According to a report published in 2009 by the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development, Maryland has been, and continues to be, a leader in cybersecurity across the nation. It is home to some of the country’s top research universities such as Johns Hopkins University, the University of Maryland-College Park, and the University of Maryland Baltimore County. These three universities conduct $1 billion in funded research each year. Maryland is first in federal research and development per capita, second in the Milken Institute’s 2008 State Technology and Science Index, second in federal research and development investment (totaling $12.2 billion), second in the ratio of research and development expenditures to gross economic product, had the third highest score in the 2008 State New Economy Index, and has the seventh highest number of computer systems design jobs and engineering services jobs.
Maryland also has the fifth highest concentration of tech industry workers, and is second in the nation in professional and technical workers as a percentage of the workforce. Additionally, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2019, Maryland has the third highest concentration of jobs in information security (cybersecurity) in the nation, at 5860 total jobs, or 2.17 employment per 1000 jobs.
Clearly, cybersecurity is a booming business in Maryland, as well as across the United States. You can enter the cybersecurity field with an associate degree or certificate. If you would like to learn more about how to do so, please read on.
Cybersecurity in the News in Maryland
In July 2020, it was announced that a hack on a Maryland long-term care facility computer network exposed the personal information of 47,754 residents statewide. The Lorien Health Services computer network was hacked, with the breach discovered June 6. Residents who were affected by the breach were notified via letter on June 16, and a notice of the breach was published on Lorien’s website on July 17. The hacker encrypted some of the facility’s information and gained access to residents’ names, Social Security numbers, addresses, dates of birth, and diagnosis/treatment information. Lorien offered free credit monitoring and identity protection services to residents whose info was breached in this cyberattack.
Jobs in Cybersecurity for Those with Associate Degrees in Maryland
There are jobs in cybersecurity that you can obtain with an associate degree or certificate. In Maryland, some of them include:
- Cyber Security Analyst – ECS, Aberdeen
- Technical/Cyber Security Analyst – Centra Technology, Bethesda
- Information System Security Professional- National Security Agency, Fort Meade
- Classified Cyber Security Analyst – Lockheed Martin, Patuxent River
- Cyber/Network Security Specialist Level 1 – Olgoonik, Germantown
- Cybersecurity DevOps Engineer – Morgan Stanley, Baltimore
- Network Security Analyst – Dice, Lanham-Seabrook
- IT Cybersecurity Specialist (INFOSEC) – US Department of the Navy, Fort Meade
- Cyber Security Consultant – Technogen, Inc., Cockeysville
- Cyber Security Consultant/Information Security Office – Capital One, Takoma Park
Cybersecurity Associate Degrees in Maryland
There are a variety of associate degree programs in cybersecurity in Maryland, including but not limited to:
- Associate of Applied Science in Digital Forensics, Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
- Associate of Applied Science in Networking, Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
- Associate of Applied Science in Security, Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
- Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity
- Associate of Science in Cybersecurity
Maryland Cybersecurity Associate Degree and Certificate Programs
When you are choosing a school to attend to obtain your associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity in Maryland, make sure that it is accredited by an 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) has established the National Centers of Academic Excellence program to recognize outstanding undergraduate and graduate degrees as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
Maryland Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education
These Maryland cybersecurity associate degree and certificate programs are called Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE):
- Anne Arundel Community College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Digital Forensics, Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
—Associate of Applied Science in Networking, Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
—Associate of Applied Science in Security, Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
—Certificate in Advanced Digital Forensics
—Certificate in Advanced Network Security
—Certificate in Cyber Technology
—Certificate in Digital Forensics
—Certificate in Network Security
—Certificate in Server Administration and Security
—Certificate in Computer Network Management, UNIX/LINUX System Administrator
School of Science, Technology and Education, Cybersecurity, Networking and Digital Forensics
101 College Parkway
Arnold, MD 21012-1895
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2020
Mary Wallingsford, Contact
(410) 777-7173; mewalllingsford@aacc.edu
- Cecil College –
– Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity
One Seahawk Drive
North East, MD 21901
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024
Christine Warwick, Chair
(443) 674-1985; cwarwick@cecil.edu
- College of Southern Maryland –
—Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity
8730 Mitchell Road
La Plata, MD 20646
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2020
Bernice Brezina, Division Chair
(301) 934-7556; BerniceB@csmd.edu
- Hagerstown Community College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity
—Associate of Science in Cybersecurity
—Certificate in Advanced Network Security, Cybersecurity
—Certificate in Cisco CCNA Prep, Cybersecurity
—Certificate in Network Security, Cybersecurity
Technology & Computer Studies Division
11400 Robinwood Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21742
CAE- Cyber Defense- Accredited through 2020
Diana Bartlett, Assistant Professor
(240) 500-2536; dmbartlett@hagerstowncc.edu
- Harford Community College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
—Certificate in Information Systems Security, Cyber Defense
401 Thomas Run Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
CAE- Cyber Defense- Accredited through 2020
David Law, Assistant Professor
(443) 412-2264; dlaw@harford.edu
- The Community College of Baltimore County –
—Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity
—Associate of Applied Science in Digital Forensics
—Associate of Applied Science in Network Technology
Cybersecurity Institute
800 South Rolling Road
Baltimore, MD 21228
CAE- Cyber Defense- Accredited through 2021
Noell Damron, Dept. Chair
(443) 840-2811; cdamron@ccbcmd.edu
Associate Degree Cybersecurity Program Courses in Maryland
Coursework is usually uniform in an associate degree in cybersecurity program, no matter what institution you attend. Topics should include:
- Introduction to Programming
- Ethics in Information Technology
- Introduction to Networking
- Information Security Fundamentals
- Introduction to Computer Forensics and Investigations
- Tactical Perimeter Defense
- Strategic Infrastructure Security
- Cisco Certified Network Associate
Cybersecurity Certificates in Maryland
Certificates in cybersecurity in Maryland abound. Some of them include:
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Information Assurance Administration – Capitol Technology University
- Cybersecurity Certificate – Hood College
- Cyber Forensics Technology Certificate – Howard Community College
- Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity – SANS Technology Institute
- Online Certificate in Digital Forensics – Stevenson University
- Graduate Certificate in Information Security and Assurance – Towson University
Cybersecurity Salaries in Maryland
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the United States Department of Labor notes that as of May 2019, the average annual salary in Maryland for cybersecurity professionals (information security analysts) was $108,300. This is slightly higher than the national average of $104,210. Areas of Maryland that pay higher than the average state wage for this occupation include:
- Washington/Arlington/Alexandria DC/MD/VA/WV: $117,810
- Baltimore/Columbia/Towson: $110,150