In 2020, the University of Tennessee Medical Center announced a data breach that impacted 235,000 people. This breach came about as a result of the Blackbaud cyberattack in May 2020, exposing the personal data of thousands of people worldwide. Blackbaud provides the third-party software provider that the University of Tennessee Medical Center uses. It assured those affected that personal financial information was not accessed in this breach.
This breach points to the unfortunate fact that, no matter how stringent a business or organization’s cybersecurity policies and procedures are, they can still be compromised by third-party vendors. This is just one reason why more educated and trained professionals are needed to work in the information security field in Tennessee and around the world. Breaking into this field is possible with an associate degree or certificate. If you live in Tennessee and would like to learn how to become a cybersecurity professional with an associate degree or certificate, read on.
Tennessee Cybersecurity Law
Tennessee was one of the first states to enact a data breach notification law, in 2005. It is contained within the Identity Theft Deterrence Act of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act. Under this law, anyone holding personal information of a Tennessee resident must notify residents within 45 days of a breach of that information- even if it is reasonably believed, but not known, that there was a breach. Protected information includes the first name of a person or first initial and last name, in combination with their social security number, driver’s license number, account number, debit card number, or credit card number. Notification must be made in writing, via e-mail, and, if the breach affected over 500,000 individuals, via statewide media.
Employment in Cybersecurity for Associate Degree or Certificate Holders in Tennessee
If you hold an associate degree or certificate in cybersecurity in Tennessee, you may be eligible for jobs like:
- Cyber Security Analyst – FedEx Services, Fisherville and Collierville
- Information Security Analyst I – Change Healthcare, Nashville, Fairview and Pegram
- Cyber Risk Analyst – Taintly, Nashville
- Cyber Security Analyst – Leidos, Nashville and Memphis
- Network Security Analyst – Deloitte, Nashville
- Cyber Defense Analyst – SAIC, Oak Ridge
- Information Security Analyst – C Spire, Nashville
- Security Analyst – First Bank Online, Nashville
- Information Security Analyst – Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Memphis
- Security Systems Analyst – Morphotrust USA, Franklin
Tennessee Cybersecurity Programs at the Associate Degree and Certificate Level
One of the most important aspects of a cybersecurity program is accreditation of the institution housing it. Any college or university that you choose to attend should hold regional or national accreditation through an agency that is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Tennessee Associate Degree Programs in Cybersecurity
Names of associate degree level programs in cybersecurity in Tennessee include:
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems – Cyber Defense Concentration
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems – Networking Concentration
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Tech: Cyber Defense
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Technology: Cyber Defense Concentration
- Associate of Science in Network Administration and Security
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Security Agency (NSA) established the National Centers of Academic Excellence program in 1999 to highlight the most outstanding cybersecurity degree and certificate programs across the country, including within Tennessee.
Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Tennessee
These Tennessee associate degree and certificate programs in cybersecurity have been chosen as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) under the NSA-DHS National Centers for Academic Excellence program:
- Jackson State Community College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems – Cyber Defense Concentration
—Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems – Networking Concentration
Cyber Security Center
2046 North Parkway
Jackson, TN 38301
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
Dr. Tom Pigg, Contact
(731) 424-3520, ext. 50201; tpigg@jscc.edu
- Roane State Community College – Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Tech: Cyber Defense
Cyber Center
276 Patton Lane
Harriman, TN 37748-5011
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2025
Dr. George Meghabghab, Director of CITC degree, Cyber Defense Concentration
(865) 354-3000, ext. 2121; meghabghagv@roanestate.edu
- University of Memphis – Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Dept. of Computer Science, Center for Information Assurance
FedEx Institute of Technology
365 Innovation Drive, Suite 335 A
Memphis, TN 38152-3115
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
Dr. Dipankar Dasgupta, Center Director
(901) 678-4147; ddasgupt@memphis.edu
- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga –
—Undergraduate Certificate in Information Systems Security
—Undergraduate Certificate in Advanced Information Systems Security
Information Security Center
313 EMCS Bldg., Dept 2302
615 McCallie Ave.
Chattanooga, TN 37403
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
Dr. Li Yang, Contact
(423) 425-4392; Li-Yang@utc.edu
Additional Associate Degree Programs in Cybersecurity in Tennessee
More cybersecurity programs at the associate degree level in Tennessee include:
- Motlow State Community College – Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Technology: Cyber Defense Concentration Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) Also accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
Business & Technology Department
6015 Ledford Mill Rd.
Tullahoma, TN 37388
(800) 654-4877
- South College – Associate of Science in Network Administration and Security (online) Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
3904 Lonas Drive
Knoxville, TN 37909
(865) 288-8750
Tennessee Cybersecurity Associate Degree Program Courses
The curriculum for an associate degree in cybersecurity program in Tennessee will differ depending upon the institution and concentration you choose. However, classes will typically cover topics like:
- Computer Applications
- Beginning HTML and CSS
- Intro to Networking
- Intro to Programming
- Database Concepts
- A+ Hardware
- A+ Software
- Principles of Information Assurance
- Unix and Linux Operating Systems
- Network Security
- Digital Forensics
Tennessee Cybersecurity Certificates
There are more certificates in Tennessee in cybersecurity offered by other schools, such as:
- Information Security Technical Certificate – Nashville State Community College
- Cyber Defense Certificate- Cleveland State Community College
- Systems Administration and Management Certificate – Cleveland State Community College
- Certificate in Network and Infrastructure Cyber Security Specialist – Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Murfreesboro
- Cyber Security Technical Certificate – Columbia State Community College
Cybersecurity Salaries in Tennessee
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the U.S. Department of Labor has quoted the average information security analyst salary in Tennessee at $86,190 (May 2019 figures). Wages differ depending where in Tennessee you work, as you can see from the figures of annual mean wages below (also from the BLS):
- Bristol $90,230
- Chattanooga $89,970
- Davidson $78,140
- Franklin $78,140
- Johnson City $88,530
- Kingsport $90,230
- Knoxville $96,710
- Memphis $98,360
- Murfreesboro $78,140
- Nashville $78,140