JCC’s New Cybersecurity Program Offers Entry into A Robust New Career Field for Graduates
Published: March 16, 2021North Carolina ranks eighth in the nation for cybersecurity job openings
The never-ending threat of cyber-related crime has created a high-demand for Cybersecurity experts and ethical hackers, professionals trained to identify, stop, and remedy cyber crimes both before and after they occur. Nationally, there are over half a million jobs in the Cybersecurity field, with North Carolina ranking at number eight in the nation for job openings.
Students at Johnston Community College can now enter this growing field by enrolling in the new Cybersecurity Associate in Applied Science degree (AAS). High school students enrolled in the Career and College Promise (CCP) program at JCC can earn a Cybersecurity certificate.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 31 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Dr. Jennifer Servi-Roberts, AVP of Business and Applied Technologies sees that as a strong indicator for the success of future JCC Cybersecurity program graduates. “The demand for careers in the Cybersecurity space is growing exponentially. We need strong experts to counter increasingly frequent cyberattacks. These Cybersecurity professionals will invent innovative solutions to stop hackers from stealing data and causing extreme financial impacts to both individuals and companies.” she said.
Students in the program will develop and practice Business-Best-Practices in prevention of attacks, vulnerabilities and security issues. Hands on skills include setting up penetration testing and Ethical Hacking. Upon completion, students will understand and be able to describe industry risk management and Cybersecurity Frameworks. Graduates will have confidence in their knowledge to lead businesses in managing network crisis events and assist in the resolutions.
Johnston Community College Cybersecurity degree will provide the foundational knowledge to pursue Nationally recognized Industry Certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Enterprise Defender, CCNA Security and Security+.
Persons interested in this program can lean more by visiting the JCC website at https://www.johnstoncc.edu/programs/business/information-technology/cyber/ or by contacting Dr. Jonathan Lane, Information Technology Instructor at Jrlane3@johnstoncc.edu or 919-209-2509.
