Although Vermont is a state with a population of just 650,000, it, too, is feeling the shortage of cybersecurity talent that the rest of the United States has also been experiencing. Cybersecurity is quite important to Vermont, as it is home to two military bases, a $2 billion aerospace industry, and a technology sector that grew by 8.3 percent from 2005 to 2014. With businesses consisting of a mixture of established companies, startups and educational institutions, cybersecurity is vital to Vermont’s success.
To that end, Vermont is working to develop its own cybersecurity talent in-state. Colleges and universities statewide are offering courses, certificates and degrees in cybersecurity. Norwich University runs an Applied Research Institute that works in conjunction with the state of Vermont government. It provides Vermont with a 24 hour a day, seven days a week cybersecurity operations center. Additionally, students at the university get the chance to work with the National Security Agency (NSA) and US Department of Defense.
The State of Vermont Agency of Digital Services is responsible for maintaining the security of the state’s computer hardware and networks. The Vermont League of Cities & Towns also makes cybersecurity resources available to state businesses, local government agencies and others in need. The League maintains a list of cybersecurity vendors, including information technology service providers and security firms who will provide cybersecurity audits to local governments. Additionally, the league provides guidance, training and support in the cybersecurity arena.
When it comes to cybersecurity companies within the state, Vermont has a few that have recently developed. They include NuHarbor Security, Pwnie Express, and Social Sentinel.
If you would like to become part of Vermont’s growing pool of cybersecurity talent, the state would love to have your skills. Keep reading to discover how you can earn a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Vermont and join this diverse discipline.
Cybersecurity in the News in Vermont
In May 2020 it was announced that a cyberattack had shut down Vermont Legal Aid’s computer network and locked its data. It seems that client data was not compromised, according to Vermont Legal Aid’s executive director, Eric Avildsen. The attack affected all five of Legal Aid’s Vermont offices including St. Johnsbury, Burlington, Springfield, Montpelier, and Rutland. At the time of the announcement, it was hoped that 90 percent of the lost data could be retrieved. The monetary damage done to Legal Aid, however, was unknown. Law enforcement agencies in Vermont were contacted, and Legal Aid contracted with a company to conduct a cybersecurity audit to discover how this happened and hopefully prevent it from occurring again.
Cybersecurity Careers in Vermont
With a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, you could be eligible for careers in cybersecurity in Vermont such as:
- Information Security Officer- University of Vermont, Burlington
- Cybersecurity Specialist – Federal Aviation Administration, Burlington
- IT Security Analyst 4 – Oracle, Montpelier
- Cyber Security Metrics Lead- Humana, Montpelier
- IT Technical Support Security Specialist – IBM, Essex
- Cyber Security Software Engineer- Surevine, South Burlington
- Systems Administrator II – NuHarbor Security, Colchester
- Network Security Administrator – Vermont Information Technology, Burlington
- Information Security Manager, Distributed Director Services- American Express, Montpelier
- Senior Security Researcher Applications – Sonatype, South Burlington
Undergraduate Cybersecurity Programs in Vermont
In order to receive the best cybersecurity education in Vermont, you must select a school that is accredited. Choose a college or university that holds regional accreditation through an agency listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) .
Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Cybersecurity in Vermont
These bachelor’s degree programs are available within Vermont:
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Networking & Cybersecurity- Specialization in Cybersecurity Operations
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Security & Information Assurance – Concentration in Advanced Information Assurance
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Security & Information Assurance – Concentration in Digital Forensics
Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Security Agency (NSA) inaugurated the National Centers of Academic Excellence program to recognize the best undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity degree programs across the country.
Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Vermont
The following Vermont cybersecurity programs have been credentialed as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) under the NSA-DHS National Centers for Academic Excellence program:
- Champlain College –
—Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (online)
163 S. Willard St.
Burlington, VT 05401
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
Adam Goldstein, Program Director
(802) 860-2700; agoldstein@champlain.edu
- Norwich University –
—Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (online)
College of Professional Schools, Dept. of Cybersecurity, Data Science & Computing
158 Harmon Drive
Northfield, VT 05663
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2022
Huw O.L. Read, Contact
(802) 485-2007; hread@norwich.edu
Required Courses in a Vermont CAE-CD Program
In order to qualify as a CAE-CD program, a cybersecurity program must teach the following courses:
- Technical core courses:
- Operating systems concepts
- Network defense
- Basic scripting and programming
- Basic networking
- Basic cryptography
- Foundational courses:
- Information Technology systems components
- Cybersecurity principles
- Cybersecurity foundations
- Non-technical core courses:
- Security risk analysis
- Security program management
- Policy, ethics, legal and compliance
- Cybersecurity planning and management
- Cyber threats
Vermont Cybersecurity Certifications
Professional cybersecurity certifications can help you to advance your cybersecurity career in Vermont. Popular ones include:
- Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
- Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)
- Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Certified Information System Auditor (CISA)
- CyberSec First Responder (CFR)
- Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI)
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Authorization Professional (CAP)
Employment Projections for Cybersecurity Careers in Vermont
In the Vermont Department of Labor’s Economic and Labor Market Information 2016-2026 Long Term Occupational Projections, published in 2018, it is noted that information security analysts (which is just another term for cybersecurity professionals) are ranked among the professions with the fastest projected growth during that time period. It is expected that this job classification will experience a 1.2 percent growth each year of the decade. This means that if you obtain a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Vermont now, you should be set to be in a growth occupation for many years to come.