Cyber Security Program

RRCC joins the Cyber Security Education Consortium. The Cyber Security Education Consortium (CSEC), is a cohesive partnership of community colleges and career and technology centers in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas. CSEC provides comprehensive training and resources to member colleges. Dr. Sujeet Shenoi, Director of the Cyber Security Education Consortium, an NSF ATE Center, is quoted as saying, million Indian and Chinese workers are currently working on U.S.-related technological jobs. The number of workers will reach 8 million by 2015. We dare not outsource our safety and security.

As a result of this partnership, RRCC is offering a comprehensive Cyber Security program. The degree or certificate provides comprehensive instruction in computing systems and networks that have an important impact on data confidentiality, integrity and availability. The program introduces the student to computer network threats and the appropriate incident response, to include defenses, countermeasures and computer forensics. Students are exposed to scenarios reflecting the legal and ethical issues associated with information security. Extensive hands-on labs build practical experience in configuring a variety of network operating systems, firewalls, virtual private networks (VPN), packet filters and intrusion detection systems (IDS) to maximize information security in the network.

You can begin this fall by taking CNG 131 Fundamentals of Network Security. This course delivers a comprehensive overview of network security, including general security concepts. Communication Security is studied, including remote access, e-mail, the Web, directory and file transfer, and wireless data. Common network attacks are introduced. Cryptography basics are incorporated, and operational/organizational security is discussed as it relates to physical security, disaster recovery, and business continuity. Computer forensics is introduced. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics

Recently, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics added a new occupational classification: 15-1122 Information Security Analysts.

Definition: Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. Illustrative examples: Computer Security Specialist, Network Security Analyst, Internet Security Specialist.

http://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc151122.htm

With the new designation, the BLS found that 37,000 people consider themselves information security analysts and they all have jobs; intimating that there is 0% unemployment in the field of IT security.
Most Information Assurance and Cyber security specialists agree that the field of Information security is too broad and too new to accurately predict the number of people employed in information security. Alan Paller, research director at the SANS Institute, an IT security research and education organization, suggest that, "Because there are more than 15 separate roles in the security space, the numbers for the term information security analysts are low but possible," Paller said. "Most people who do security tasks - especially technical tasks - consider themselves security engineers or systems engineers or auditors or assessors, or technical support specialist or similar titles included elsewhere. So these are just the people who have the policy and planning roles."

Research:

Employing the former definition (BLS IT classification), Info Security Media Group calculated that IT employment in the United states ended 2010 at practically a two-year high of 3.9 million, with a workforce topping 4.1 million. The 2010 IT unemployment rate was pegged at 5.4 %.
http://www.informationassurancefacts.com/information-security-analyst-employment-information

Cyber Security Program

For a complete listing of programs and certificates, go to www.rrcc.edu/cis/degrees

Contact: Julie Schneider or Christie Burton

Contact Info

Red Rocks Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability or age in its programs or activities. Please direct discrimination inquiries to:
Red Rocks Community College
Attention: Bill Dial
13300 W 6th Avenue
Lakewood, CO 80228-1255
303.914.6298