Columbus State University

BY Newsweek Educational Insight Team

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Columbus State University's TSYS Center for Cybersecurity was created to address the shortage of cybersecurity professionals in today's workforce. With feedback from employers and industry partners, CSU has designed several degree options that transform students into cybersecurity professionals in as little as one year.

Columbus State offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Cybersecurity, in addition to a unique workforce development program designed to accelerate students' careers. The one-year Cybersecurity practitioner's certificate is an intensive on-campus cohort program, which includes an 8-week internship in the field. These students graduate with at least four industry certifications, weekly hands-on experience in an advanced cyber range, and constant interaction with industry professionals. Graduates are sought after by employers and command high salaries. Most students have at least one job offer before they finish the program.

This program is designed for students with varying technical experience—from industry veterans wishing to deepen their knowledge and advance the career ladder, to those looking to break into the field with little to no experience. Fernando Cabello, now working full-time for Georgia-based Global Payments, fit in the latter category. A medically retired U.S. Army veteran with a decade of service, he was looking for a new career field as he transitioned from military life. When discussing the program, he remarked:

"We had the top brass in the cybersecurity field from here in Georgia coming in interviewing us, telling us 'Hey, this is where you need to improve, and this is what we're looking for.'"

Columbus State also offers degrees in Cybersecurity at the Associate, Bachelor's, and Master's level. Many graduates of the certificate program choose to continue to complete one or more of these programs. The graduate MS in Cybersecurity has both a Cyber Defense track and a Cybersecurity Management track and is available both in person and online.

Columbus State's students also have access to a state-of-the-art range, which allows students to practice live-fire exercises that address over 50,000 versions of malware on an exact replica of a company's network. It is the same range designed to train the Israeli Defense Force to protect its country against cyber-attacks. The range can simulate cyber incursions spanning simple web defacements to full-blown ransomware attacks.

The university's Cybersecurity program is at the forefront of industry and meets employer demands through its robust corporate and industry partnerships. The $2.5 million start-up support it received from TSYS, a Global Payments company, is just one indicator. Students frequently learn from and network with infosec and cyber professionals representing regional and national Fortune 500 and 1000 companies like Aflac, Amazon, Global Payments, Synovus, TSYS, and Voya Financial, —all of whom actively recruit from the program for internships, co-ops and post-graduate jobs. The program draws heavily from the expertise of Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) International chapters throughout Georgia, including providing students opportunities to network with ISSA members.

Columbus State University's cybersecurity program is a designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA). The recognition goes to the top cyber security programs in the country. The CAE-CD designation indicates that CSU is helping reduce threats to our national infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and providing the nation with a pipeline of qualified cybersecurity professionals. Students in CSU's cyber program participate in special cybersecurity competitions that are only available to universities with the CAE designation.

For more information about Columbus State's cybersecurity degree programs and facilities, you can visit CSU's website: columbusstate.edu/turner/cybersecurity-center.

Please contact the Director of the TSYS Center for Cybersecurity, Patrick Aiken, for more information: aiken_john@columbusstate.edu.