Several significant industries are driving this economic expansion. Utah is a hub for aerospace industry, with roughly 1,000 companies based there. “Fourth in the nation for aerospace manufacturing attractiveness,” according to Utah. According to a recent Wells Fargo analysis, aside from aerospace manufacturing, Utah’s IT business is prospering. “In Utah, which routinely ranks as one of the greatest states to do business, business, labour, and government work well together. Utah also has a strong and rising presence in some of the fastest-growing areas of the tech industry, such as cloud computing, big data, and software development.” In terms of big data, Utah has the “Silicon Slopes,” a massive cluster of data centres just outside of Salt Lake City. This area is ideal for high-tech data centres due to a number of features. Natural disasters are rare, renewable energy is abundant, fiber-optic connectivity is excellent, and land is relatively inexpensive. Those characteristics have drawn a lot of attention. The National Security Agency, for example, has a $1.5 billion data centre that some are dubbing the world’s largest espionage facility. DataBank, an American cloud service, recently started work on its fourth datacenter in Utah. “Utah’s high elevation and dry desert geography allow us to efficiently cool our data centres, and the state also boasts some of the lowest occurrences of natural and man-made disasters in the United States,” a company spokesman added. Facebook has plans for the state as well. The social media behemoth had already started construction on a nearly 1,000,000 square foot data centre when they announced that it will be expanded by 50%. By the time the facility is completed, they will have invested more than $1 billion. Data centres are beneficial to Utah’s economy, but they also put the state vulnerable to cyber-attacks. For a hacker, a data centre is a gold mine, thus security must be solid. Thankfully, Utah recognises the need of staying secure and promotes cybersecurity throughout the state.
Cybersecurity in Utah
Utah has access to a wide range of tools to combat cybercrime and cyberterrorism as a member of MS-ISAC (Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center). MS-ISAC, in particular, is intended to provide assistance in the event of a cybersecurity incident. The initiative also allows states to share information and resources in a convenient manner. This includes a list of malicious IP addresses that is updated on a regular basis, as well as a help centre that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Gary Herbert, the governor of Utah, understands the necessity of a robust cybersecurity industry. Utah will join the Girls Go CyberStart project, he announced recently. “Utah is a proven cybersecurity leader as well as a national technology leader. To help build critical thinking abilities and find meaningful employment in a high-wage, high-demand area, we should encourage our young people to learn and pursue tech-based talents.” Utah has reaped the benefits of its focus on cybersecurity. Iranian cyberthreats were recently encountered by governmental cybersecurity technicians. Both state and national digital systems were targeted in these attacks. These attempted attempts were fortunately caught, and Utah’s cybersecurity professionals were able to neutralise the threats before they could cause any harm. That was a significant victory for Utah, and it exemplifies why cybersecurity is so crucial. It’s no wonder, then, that Utah offers a wide range of educational opportunities for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the business.
Cybersecurity Degrees in Utah
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREES
For someone who has to get back to work as quickly as possible, an associate’s degree is an excellent option. The two-year curriculum is often less expensive and takes less time than a bachelor’s degree.
Campus-based cybersecurity associate’s degrees in Utah
Students in Utah can enrol in a single associate’s degree programme on campus. Southern Utah University provides a Computer & Information Systems Security Associate of Applied Science degree.
BACHELOR’S DEGREES
While an associate’s degree is a cost-effective choice, many cybersecurity positions demand a bachelor’s degree or higher. Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree will study a wide range of topics, both within and outside of the cybersecurity sector.
Campus-based cybersecurity bachelor’s degree in Utah
Students in Utah who want to pursue a bachelor’s degree on campus presently have two options.
Brigham Young University-Provo offers a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a Cybersecurity concentration. A Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a Computer Forensics and Security Emphasis is available at Utah Valley University.
Online cybersecurity bachelor’s degree in Utah
Online degrees are frequently less expensive than their on-campus counterparts. Furthermore, an online degree provides more flexibility, making it ideal for those who prefer to work while learning. In Utah, there are two online bachelor’s degree programmes.
A Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance is offered by Western Governors University. An online Bachelor of Science in Network Operations and Security is available from Western Governors University.
MASTER’S DEGREE
A master’s degree is usually required for more technically demanding cybersecurity professions. For high management roles in any given organisation, a master’s degree may be required. While a master’s degree takes longer to complete and costs more than an undergraduate degree, graduates can expect to earn more money after they graduate.
Campus-based cybersecurity master’s degree in Utah
In Utah, there is only one cybersecurity master’s degree programme on campus. A Master of Science in Cybersecurity is offered by Utah Valley University.
Online cybersecurity master’s degrees in Utah
In Utah, there are two cybersecurity master’s degrees accessible online.
A master’s degree in cyber security and information assurance is available at Southern Utah University. A Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance is offered by Western Governors University.
CERTIFICATIONS
No bachelor’s or master’s degree, no matter how comprehensive, can teach students everything they need to know about cybersecurity, especially in certain subsets. That is why certifications exist. A certification allows a student to gain a certain competence in the cybersecurity field. Certifications look nice on a CV and may improve an applicant’s chances of being hired for a job.
Campus-based cybersecurity certification programmes
Several campus-based certificate programmes are available in Utah. For more details, see the table below.
Cybersecurity Programs in Utah
The good news is that this is the case. The bad news, at least for businesses and government agencies, is that Utah’s cybersecurity technician supply is not keeping up with demand. CyberSeek shows that the supply of cybersecurity workers in Utah is “extremely low,” with over 3,500 job opportunities. Given Silicon Slopes’ tremendous rise and the billions of dollars invested in new data centres, it looks that the demand for cybersecurity technicians will only increase. Candidates interested in a career in cybersecurity should apply now in Utah. The state’s strong economic prospects, as well as the low cost of living, make it a fantastic place to live, especially for someone earning an above-average wage as a cybersecurity technician.
Cybersecurity in Utah
Globally, there is a movement toward digitization. Self-driving automobiles, smartphone apps that replace established services, and social media’s ongoing expansion. All of these modifications result in large amounts of data, which must be stored somewhere. Utah is the ideal location for many American businesses. Utah fits the criteria of a tech-friendly state because to its affordable real estate, lack of natural disasters (as opposed to California’s forest fires and earthquakes), and reliable availability to renewable energy. Only the cybersecurity professionals required to keep all of that data safe are lacking in the state. When it comes to cybersecurity, Utah is currently understaffed, and all indications are that this trend will continue in the near future.
