Indiana Cybersecurity Certificate and Associate's Degree

Indiana University is one of the nation’s leaders when it comes to countering cyber threats. In partnership with the Big Ten Academic Alliance, Indiana University has pioneered OmniSOC, a specialized security operations center to provide cyberintelligence required to prepare for cyberattacks. OmniSOC, which is based at Indiana University, uses threat detection, machine learning, and real-time data sharing among government, corporate and university members to help other higher education institutions minimize the time between identifying and responding to a cyber threat. 

This center was just announced to the public in 2020, and builds on the university’s 20 years of experience from the Global Research Network Operations Center, with which OmniSOC has also partnered. In addition, OmniSOC works with the university’s Research and Education Networking Information Sharing and Analysis Center (REN-ISAC) which was established in 2003. 

Getting the right training and education in cybersecurity is vital if you want to work within the field in Indiana. An associate degree or certificate can be sufficient to get started in this exciting and emerging field. If you’d like to learn how to earn an associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity in Indiana, keep reading.

Indiana Cybersecurity in the News

Recently, it was announced that Indiana will participate, once again, in CyberStart America, which is an online cybersecurity talent competition and search that aims to encourage high school students to pursue cybersecurity training and careers. It is sponsored by the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation and Maryland’s SANS Institute.

Indiana’s governor, Eric Holcomb, noted that cybersecurity skills are in high demand in Indiana and across the nation. He hopes that teaching young Indianans these skills at an early age will help to meet that demand and invest in the state’s future. The program is free for students in grades 9 through 12 to participate.

Cybersecurity Jobs for Associate Degree and Certificate Holders in Indiana 

If you hold an associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity in Indiana, you might become eligible for jobs such as:

  • Threat Analyst – Sophos, Carmel
  • IT Security Associate – Allison Transmission, Inc., Indianapolis 
  • Security Analyst, Anti-Phishing – PayPal, Indianapolis
  • IT Identity Access Specialist – Guild Mortgage, Indianapolis 
  • Epic Security Analyst – Community Health Network, Indianapolis
  • Cyber Security Engineer- Enterprise Unified Solutions, Inc., Indianapolis
  • Business Analyst, Products & Solutions, Security IT – Stanley Black & Decker, Fishers
  • Information Security Specialist – US Dept. of the Air Force, Terre Haute
  • Ethics, Compliance & Data Privacy- Cook Group, Bloomington
  • Incident Response Analyst – P3S Corporation, Edinburgh 

Associate Cybersecurity Degree Names in Indiana

Some of the associate cybersecurity degrees available across Indiana include:

  • Associate of Science in Cyber Security/Information Assurance
  • Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security/Information Assurance
  • Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology
  • Associate of Science Career/Tech – IT Support and Cyber Security 

Associate Degree and Certificate Cybersecurity Programs in Indiana

When selecting a college or university in Indiana at which to pursue your cybersecurity education, be sure that it holds accreditation by a regional accreditation agency recognized by 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 kudos to the best cybersecurity programs in the nation.

Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Indiana

The following Indiana associate degree and certificate cybersecurity programs are designated as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD):

  • Ivy Tech Community College – 

—Associate of Science in Cyber Security/Information Assurance (on campus or online)

—Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security/Information Assurance (on campus or online)

—Technical Certificate in Cyber Security/Information Assurance (on campus or online)

—Certificate in Network Security (on campus or online)

—Certificate in Network Penetration (on campus or online)

—Certificate in Digital Forensics (on campus or online)

Center for Cyber Security

50 Walnut ST.

Lawrenceburg, IN 47025

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022

Darryl Togashi, Contact

(260) 222-8887; dtogashi@ivytecch.edu 

  • Purdue University Global – 

—Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology – concentrations available in IT generalist, programming and software development, and network administration (online)

—Computer Forensics Postbaccalaureate Certificate (online)

—Graduate Certificate in Information Security (online)

—Information Security Postbaccalaureate Certificate (online)

9000 Keystone Crossing, Suite 800

Indianapolis, IN 46240

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2025

(844) PURDUE-G

Other Indiana Colleges and Universities Offering Cybersecurity Associate Degrees/Certificates

There are other associate degree and certificate cybersecurity programs that are not CAEs in Indiana, and some of them include:

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Luddy School of Informatics, Computing & Engineering

940 E. Seventh St.

Bloomington, IN 47405-7108

(812) 855-0661; luddyrec@indiana.edu 

Accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET)

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Purdue School of Engineering & Technology 

799 W. Michigan St.

Indianapolis, IN 46202-5195

(317) 274-2533

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

National & Global Programs 

1900 W. 50th St.

Marion, IN 46953

(866) 498-4968

Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

College of Business & Public Service

1002 North First Street

Vincennes, IN 47591

(812) 888-VUVU

Indiana Cybersecurity Associate Degree Curriculum

Classes that you will likely take in a cybersecurity associate degree program in Indiana include:

  • Information and Data Security
  • Introduction to Databases
  • Discrete Structures
  • Introduction to Network Operations and Security
  • Basic Cyber Crime and Computer Forensics
  • Cyber Security Operations
  • Computer Configuration and Management
  • Business Driven Communications and Networking 

Indiana Cybersecurity Certificates 

Valuable cybersecurity certificates that are available throughout Indiana, in addition to those listed above, include:

  • Undergraduate Cybersecurity Certificate – University of Southern Indiana Romain College of Business
  • Cyber Security and Network Operations Certificate of Graduation – Vincennes University
  • Cyber Risk Management Certificate online – Butler University

Salary for Cybersecurity Professionals in Indiana

The BLS notes that the average mean wage for information security analysts in Indiana, as of May 2019, was $78,780. Those working in various areas of the state earned salaries that were higher or lower than this state average, as listed below:

  • Anderson: $79,010
  • Carmel: $79,010
  • Evansville IN/KY: $83,540
  • Fort Wayne: $81,010
  • Indianapolis: $79,010
  • South Bend/Mishawaka IN/MI: $84,110
  • Southern IN nonmetro area: $64,970
  • Terre Haute: $59,130