In 2019, the top safety concern for Idaho residents was digital security, according to a survey conducted by Safewise.com. As of 2020, the group notes, theft of digital property is the top crime concern for Idaho citizens. Thirty-seven percent of Idahoans believe that they are more likely to fall victim to a digital crime than to any other type of property crime. More people are concerned than ever before about protecting themselves online and guarding their personal, private digital data.
The state government announced in September 2019 that they had won first place in the MS-ISAC Best of Web Contest for best State Government Cybersecurity Website. Their website helps Idahoans reduce their online risk by providing cybersecurity information, resources and training. It is designed to help everyone—parents, children, educators, and small businesses.
Idaho is clearly one of the leaders in the nation when it comes to cybersecurity awareness. If you would like to join the information security professionals working in Idaho, a great first step is to attain an associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity. Keep reading to discover how you can do so.
Cybersecurity in the News in Idaho
Idaho is home to Idaho National Laboratory, a laboratory of the US Department of Energy that focuses primarily on nuclear research. Under its most recent leader, Mark Peters, who started there in 2015 and announced he was leaving in 2020, he helped to launch a number of initiatives that coincide with cybersecurity. The Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear Initiative, launched in 2015, helped to provide support for the development of nuclear energy in the private sector. HE also negotiated and opened the Cybercore Integration Center and Collaborative Computing Center, which helped to expand cybersecurity education within Idaho’s state university system and helped to develop local cybersecurity talent for the state’s workforce. He has also spearheaded the initiative to open the National Reactor Innovation Center in Idaho soon. Peters now plans to move into a new job as executive vice president for laboratory operations at Battelle Energy Alliance, the contractor running daily operations at the Idaho National Laboratory.
Cybersecurity Career Opportunities for Associate Degree and Certificate Holders in Idaho
An associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity in Idaho can set you up for jobs like:
- Cybersecurity Analyst – Naval Nuclear Laboratory, Idaho Falls
- Cyber Security Operations Analyst – Micron Technology, Boise
- Cyber Data Analyst – CRI Advantage, Inc., Idaho Falls
- Cybersecurity Systems Engineer – Semper Valens Solutions, Mackay
- Information Security Analyst III – American Express, Boise
- Cybersecurity Professional, Continuous Control Monitoring – Humana, Boise
- Cybersecurity Sales – Comodo Cybersecurity, Boise
- Enterprise Security Architect – Virtual Vocations, Boise
Associate Cybersecurity Degrees in Idaho
Names of associate degrees in cybersecurity in Idaho include (but are not limited to):
- Associate in Applied Science in Industrial Cybersecurity Engineering Technology
- Associate in Applied Science in Network Security Administration
- Associate of Applied Science in Information Assurance & Cybersecurity
- Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity
- Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity & Network Administration
Associate Degree and Certificate Cybersecurity Programs in Idaho
Any college or university in Idaho in which you plan to study cybersecurity should be accredited by a regional accreditation agency listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
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 in 1999 to give special recognition to the best cybersecurity degree and certificate programs in the United States.
Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Idaho
These Idaho certificate and associate degree programs are designated as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD):
- Idaho State University –
—Associate in Applied Science – Industrial Cybersecurity Engineering Technology
—Intermediate Technical Certificate–Industrial Cybersecurity Engineering Technology
College of Technology
921 South 8th Ave.
Pocatello, ID 83209
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2020
(208) 282-2800; ctech@isu.edu
- North Idaho College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Network Security Administration
—Intermediate Technical Certificate in Network Security Administration
—Basic Technical Certificate in Cybersecurity & Networking
Career and Technical Programs
1000 W. Garden Ave.
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
(208) 769-3448
- University of Idaho –
—Cybersecurity Undergraduate Academic Certificate
—Secure & Dependable Computing Systems Graduate Academic Certificate
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
More Associate Degree and Certificate Cybersecurity Programs in Idaho
More associate degree and certificate programs in cybersecurity exist in Idaho, like:
- College of Eastern Idaho –
—Associate of Applied Science in Information Assurance & Cybersecurity
—Intermediate Technical Certificate in Information Assurance & Cybersecurity
—Basic Technical Certificate in Information Assurance & Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Business & Technology Department
1600 S 25th E.
Idaho Falls, ID 83404
Don Williams, Program Manager
(208) 535-5429; Donald.wiliams@cei.edu
- College of Western Idaho –
—Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity
—Associate of Applied Science in Cisco Networking & Security Technologies
—Advanced Technical Certificate in Cybersecurity
—Advanced Technical Certificate in Cisco Networking & Security Technologies
—Basic Technical Certificate in Cisco Networking & Security Technologies
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Career & Technical Education
Nampa Campus Academic Bldg.
5500 E. Opportunity Drive
Nampa, ID 83687
John Miriello, Department Chair, Business, Communications & Technology
(208) 562-2523; johnmiriello@cwi.edu
- Treasure Valley Community College – Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security & Network Administration
Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Department of Computer Information Science
205 S. 6th Ave.
Roswell, ID 83605
(541) 881-5898; cis@tvcc.cc
Cybersecurity Associate Degree Curriculum in Idaho
Examples of courses that you can expect to take in a cybersecurity associate degree program in Idaho include:
- Introduction to Hardware & Client Operating Systems
- Network Fundamentals
- Basic Network Routing
- Server Operating Systems
- Fundamentals of Linux
- Introduction to Information Security
- Securing a Directory Services Infrastructure
- Advanced Cybersecurity
- Introduction to Programming for Cybersecurity
- Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures
- Introduction to Digital Forensics
Idaho Cybersecurity Certificates
In addition to the certificates listed above, other cybersecurity certificates available in Idaho include:
- Undergraduate Online Cybersecurity Certificate – Boise State University
- Basic Technical Certificate in Cybersecurity – College of Southern Idaho
- Basic Technical Certificate in Cybersecurity – Lewis- Clark State College
Cybersecurity Salaries in Idaho
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor notes that as of May 2019, Idaho’s information security analysts were making an average annual wage of $90,610. Those employed in the Idaho Falls area made salaries higher than the state average, bringing home $113,000 per year.