Between 2019 and 2020, it has been reported that the state of Louisiana has paid $2.3 million in responding to cyberattacks across the state. The state’s Division of Administration spent that much money on five cyberattacks occurring between 2019 and 2020. Much of the money was spent on staff members who went to various school districts and state agencies statewide to help repair computers that had been attacked by ransomware. One cyberattack alone on the Office of Motor Vehicles in November 2019 cost the state $1.7 million.
Louisiana needs to allocate money to upgrade and improve computer systems across the state, but so far, this money has not been budgeted. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne said that many state agencies are still in the dark ages when it comes to cybersecurity and information technology, using outdated computer systems that are sorely in need of replacement.
Cybersecurity is an important concern not just for Louisiana’s government, but for all state, public and private industries. Working in this field usually requires a minimum of an associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity. If you are interested in working in cybersecurity in Louisiana, please keep reading to discover how you can get started on this rewarding career path.
Cybersecurity in the News in Louisiana
In October 2020, it was reported that the Louisiana National Guard had been called in to stop planned cyberattacks against small government offices across the state. It is believed that the cyberattacks were directed at disrupting the U.S. election or, possibly, an attempt to get money by deploying ransomware. Luckily the attacks were stopped in time so that the elections were not disrupted. Cybersecurity analysts discovered that one of the tools the Louisiana hackers were using was tied to a group associated with the North Korean government. This tool, a remote access trojan (RAT), is used to infiltrate computer networks. Some of the code of this RAT (called KimJongRat) had been publicized in a computer virus repository, however, and could easily have been copied by hackers so it might not be directly related to North Korea.
A few Cybersecurity Jobs in the State of Louisiana
Louisiana is filled with cybersecurity jobs that are attainable with a bachelor’s degree, such as:
- Cyber Security Analyst – General Dynamics, Bossier City
- Information Technology Specialist – US Department of the Air Force, Barksdale AFB
- IT Cybersecurity Specialist – US Department of Homeland Security, New Orleans
- Cyber Security Specialist – GRAVICOM, LLC, New Orleans
- Manager of Information Technology and Information Security – Ampirical, Mandeville
- Information Security Specialist – Technologix, Shreveport
Cybersecurity Associate Degree Programs in Louisiana
Titles of associate degree programs in cybersecurity in Louisiana include (but are not limited to):
- Associate in Applied Science in Cyber Technology, Network Security Concentration
- Associate in Applied Science in Cyber Technology, Programmer Analyst Concentration
- Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Technology – Cyber Security Concentration
Associate Degree and Certificate Cybersecurity Programs in Louisiana
Institutions within Louisiana housing cybersecurity associate degrees and certificates should be accredited by agencies listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)
Established by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 1999, the National Centers of Academic Excellence program gives recognition to the most outstanding cybersecurity certificate and degree programs as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Louisiana
Just two schools in Louisiana host programs at the associate and certificate level that are designated as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE):
- Bossier Parish Community College —
—Associate in Applied Science in Cyber Technology, Network Security Concentration
—Associate in Applied Science in Cyber Technology, Programmer Analyst Concentration
—Certificate of Technical Studies in Information Systems Security Professionals
—Career and Technical Certificate in Network Security
Division of Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Bldg. G, Room 142
6220 E. Texas St.
Bossier City, LA 71111
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
Chris Rondeau, Contact
(318) 678-6317; crondeau@bpcc.edu
- Louisiana Tech University —
—Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance
—Undergraduate Certificate in Information Assurance & Cyber Security Management
School of Business, Center for Information Assurance
Ruston, LA 71272
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024
T. Selwyn Ellis, D.B.A., CIS Department Head
(318) 257-2026; ellis@latech.edu
Additional Associate Degree and Certificate Cybersecurity Programs in Louisiana
Other programs include:
- Louisiana Delta Community College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology
—Career & Technical Certificate in Cybersecurity Specialist
—Certificate of Technical Studies in Network & Security Analyst
Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
7500 Millhaven Road
Monroe, LA 71203
(318) 345-9000
- Louisiana State University – Eunice- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Technology- Cyber Security Concentration
Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
2048 Johnson Hwy.
Eunice, LA 70535
(337) 457-7311
- Loyola University New Orleans – Cybersecurity Certificate (online)
Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
6363 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 475-1400
- Tulane University –
—Post-Baccalaureate Cybersecurity Certificate
—Cyber Defense Graduate Certificate
Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
School of Professional Advancement
6823 St. Charles Ave
125 Gibson Hall
New Orleans, LA 70118
(504) 865-5555
Cybersecurity Associate Degree Program Classes in Louisiana
Although associate degree cybersecurity programs differ from one school to the next, there are certain classes that are uniform and usually found in all of them. Some of these include:
- Introduction to Computer Science
- Fundamentals of Programming
- PC Services and Network Support
- Visual Basic Programming
- Systems Analysis & Design
- Object Oriented Systems Analysis & Design
- Software Security
Louisiana Cybersecurity Salaries
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual mean wage for information security analysts employed in Louisiana in May 2019 was $75,250. Depending upon where you work in the state, wages could be higher or lower than this average, of course, as exemplified in the statistics listed below:
- Baton Rouge: $76,840
- Lafayette: $56,560
- Metairie: $76,610
- New Orleans: $76,610