The 304 Geeks are a group of computer aficionados in West Virginia who are promoting information security in the state. Based in Charleston, these computer geeks formed a 501c3 non-profit to promote awareness of information security and education, to the general public and business community in West Virginia. Their annual conference, SecureWV, is a large regional conference that attracts national information security leaders to teach and speak about advanced topics in information security. Additionally, the 304 Geeks publish a monthly newsletter highlighting current trends and news in information security.
The 304 Geeks are just one example of an organization that promotes information security best practices in West Virginia. There are many other such groups, including but not limited to: the West Virginia High Technology Consortium, the West Virginia Office of Technology, West Virginia Forward, and the West Virginia National Guard. These groups are also helping to spark interest in cybersecurity careers among the young people of West Virginia, as the demand for cybersecurity workers currently is greater than their supply.
If you would like to join the growing numbers of West Virginians who are studying cybersecurity and entering the information security field as a profession, you might want to consider getting an associate degree or certificate as a start. Keep reading to discover how you can get started along this path in West Virginia.
Cybersecurity in the Headlines in West Virginia
The West Virginia University Foundation was a victim of the large cyberattack against Blackbaud, a provider of customer relationship management systems for nonprofit organizations worldwide, in July 2020. Some client data from the foundation was removed from the system during the attack, mainly data used for donor prospect research. Blackbaud assured the foundation that no encrypted information was stolen, nor was credit or debit card information part of the data theft. The foundation notified affected constituents of the breach and are working with Blackbaud to investigate the incident and make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Jobs for Cybersecurity Associate Degree and Certificate Holders in West Virginia
The following cybersecurity jobs may be available to those with associate degrees or certificates in West Virginia:
- SOC Analyst Tier 1 – Fusion Technology, White Hall
- Cyber Security Analyst – SAIC, White Hall
- Cyber Intelligence Analyst – Humana, Beckley
- Information Security Specialist – United Bank, Parkersburg
- SOC Analyst Tier 1 – Leidos, Fairmont
- Information Security Analyst – American Express, Charleston
- Information Security Specialist – SYNNEX Corporation, Greenville
- Cloud Security Engineer- Humana, Morgantown
- Junior SOC Analyst – IBSS, Fairmont
- Principal Cyber Security Analyst – Engility Holdings, Inc., Fairmont
West Virginia Cybersecurity Associate Degree and Certificate Programs
When you select a school where you intend to study cybersecurity in West Virginia, make sure that school is accredited. Your institution should hold regional accreditation through an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Associate Degree Cybersecurity Programs in West Virginia
Titles of some of the associate degree programs in cybersecurity available in West Virginia are:
- Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security
- Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology – Network Systems Cybersecurity
- Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology – Network Systems Cybersecurity
Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Security Agency (NSA) established the National Centers of Academic Excellence program in 1999, to recognize the best cybersecurity degree and certificate programs in the country.
These West Virginia schools host Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD):
- American Public University System–
—Certificate in Counterintelligence
–Certificate in Cybercrime Essentials
–Certificate in Digital Forensics
–Certificate in Information Security Planning
–Certificate in Information Systems Security Essentials
–Certificate in Homeland Security
–Certificate in Foundations of Homeland Security
–Certificate in Intelligence Analysis
–Certificate in IT Infrastructure Security
–Certificate in Security Management
–Certificate in Terrorism Studies
Center for Cyber Defense
111 W. Congress Street
Charles Town, WV 25414
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2023
Kenneth L. Williams, Contact
(571) 477-0105; Cyber@APUS.EDU
- Blue Ridge Community & Technical College –
—Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security
— Certificate in Information Security
Center for Applied Cyber Security
13650 Apple Harvest Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25403
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
Michele Morrison, Program Coordinator
(304) 260-4380 ext. 3329; mmorriso@blueridgectc.edu
- West Virginia University –
—Graduate Certificate in Computer Forensics
—Graduate Certificate in Forensic Accounting & Fraud Examination (FAFE) (online)
Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering & Mineral Resources, Dept. of Computer Science & Electrical Engineering
P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
Cindy Tanner, Contact
(304) 293-9138; cindy.tanner@mail.wvu.edu
More Associate Degree and Certificate Cybersecurity Programs in West Virginia
Other associate degree and certificate cybersecurity programs in West Virginia include:
- Marshall University – Information Assurance Certificate Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
College of Engineering & Computer Sciences
One John Marshall Drive
Huntington, WV 25755
John Sammons, Chair
(304) 696-7241; sammons17@marshall.edu
- Mountwest Community & Technical College – Associate of Applied Science in Information Technology – Network Systems Cybersecurity Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
One Mountwest Way
Huntington, WV 25701
(866) 676-5533
- West Virginia Northern Community College – Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Technology – Cyber Security Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
1704 Market St.
Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 233-5900
West Virginia Associate Cybersecurity Degree Program Curriculum
Courses you will take in an associate degree cybersecurity program in West Virginia will have titles such as:
- Introduction to Cyber Security
- Operating Systems
- Fundamentals of Hacking
- Microsoft Network Administration
- A+ Networking and Software
- Unix/Linux
- Ethical Protocols of Cyber Security
- Network Security Fundamentals
- Microsoft Applications
- Introduction to Cloud Computing
- Cisco Networking Fundamentals
- Virtualization Concepts
- Tactical Perimeter Defense in Network Security
Cybersecurity Certificates in West Virginia
More cybersecurity certificates in West Virginia include:
- Information Technology Certificate – West Virginia Junior College
- Certificate of Applied Science in Cyber Security – New River Community & Technical College
- Certificate in Cybersecurity – Martinsburg College
Cybersecurity Wages in West Virginia
The annual mean wage of information security analysts working in West Virginia, as of May 2019, was $91,010, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Those working in the Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area earned higher than the state average, at $96,140 per year. Those working elsewhere in the state earned:
- Charleston: $81,680
- Morgantown: $86,710
- Wheeling: $87,260