Cybersecurity education is important in Nevada, beginning at the K-12 level. The Nevada Department of Education created standards for career and technical education in cybersecurity. They developed a new three course pathway to help students earn Network+ and A+ certifications from CompTIA. They also are training high school teachers to enable them to teach more courses in cybersecurity. 

Additionally, the state has 59 CyberPatriot teams, part of the National Youth Cyber Education Program. These teams participate in the National Youth Cyber Defense Competition each year, placing teams of high school and middle school students in the roles of jobs of IT professionals who must manage a small company’s network. Teams must find vulnerabilities in operating systems and help to maintain critical systems during the six-hour-long competition. 

Nevada has allocated money to the Clark County School District to create a career and technical education program in cybersecurity at three high schools in the district. Students can earn industry certifications during this training and learn the basics of cybersecurity. The Washoe County School District is also creating similar programs at two of its high schools, as is Pinecrest Academy in Henderson. 

Nevada is proactive when it comes to K-12 cybersecurity education, and a great example for other states to follow. After graduating from the K-12 system, many students will decide upon getting an associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity. If you would like more information on this process, please keep reading. 

Cybersecurity Law in Nevada

Nevada became the second state to allow consumers to opt out of the sale of their private, personal information in October 2019, when Senate Bill 220 was passed. Any personally identifiable information about a consumer or household can be opted out of sharing or selling, such as name, physical address, email address, telephone number, social security number, identifiers that allow a person to be contacted physically or online, and other information that makes a person identifiable. This bill requires operators to establish a designated request address, such as a phone number or email address, to receive opt-out requests from consumers. Once a request is made, the operator must respond within 60 days of receiving that request. Violations are subject to a $5000 fine per case. 

Earning an Associate Degree or Certificate in Cybersecurity in Nevada 

When you get an associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity in Nevada, you may become suited for jobs such as:

  • Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist – US Department of Energy, Las Vegas
  • Cyber Security Analyst II – ITR, statewide
  • Network Implementation Technician, Entry-Level- AIETA, Las Vegas
  • Analyst I, Cyber Security – Las Vegas Sands Corp., Las Vegas
  • Information Security Analyst – P3 Health Group Management, LLC, Henderson
  • Cyber Security Analyst – Alion Science and Technology, Fallon
  • Cyber Security Analyst Apprentice – IBM, Carson City
  • Cloud Cyber Security Threat Engineer- Humana, Las Vegas
  • Entry-Level Security Services Consultant – IBM, Sparks
  • Information Security Analyst I – Change Healthcare, Las Vegas 

Associate Degree and Certificate Cybersecurity Programs in Nevada

All associate degree and certificate cybersecurity program in Nevada should be housed within an institution that holds regional accreditation through an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). 

Nevada Cybersecurity Associate Degree Program Titles

Associate degree programs that could help you land a job in cybersecurity in Nevada include:

  • Associate of Applied Science in Computing & Information Technology: Cyber Security- Compliance
  • Associate of Applied Science in Computing & Information Technology: Cyber Security – Digital Forensics
  • Associate of Applied Science in Computing & Information Technology: Cyber Security – Network Security
  • Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Technology- Cybersecurity

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 degree and certificate programs across the country.   

Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Nevada

These cybersecurity programs in Nevada are designated as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) under the National Centers for Academic Excellence:

  • College of Southern Nevada – 

—Associate of Applied Science in Computing & Information Technology: Cyber Security- Compliance

—Associate of Applied Science in Computing & Information Technology: Cyber Security – Digital Forensics

—Associate of Applied Science in Computing & Information Technology: Cyber Security – Network Security

—Certificate of Achievement in Computing & Information Technology: Cyber Security – Digital Forensics

700 College Drive

Henderson, NV 89002

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2023

Margaret Taylor, Contact

(702) 651-2631; Margaret.Taylor@csn.edu 

CyberSecurity Center

4505 S. Maryland Pkwy.

Las Vegas, NV 89154

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024

Dory A. Mizrachi, Ph.D., Contact

(702) 895-0206; dory.mizrachi@unlv.edu 

College of Engineering, Cybersecurity Center

1664 N. Virginia St.

Reno, NV 89557

CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024

Dr. Shamik Sengupta, Associate Professor and Exec. Director of Cybersecurity Center

(775) 784-6953; ssengupta@unr.edu 

Additional Nevada Cybersecurity Associate Degree and Certificate Programs

More associate degree and certificate programs in cybersecurity exist in Nevada, such as:

  • Truckee Meadows Community College – 

—Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Technology- Cybersecurity

—Skills Certificate in Computer Information Technology, Cybersecurity Skills Preparation

Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

7000 Dandini Boulevard

Reno, NV 89512

(775) 673-7111

  • Western Nevada College – 

—Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Technology-Cybersecurity

—Certificate of Achievement in Cybersecurity

Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

Division of Professional & Applied Technologies

2201 West College Parkway

Carson City, NV 89703

(775) 445-3000; info_desk@wnc.edu 

Nevada Cybersecurity Curriculum for an Associate Degree

Although your classes will differ depending upon the associate degree in cybersecurity program you choose in Nevada, they will generally cover the following topics:

  • Information Technology Essentials
  • Introduction to Software Development
  • Security+
  • Introduction to Information Technology Project Management
  • Introduction to Informatics
  • Linux
  • Microsoft Networking
  • Network Defense
  • Ethical Hacking
  • Hacking Forensics Investigation
  • CCNA Routing Protocols

Cybersecurity Salaries in Nevada

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that as of May 2019, information security/cybersecurity analysts employed in Nevada earned an annual mean wage of $102,770. Those working in the Reno area earned slightly lower annual wages of $83,720; while those working in the Las Vegas/Henderson/Paradise area earned wages higher than the state average, at $107,380.