Idaho’s Governor Brad Little said in his 2020 State of the State address that his state has a great need for cybersecurity professionals. Boise State University is helping in this endeavor. Recently, the university received an $800,000 workforce grant to develop more educational opportunities for students interested in studying cybersecurity at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Idaho’s state government Cybersecurity Awareness website offers a variety of training opportunities for anyone interested, from in-person to online courses. It also promotes awareness of cyber risks and threats of cyberattacks among Idaho’s businesses and citizens. Run by the State of Idaho’s Chief Information Security Officer, Keith Tresh, the website is comprehensive and also features news about cybersecurity, best cyber hygiene practices, resources, events and instructional and educational videos.
Recently, the news reported that Idaho’s Secretary of State was working with Boise-based security company PlexTrac to increase digital security in the processing of election results. This is to ensure that the state becomes a leader in information security.
As you can see, cybersecurity is a hot buzz word in the state of Idaho. It all starts with education, and your best bet in getting a job in cybersecurity in Idaho is to obtain a bachelor’s degree. If you would like to discover how to go about pursuing this goal, keep reading.
Idaho’s Cybersecurity Laws
Idaho Code 67-827 created the state’s Office of Information Technology Services (OITS) within the office of the governor. The administrator of the OITS has the authority and responsibility of overseeing all information technology services and cybersecurity policies within Idaho. This includes the implementation and coordination of cybersecurity policies, information security needs, vulnerability scans, and tests designed to lessen cyber risks. Additionally, the OITS is responsible for education and training in cybersecurity for all state government employees.
Idaho’s data breach notification law was enacted in 2006. Under this law, any entity that conducts business in Idaho and that owns or licensed computerized personal information of residents of Idaho must notify any affected individuals in the event of a data breach. The notice must be made in an expedient manner, and the office of the Idaho Attorney General must also be notified within 24 hours of the discovery of a data breach.
Idaho Undergraduate Cybersecurity Education
If you get a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Idaho, you may become eligible for jobs like:
- Information Technology Specialist – Cyber Security – Department of Energy, Idaho Falls and Arco
- IT Cybersecurity Specialist – CISA, Idaho Falls
- Cybersecurity Awareness Analyst – CRI Advantage, Inc., Idaho Falls
- Cyber Security Risk Assessor- HP, Boise
- Information Technology Specialist – US Department of Veterans Affairs, Boise
- Cybersecurity Engineer, Testing – Perspecta, Boise
- Cybersecurity Specialist – Jacksons Food Stores, Inc., Meridian
- Information Systems Security Officer- ManTech, Idaho Falls
- System Administrator/Information Security Specialist- Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls
- Cybersecurity Engineer- Phoenix Cybersecurity, Pocatello
Bachelor Cybersecurity Degrees Titles in Idaho
Titles of bachelor’s in cybersecurity degree programs in Idaho include:
- Bachelor of Applied Science- Industrial Cybersecurity Engineering Technology
- Bachelor of Business Administration in Informatics- Information Assurance & Security
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science- Concentration in Cyber Defense
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science- Emphasis in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology
Bachelor’s Degree Cybersecurity Programs in Idaho
Bachelor’s degree level cybersecurity programs are not commonly accredited by program. The universities and colleges that house them are, of course, accredited by regional accreditation agencies listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Bachelor’s degree cybersecurity programs in Idaho that are programmatically accredited are noted below.
Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)
The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the National Centers of Academic Excellence program to recognize outstanding cybersecurity degree programs in the United States. Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) can be found all across the country.
Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Idaho
The following Idaho bachelor’s degree cybersecurity programs have been named as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD):
- Idaho State University –
—Bachelor of Applied Science – Industrial Cybersecurity Engineering Technology
—Bachelor of Business Administration in Informatics – Information Assurance & Security
College of Business
921 South 8th Ave.
Pocatello, ID 83209
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2020
(208) 282-4636
- University of Idaho –
—Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Concentration in Cyber Defense
—Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
College of Engineering, Department of Computer Science
Center for Secure and Dependable Systems
875 Perimeter Drive MS 1008
Moscow, ID 83844-1008
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
(208) 885-4114; csds@uidaho.edu
Other Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity Programs in Idaho
There are more bachelor’s in cybersecurity degree programs in Idaho, such as:
- Boise State University – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Emphasis in Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Also accredited by ABET Computing Accreditation Commission
Department of Computer Science
City Center Plaza, Rm. 364
Pocatello, ID 83209
(208) 426-5766; computerscience@boisestate.edu
- Brigham Young University Idaho– Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Technology
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Department of Computer Information Technology
525 South Center St.
Rexburg, ID 83460
(208) 496-1411; ask@byui.edu
Idaho Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree Program Prerequisites and Curriculum
In order to be admitted into an Idaho cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program, you usually need a background in science and/or math. Courses that you can expect to take in such a program include:
- Cybersecurity and Privacy
- Cybersecurity Management
- Computer Science I & II
- Secure Coding and Analysis
- Operating Systems
- System Software
- Networking Fundamentals
- Operating System Defense
- Network Defense
- Software Vulnerability Analysis
Idaho Cybersecurity Certifications
After you have attained a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Idaho, you should consider pursuing some professional certifications. Having credentials such as the following will help you to market yourself in Idaho’s cybersecurity job market:
- CompTIA Security+
- CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
- SSCCP (Systems Security Certified Practitioner)
- CompTIA CASP+
Cybersecurity Employment Projections for Idaho
Occupational growth in the state of Idaho is projected to be the sixth fastest in the country through 2024, according to a long-term study conducted by the Idaho Department of Labor. Growth in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) occupations is expected to be very strong, at 2.1 percent. By 2024, it is projected that 61 percent of the new jobs in Idaho will require an education higher than a high school diploma. Twenty-nine percent will require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree. This is the time to obtain your bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Idaho if you want to set yourself up for a bright future!