The state of New York is filled with cybersecurity companies that are known for their innovation and cutting-edge technology. Cybercrime Magazine has listed many of the hottest New York cybersecurity companies in 2020. A few of them are:
- Avanan
- BioCatch
- Capsule8
- Deloitte
- HYPR
- Kroll Cyber Security
- Siemplify
- Uplevel
- Verint
- White Ops
According to Cybercrime Magazine, the New York metro area (including New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) currently has the second-largest number of cybersecurity job openings, at 20,000. This makes sense when you think not only of the great number of cybersecurity companies within the NYC area, but also the giant Fortune 500 companies like JPMorgan Chase, Verizon Communications, Goldman Sachs Group and AIG, all of which need well-trained cybersecurity professionals to keep their data safe and secure.
If you want to work in cybersecurity in the Empire State, your first step is to attain a bachelor’s degree. Read on to discover how you can accomplish this educational goal.
New York Cybersecurity Law
In 2019, the New York State Legislature passed a law that further protects New York residents’ data, called the Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security (SHIELD) Act. This act expanded the definition of breach of security of a system to include any system that has access to data. Now, unauthorized access of private information is a reportable event. If you conduct business and hold a New York resident’s personal information, you are affected by this bill. It is just the latest way that the government of the state of New York is ensuring its residents’ personal data is protected no matter where it lies.
Cybersecurity Education in New York
New York state is full of good cybersecurity jobs, most of which are attainable with a bachelor’s degree. Here is just a small sampling of the types of cybersecurity jobs available in New York:
- Cybersecurity Analyst – Moody’s Corporation, New York City
- Security Specialist – US Department of Defense, Rome
- Cyber Security Engineer- Click Therapeutics, Inc., Walton
- Research Engineer, Cybersecurity – General Electric, Schenectady
- Cybersecurity Network Defense Specialist – Wilmington Trust, Buffalo
- Act Two Program – Cyber Security – NBCUniversal, New York City
- Chief Information Security Officer- SUNY, Albany
- Cyber Security Program Lead – New York Power Authority, White Plains
- Information Cyber Security Innovation Engineer- Wells Fargo, New York City
- Senior Information Security Analyst – Constellation Brands, Canandaigua
Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree Program Names in New York
Cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programs may be called many things. In New York, their titles include:
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science- Concentration in Network Security
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Security & Information Assurance concentration
- Bachelor of Science in Computing Security
- Bachelor of Technology in Cyber Security
Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Programs in New York
Cybersecurity bachelor’s programs do not typically hold program accreditation. The colleges and universities in which they are located are accredited by agencies listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Exceptions, or New York bachelor’s degree cybersecurity programs that hold some sort of programmatic accreditation, are noted below.
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 to recognize extraordinary bachelor’s degrees cybersecurity as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
New York’s Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education
These bachelor’s degree cybersecurity programs in New York are listed as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE):
- Excelsior College – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (online)
National Cybersecurity Institute
7 Columbia Circle
Albany, NY 12203-5159
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024
Dr. Ethan Sprissler, Director
(518) 608-8197; esprissler@excelsior.edu
- Mercy College – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (on campus- Dobbs Ferry and Bronx campuses; and online)
Cybersecurity Education Center
555 Broadway
Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2020
John Yoon, Associate Professor
(914) 674-7461; jyoon@mercy.edu
- New York Institute of Technology – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Concentration in Network Security (on campus- New York and Long Island campuses)
16 W. 61st St., First Floor
New York, NY
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024
(800) 345-NYIT; admissions@nyit.edu
- Pace University –
—Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Security and Information Assurance Concentration
—Bachelor of Science in Professional Technology Studies – Computer Forensics Concentration (online)
Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems
One Pace Plaza
New York, NY
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
Li-Chiou Chen, Chair
(914) 773-3907; lchen@pace.edu
- Rochester Institute of Technology – Bachelor of Science in Computing Security
Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, Dept. of Computing Security
92 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623-5608
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
Rob Olson, Lecturer
(585) 475-4601; rboics@rit.edu
- Syracuse University –
—Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
College of Engineering & Computer Science
223 Link Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
(866) 498-9378; cyberengineering@syr.edu
- University at Albany, State University of New York – Bachelor of Arts/Science in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
(also FEMA EMI – see below)
College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
1400 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12222
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2023
Robert P. Griffin, Dean
(518) 442-5258; rpgriffin@albany.edu
- Utica College – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (on campus or online)
(also FEMA EMI- see below)
1600 Burrstone Rd.
Utica, NY 13502-4892
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024
Joseph V. Giordano, M.S.,Director
(315) 223-2521; jgiorda@utica.edu
New York’s FEMA EMI Recommended Bachelor’s Degree Programs
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Management Institute (FEMA EMI) endorses the following cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programs in New York:
- University at Albany, State University of New York – Bachelor of Arts/Science in Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
(also CAE-CDE- see above)
College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
1400 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12222
Robert P. Griffin, Dean
(518) 442-5258; rpgriffin@albany.edu
- Utica College – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (on campus or online)
(also CAE-CDE- see above)
