Delaware’s Department of Technology and Information (DTI) is responsible for securing the cyber information of all three branches of state government, as well as the public and charter school network in the state. All employees of Delaware’s executive branch of government must complete a Cyber Security Computer Based Training class, for which DTI holds responsibility. DTI also gives a presentation to state fourth graders on cyber security each year to promote education and awareness.
DTI has established a CyberStart Initiative to promote some of the more exciting topics in cybersecurity, such as penetration testing, cryptography and digital forensics. It is designed to attract the attention of teens and young adults as they explore the world of cybersecurity and the possibility of a cybersecurity career in Delaware.
With cybersecurity becoming a prominent, timely topic not just in Delaware but all over the globe, what better time could there be to obtain your bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity? Having a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity will secure your future in Delaware and help you to land one of the many good, available cybersecurity jobs within the First State. Keep reading to find out how you can get started on your journey to earn a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Delaware.
Cybersecurity Law in Delaware
In 2019, Delaware’s Governor John Carney signed the Delaware Insurance Data Security Act into law. The law established a framework for insurers in Delaware to maintain information security, report data breaches in a timely manner, and allowed the Department of Insurance to investigate violations of the law. Insurance companies hold some of the most sensitive personal data of Delaware residents, and under this law, they must conduct risk assessments and implement information security programs to safeguard that data and prevent breaches. Consumers must be notified within 60 days of a possible or confirmed data breach, and the Delaware Insurance Commissioner must receive notification within three days. This law is in line with the recent updates to cybersecurity law of many other states, designed to protect the integrity of its residents’ data.
Acquiring a Cybersecurity Degree in Delaware
Landing a good job in cybersecurity in Delaware starts with getting a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. With that in hand, you will become eligible for Delaware cybersecurity jobs like:
- Cybersecurity Analyst – Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, Dover
- Information Security IT Specialist – United States Department of Defense, Dover
- Cybersecurity Software Engineer- JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wilmington
- Information Security Analyst – CSC, Wilmington
- SOC Security Analyst – DXC Technology, Newark
- Cybersecurity Operations Center Supervisor – M&T Bank, Millsboro
- Information Security Analyst – Collabera, New Castle
- Cyber Security Analyst – VedaInfo, Wilmington
- CyberSecurity Configuration Management Analyst – Citigroup, New Castle
- Remote Cybersecurity Engineer- Phoenix Cybersecurity, Dover
Bachelor’s Degree Cybersecurity Programs Available Within Delaware
As Delaware is a small state, the options are few for bachelor’s in cybersecurity programs. They include:
- Bachelor of Computer Engineering – Minor in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Arts/Science in Computer Science- Minor in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics – Minor in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science in Computer and Network Security
Undergraduate Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Delaware
Undergraduate cybersecurity degree programs are not normally accredited at the program level. The universities and colleges in which they are located, on the other hand, have received accreditation from agencies that are recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Exceptions to this rule do exist, as some cybersecurity bachelor degree programs are accredited and are noted below.
Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)
The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) set up the National Centers of Academic Excellence program to identify the best cybersecurity degree programs in the country. Under this system, these programs are now called Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Delaware
There are two Delaware Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD):
- University of Delaware –
–Bachelor of Computer Engineering – Minor in Cybersecurity
–Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics- Concentration in Cybersecurity
–Bachelor of Arts/Science in Computer Science – Minor in Cybersecurity
Colleges of Engineering and Arts & Sciences
Newark, DE 19716
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
Dr. Chase Cotton, Chair
(302) 831-8517; ccotton@udel.edu
- Wilmington University – Bachelor of Science in Computer and Network Security (online)
College of Technology, Center for Cybersecurity Education
320 N. DuPont Hwy
New Castle, DE 19720
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
(877) 967-5464
Coursework You Can Expect to Take in a CAE-CD Program in Delaware
Under the auspices of the NSA and DHS, guidelines have been set for what requirements must be met and which courses are to be contained in an undergraduate cybersecurity program in order for it to be designated as a CAE-CD. Criteria include:
- Regionally accredited four-year university or college
- Must demonstrate program outreach and collaboration
- Must demonstrate student development
- Must establish and maintain a Cyber Defense center
- Must practice Cyber Defense at the institution level
- Must have designated Cyber Defense faculty
- Must have a student curriculum consisting of the following Knowledge Units:
- Cybersecurity foundations
- Cybersecurity principles
- IT Systems components
- Basic cryptography
- Basic networking
- Network defense
- Operating systems concepts
- Cyber threats
- Cybersecurity planning and management
- Policy, legal, ethics and compliance
- Security program management
- Security risk analysis
- Optional knowledge units that may be included:
- Advanced algorithms
- Advanced cryptography
- Advanced network technology and protocols
- Algorithms
- Analog telecommunications
- Basic cyber operations
- Cloud computing
- Cyber crime
- Cybersecurity ethics
- Data administration
- Data structures
- Database management systems
- Databases
- Device forensics
- Digital communications
- Digital forensics
- Embedded systems
- Forensic accounting
- Formal methods
- Fraud prevention and management
- Hardware reverse engineering
- Hardware/firmware security
- Host forensics
- IA Architectures
- IA compliance
- IA standards
- Independent/directed study/research
- Industrial control systems
- Introduction to the theory of computation
- Intrusion detection/prevention systems
- Life cycle security
- Low level programming
- Media forensics
- Mobile technologies
- Network forensics
- Network security administration
- Network technology and protocols
- Operating systems administration
- Operating systems handling
- Operating systems theory
- Penetration testing
- Privacy
- QA/functional testing
- Radio frequency principles
- Secure programming practices
- Software assurance
- Software reverse engineering
- Software security analysis
- Supply chain security
- Systems certification and accreditation
- Systems programming
- Systems security engineering
- Virtualization technologies
- Vulnerability analysis
- Web application security
- Wireless sensor networks
Delaware’s Most Commonly Requested Professional Cybersecurity Certifications
Once you have your bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Delaware, you might want to explore some of these professional cybersecurity certifications. Here are some of the most commonly requested certifications in ads for cybersecurity professionals in Delaware as of June 2020:
- Security+
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
- GSEC Security Essentials
- CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
- CompTIA+
- CISCO Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- CISCO Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Employment Outlook for Cybersecurity Jobs in Delaware
According to the Delaware Department of Labor, jobs for information security analysts in Delaware are expected to increase from 2016 to 2026. The average rate of increase is projected to be 28 new cybersecurity jobs per year every year during that decade. On Zippia.com’s list of the best states for cybersecurity jobs in 2020, Delaware ranks tenth. While the total number of cybersecurity jobs in the state, 51, might sound low, for the size of the state it is considered favorable. The average annual salary, per Zippia.com, for a cybersecurity analyst in Delaware is $82,255, with the highest 10 percent earning $120,000. All of these statistics add up to the following prediction: If you get a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Delaware, you should be almost assured of a bright future.