College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Computer Science, Networking Cybersecurity
—Certificate of Completion in Computer Science, Technical Core
—Certificate of Technology in Computer Science, Networking Cybersecurity
Cyber Security Center
112 Lamar
Hillsboro, TX 76645
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024
Jackie Armstrong, Computer Science Instructor
(254) 659-7950; [email protected]
- Houston Community College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Computer Systems Networking – Cyber Security (hybrid)
—Certificate Level 1 in Computer Systems Networking – Cyber Security (hybrid)
—Certificate Level 2 in Computer Systems Networking – Cyber Security (hybrid)
Dept. of Science, Technology, Engineering & Math
Cyber Center
3100 Main Street
Houston, TX 77002
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
Scott Hillman
(713) 718-6465; [email protected]
- Laredo College –
—Certificate in Computer Information Systems- Network and Data Security
Computer Technology Department, Center for Cyber Education
Fort McIntosh Campus
West End Washington ST.
Laredo, TX 78040
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2023
Robert Moore, Dept. Chair
(956) 721-5423; [email protected]
- South Texas College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity Specialist
— Cybersecurity Specialist Certificate
Technology Campus – Cybersecurity Center
3700 W. Military Hwy.
McAllen, TX 78503
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
Francisco Salinas, Contact
(956) 872-6277; [email protected]
- St. Philip’s College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist
—Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist Level 1 Certificate (on campus and online)
Dept. of Science & Technology
1801 Martin Luther King Drive
San Antonio, TX 78203
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
Rick Lopez, Program Director
(210) 486-2366; [email protected]
Texas Cybersecurity Associate Degree Program Courses
Courses that you will likely encounter in an associate degree cybersecurity program in Texas include:
- Introduction to Networks
- Network Administration I & II
- UNIX System Administration I & II
- CCNA 2: Routing and Switching Essentials
- CCNA 3: Scaling Networks
- Incident Response & Handling
- CCNA 4: Connecting Networks
- Computer System Forensics
- Security Assessment & Auditing
Cybersecurity Certificates in Texas
Other certificate programs in cybersecurity abound, and include:
- Computer Cyber Security Certificate of Completion – Amarillo College
- Certificate in Cybersecurity (online) – Angelo State University
- Information Security Certificate – Dallas College
- Digital Forensic Analyst Technical Certificate – Dallas College
- Certificate in Cyberdefense-Information Assurance – Central Texas College
- Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity – Sam Houston State University
Cybersecurity Salaries in Texas
As of May 2019, Texas had the second-highest employment level of information security analysts in the nation, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The state employed 10,430 information security analysts, making an annual mean wage of $108,810. Those working in the Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington metropolitan area earned even higher average salaries, at $114,100 annually. Information security analysts working in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area earned higher wages as well, at $117,600 per year. Austin/Round Rock information security analysts also beat the state average wage, earning $114,280 annually.