In 2020, the small town of Lafayette, Colorado, fell victim to cyber attackers who hijacked the town’s computer files and disrupted its computer network, phone lines, and email. Town officials were forced to pay a ransom in order to have services restored. At the time of the attack, Lafayette, like most small Colorado towns, did not employ a town cybersecurity professional. Since that time, they have received help from the state and county emergency management departments to employ such a professional.
Due to Colorado’s home-rule laws, which gives control of local municipalities to them, the state only provides help to local municipalities when directly asked to do so. Other towns have stepped up to help fellow towns in need when they have cybersecurity issues like Lafayette did.
Cybersecurity is a vital field that is not only involved in the protection of towns and government agencies, but also of businesses, personal and private information, and more. If you would like to work in the field of cybersecurity in Colorado, often you can start by obtaining an associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity. Keep reading to discover how you can do just that.
Colorado Cybersecurity News
A news story in September 2020 noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed the growth of the cybersecurity industry, nor of its jobs, in Colorado. There have been major investments in the cybersecurity industry in Colorado recently, such as the $100 million building under construction by the Aerospace Corporation at the Colorado Springs Airport, which will be home to the United States Space Force. Colorado is readying itself for more growth in the cybersecurity industry, and with that growth comes more jobs.
The Vice President of Operations for Space ISAC, Erin Miller, notes that Colorado is second in the nation when it comes to space companies. Therefore, if someone is looking for a career in cybersecurity or the space industry, Colorado is a natural choice to meet the growing demand within those industries. Women and minorities are also increasingly breaking into what was once a male-dominated field.
As professors at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, note, cybersecurity is not just about computers and hardware. Rather, it encompasses policies, ethics, legalities, and management of risk protocols, cybersecurity, and many different ins and outs. It is an exciting field with almost endless possibilities, especially within the state of Colorado.
Cybersecurity Jobs in Colorado
An associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity in Colorado can help you to land entry-level information security jobs such as:
- Cyber Security Analyst – ECS, Colorado Springs
- Cyber Security Engineer, Entry-Level – Kratos Technology & Training Solutions, Colorado Springs
- Junior Cybersecurity Analyst (Tier I)- Leidos, Colorado Springs
- Cyber Security Analyst – CACI, Denver
- Associate Security Consultant, Entry-Level – FireEye, Inc., Denver
- Cyber Security Analyst – IndraSoft, Inc., Aurora
- Cybersecurity Analyst – Braxton Science & Technology Group, Colorado Springs
- Cyber Security Analyst/Security Engineer- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden
- Cyber Security Operations Analyst – MAXAR, Westminster
- Cyber Security Analyst – Hostway Services, Inc., Denver
Titles of Associate Cybersecurity Degrees in Colorado
Associate degree program in cybersecurity in Colorado include (but are not limited to):
- Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity
- Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology – Cybersecurity
- Associate of Applied Science in Network & Systems
- Associate of Science in Cybersecurity
- Associate of Science in IT- Cybersecurity Specialist
Cybersecurity Associate Degree and Certificate Programs in Colorado
Whichever Colorado cybersecurity associate degree or certificate program you choose, ensure that the school in which it is contained and 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, run by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security, gives recognition to degree and certificate programs as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
Colorado Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education
These Colorado associate degree and certificate programs in cybersecurity are designated as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) by the NSA and DHS:
- Colorado State University- Pueblo – Computer Security Certificate – Cyber Defense Program
Malik and Seeme Hasan School of Business
2200 Bonforte Blvd.
Pueblo, CO 81101-4901
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
Dr. Roberto Mejias, Contact
(719) 549-2727; roberto.mejias@csupueblo.edu
- Pikes Peak Community College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security
—Certificate of Achievement in Computer Networking Technology – Cyber Security
Cyber Security Department
5675 S. Academy Blvd.
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2023
Teri Johnson, Department Chair
(719) 502-3232; Terri.johnson@ppcc.edu
- Pueblo Community College –
— Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security
—Certificate in Forensic Computing
—Certificate in Information Assurance Basic
—Certificate in Networking Mini
Cyber Security Department
900 W. Orman Ave.
Pueblo, CO 81004
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
Mike Krakow, Department Chair
(719) 549-3238; Mike.Krakow@pueblocc.edu
- Red Rocks Community College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology – Cybersecurity
—Associate of Applied Science in Network & Systems
—Certificate in Network & Systems
Department of Computer Technology, Cyber Defense Center
13300 W. 6th Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80228
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
Julie Schneider, Dept. Chair
(303) 914-6247; julie.schneider@rrcc.edu
- Regis University – Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity (online and on-campus)
Anderson College of Business & Computing – Colorado Front Range Center for Information Assurance Studies
3333 Regis Blvd.
Denver, CO 80221-1099
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
(800) 388-2366
- University of Denver- Information Systems Security Certificate (graduate)
University College
2211 South Josephine St.
Denver, CO 80208
CAE-Cyber Defense Education – Accredited through 2020
Jacob Erisman, Enrollment Manager
(303) 871-4695; jacob.erisman@du.edu
Colorado Cybersecurity Associate Degree Program Coursework
Although names and programs differ from one school to the next, these are the course you can expect to take in a cybersecurity associate degree program in Colorado:
- Intro to Programming – Python
- Ethics in Computing
- Principles of Information Assurance
- Network Security Fundamentals
- Fundamentals of Unix
- Technical Writing
- Firewalls and Network Security
- Guide to IT Disaster Recovery
- Aligning Technology with Business Strategy
- Cloud Security & Cyber Law
- Vulnerability Assessment
- Network Defense & Countermeasures
- Digital Forensics
- Enterprise Security
- Systems Analysis & Design
Certificates in Cybersecurity in Colorado
In addition to the certificates listed above, undergraduate and graduate-level certificates in cybersecurity in Colorado include:
- Online Undergraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity – Colorado State University Global
- Cybersecurity Certificate – Front Range Community College
- Graduate Certificate in Engineering Secure Software Systems – University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
- Applied Cybersecurity Undergraduate Certificate – University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
- Graduate Certificate in Cyber Defense – Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Leadership – Metropolitan State University of Denver
- Graduate Certificate in Cybercrime Investigation = Metropolitan State University of Denver
Cybersecurity Salaries for Professionals in Colorado
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor, Colorado has the fifth-highest concentration of jobs in cybersecurity in the nation, at 3980. Cybersecurity workers in Colorado earned an average annual wage of $104,510 as of May 2019, just a bit higher than the national average of $104,210. Those working in the Boulder area earned higher wages, at $111,120 annually, as did those working in Colorado Springs, earning an annual mean wage of $108,520.