1600 Burrstone Rd.
Utica, NY 13502-4892
Joseph V. Giordano, M.S., Director
(315) 223-2521; jgiorda@utica.edu
New York’s Other Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Cybersecurity
Other cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programs in New York you might want to check out include:
- Alfred State College, State University of New York – Bachelor of Technology in Cyber Security
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
10 Upper College Drive
Alfred, NY 14802
(800) 425-3733
- Berkeley College – Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies-Criminal Justice – Concentration in Cyber Security (on campus and online)
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
School of Professional Studies
3 East 43rd St.
New York, NY 10017
(800) 446-5400 ext WBW
- DeVry College of New York –
–Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems – Cyber Security Programming Specialization (online, hybrid)
–Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Networking with Cyber Security Specialization (online, hybrid)
–Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems – Computer Forensics Specialization (online, hybrid)
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
180 Madison Ave, Suite 1200
New York, NY 10016
(212) 312-4300
- Hilbert College – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Computer Security & Information Assurance
5200 South Park Ave.
Hamburg, NY 14075
Professor Scott Patronik, Chair, CSIA/Cybersecurity
(716) 649-7900, ext. 401
- Hofstra University – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Hempstead, NY 11549-1000
(516) 463-6600
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
School of Arts & Science
715 North Ave.
New Rochelle, NY 10801
(800) 231-IONA
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Security
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Dept. of Mathematics and Computer Science
524 W. 59th St.
New York, NY 10019
Professor Sven Dietrich, Coordinator
(212) 393-6839; sdietrich@jjay.cuny.edu
- Marist College – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
School of Computer Science & Mathematics, Dept. of Computing Technology
3399 North Road
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 575-3000
- Monroe College – Bachelor of Science in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity (Online, on campus, hybrid)
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
School of Information Technology
2501 Jerome Ave.
The Bronx, NY 10468
(800) 556-6676
- New York School of Career & Applied Studies, a Division of Touro College – Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Network Administration & Security
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
320 West 31st St.
New York, NY 10001
(212) 463-0400
- St. Bonaventure University – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (online)
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
The Lesley H. and William L. Collins College of Professional Studies
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439
Erald Troja, Program Director
(718) 990-3076; troje@stjohns.edu
- St. John’s University – Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security Systems
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Department of Cybersecurity, Western New York Cybersecurity Research Center
110 Walsh Science Center
St. Bonaventure, NY 14778
Dr. Hossein Sarrafzadeh, Director
(716) 375-2089
- State University of New York, Canton – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (online)
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
34 Cornell Drive
Canton, NY 13617
Minhua Wang, Program Coordinator
(315) 386-7691; wang@canton.edu
- State University of New York, Cobleskill – Bachelor of Technology in Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
106 Suffolk Circle
Cobleskill, NY 12043
Dr. Jack Rivituso, Program Coordinator
(518) 255-5274; rivitug@cobleskill.edu
- State University of New York Online – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (online)
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
H. Carl McCall SUNY Bldg.
353 Broadway
Albany, NY 12246
(518) 445-4140; studyonline@suny.edu
- State University of New York, Plattsburgh – Bachelor of Science in Computer Security (online)
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
Computer Science Dept.
211B Beaumont Hall
101 Broad St.
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
Dr. Delbert Hart, Chair of Computer Science
(518) 564-2775; csc@plattsburgh.edu
- State University of New York Polytechnic Institute – Bachelor of Science in Network & Computer Security: Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
100 Seymour Rd.
Utica, NY 13502
John A. Marsh, Ph.D., Chair
(315) 792-7125; john.marsh@sunypoly.edu
- Syracuse University – Bachelor of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Administration (online) (not CAE-CDE)
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
700 University Ave.
Syracuse, NY 13244
(866) 498-9378
- The College of St. Rose – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
The School of Math & Sciences, Computer Information Systems
432 Western Ave.
Albany, NY 12203
Ian MacDonald, Dean
(518) 454-5163; macdonai@strose.edu
- United States Military Academy, West Point – Bachelor of Science in Electronic and Information Technology Systems – Information Assurance
Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
1 Thayer Road
West Point, NY 10996
LTC Thomas Babbitt, Program Director
(845) 938-4011
Cybersecurity Certifications in New York
Once you have obtained a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, you should consider pursuing a certification such as the following, which makes you an even hotter commodity in New York’s job market:
- CompTIA Project +
- CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
- CHFI (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator)
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
- ASA (Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance)
Cybersecurity’s Future in New York State
Per the New York Department of Labor, jobs within the classification of computer and mathematical occupations are projected to increase by 17.8 percent statewide from 2016 to 2026. The New York City Economic Development Corporation has launched Cyber NYC, to help create and fill 10,000 cyber jobs, fuel new startup operations, and protect the city’s biggest employers. It is one of the largest and most important cybersecurity initiatives in the United States, designed to turn New York City into a cybersecurity innovator over the next decade. Getting a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in New York can assure you a promising future.