In 2019, the Small Business Development Center (SBCD) of Delaware published a Cyber Workbook, targeted at small business owners in Delaware. It told these business owners that the biggest threat facing small businesses in the state is cybersecurity. In this guide, the SBDC directs small and medium-sized businesses to name who in their company is responsible for cybersecurity; what outside consultants, if any, help; what sensitive data the business collects and where it is stored; what devices need protecting; what operating systems are being used; what software is being used; how identities are managed and protected; how secure user passwords are; whether inactive devices lock; how data is encrypted on devices; if multi-factor authentication is used; if virtual private networks (VPNs) are used; and what type of employee training is offered on cybersecurity and all of these listed issues. In the event of a cyberattack, the SBDC directs these businesses what to do and who to contact.
As you can see, cybersecurity is a large concern, if not the main concern, of many businesses, not just in Delaware but across the country. Becoming educated in cybersecurity is a priority of many schools, businesses and educators, as education in this growing and vital discipline is the best way to fight cybercrime. Many entry-level jobs in cybersecurity are attainable with an associate degree or certificate. Here, we will discuss how to attain an associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity in the First State.
Cybersecurity in the News in Delaware
In the summer of 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, an official with the JPMorgan Chase Client Cybersecurity Awareness Program (based in Delaware) warned that the pandemic was creating greater opportunities for cyber criminals. Because many people were working from home during this unprecedented time, Phillip Ferraro, Managing Director of the program, noted, less cybersecurity often exists, making hacking and cybercrime much easier for cyber criminals to commit. The most popular types of attacks he was were phishing attacks, in which a cybercriminal posed as someone else to get the person to commit some sort of act. Phishers were using the increased fear over the coronavirus to manipulate potential victims, he noted. He said that during the pandemic, phishing attacks were up by 1000 percent. Ferraro noted that strong passwords, antivirus software, multi-factor accounts, restricting access to sensitive information, and using a virtual private network (VPN) are all important in combatting these cyber predators.
Cybersecurity Jobs Available for Associate Degree Holders in Delaware
If you have an associate degree or certificate, you may be eligible for jobs such as these cybersecurity jobs that were recently available in Delaware:
- Electronic Security Technician – Assurance Media, LLC, Wilmington
- Cyber Security Services Embedded Risk & Controls Analyst – Citi, New Castle
- Application Security Analyst – Liberty, Wilmington
- Co-Op – Information Security – Berkley, Wilmington
- Information Security Analyst – Corporation Service Company, Wilmington
- Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst – FireEye, Inc., Wilmington
- Information Security Analyst – Bancorp Bank, Wilmington
Associate Degree Cybersecurity Programs in Delaware
Because Delaware is a small state, options for an associate degree in cybersecurity are few. The one program that was found is an Associate of Science in Information Technology and Networking, available at Delaware Technical and Community College (see below). Concentrations are offered in Information Security, Programming and Networking.
Cybersecurity Associate Degree and Certificate Programs in Delaware
It is important that, whatever institution you select to study cybersecurity in, make sure that it is accredited by an agency listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)
Programmatic accreditation for cybersecurity associate degree and certificate programs may be bestowed through the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These government entities established the National Centers of Academic Excellence program to give recognition to outstanding cybersecurity programs nationwide. These programs are called Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Delaware
Delaware’s Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD), at the associate or certificate level, are:
- University of Delaware – Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity
College of Engineering
140 Evans Hall
Newark, DE 19716
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
Dr. Chase Cotton, Chair
(302) 831-8517; ccotton@udel.edu
- Wilmington University –
—Undergraduate Certificate in Digital Forensics Discovery (online)
—Undergraduate Certificate in Digital Forensics Investigation (online)
—Graduate Certificate in Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) (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
Other Associate and Certificate Cybersecurity Programs in Delaware
One other program exists at this level in the First State:
- Delaware Technical & Community College – Associate of Science in Information Technology & Networking – Concentrations available in Information Security, Networking, Programming
Charles L. Terry, Jr. Campus
100 Campus Drive
Dover, DE 19904-1383
Chuck Whealton, Dept. Chair
(302) 857-1767; chuck@dtcc.edu
Delaware Cybersecurity Associate Degree Program Coursework
Courses that you can expect to take in an associate degree cybersecurity program in Delaware include (but are not limited to):
- IT Networking I and II
- Programming I and II
- Information Security
- Database Technology I and II
- Project Dynamics
- System Administration I and II
- Advanced Security
- Digital Forensics
- Ethical Hacking
- System and Network Defense
Cybersecurity Certificates in Delaware
Cybersecurity certificates exist at the undergraduate and graduate levels in Delaware. Additionally, you can also become certified in areas that will help to boost your career opportunities, such as:
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
- CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
- CompTIA+
- CISCO Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- CISCO Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Cybersecurity Salaries in Delaware
Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the US Department of Labor, the average annual wage for information security analysts in Delaware, as of May 2019, is $113,000, translating to an hourly wage of $54.33. This is higher than the national average wage of $104,210 for cybersecurity professionals nationwide. Additionally, Delaware has the fourth-highest concentration of jobs in the information security area, at 680, or 1.5 employment rate per 1000 jobs.