Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

“Cybersecurity will continue to be paramount for tech vendors, managed service providers,
and businesses of all sizes in 2023.”
—Scott Campbell, CompTIA
Are you passionate about safeguarding digital landscapes from threats and vulnerabilities?
Our new Cybersecurity and Information Assurance courses and programs will offer a
comprehensive journey into the world of cybersecurity, equipping you with the skills
to identify and defend against cyber attacks, protect sensitive data, and become a
guardian of the digital age.
Program Overview
This rigorous program is designed to provide you with a solid foundation in cybersecurity
principles, protocols, and practices. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge
and hands-on experiences, you will develop the expertise required to navigate the
complexities of cybersecurity in a rapidly evolving cyber landscape.
Why Choose Harper?
- Cutting-Edge Curriculum: Curriculum will be specifically designed to align with employer workforce needs and
continuously updated to reflect the latest cyber threats, industry best practices,
and technological advancements.
- Experienced Faculty: Learn from cybersecurity professionals with practical industry experience, enabling
you to gain insights from real-world scenarios.
- Hands-on Learning: Engage in immersive labs, projects, and competitions that replicate real-world cyber
threats, giving you practical experience in tackling security challenges.
- Relevant Skills: Develop the skills, competencies, and certifications that are highly sought after
by regional employers in a very competitive IT landscape.
- Flexible Learning: Choose between on-campus, hybrid, and online learning options to tailor your academic
schedule to your unique needs.
- Career Support: Take advantage of our comprehensive career services, networking opportunities, and
job placement assistance as you transition to the workforce.
- Basic Needs Support: Access resources and referrals for food, transportation, childcare, wellness, and
housing through Hawks Care to eliminate barriers to enrolling in courses and achieving
your academic goals.
Program Highlights
The Cybersecurity and Information Assurance program is currently in development, but
beginning in Summer 2024, you can expect to take classes in cybersecurity fundamentals,
network and enterprise security, ethical hacking and pen testing, digital forensics,
a capstone project, and more.
Career Opportunities

Upon completing this program, you will be well-prepared for a range of high-demand,
high-wage career opportunities, including:
-
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Network Security Specialist
- Penetration Tester
- Digital Forensics Analyst
- Information Security Analyst
Prioritizing Equity in Emerging Technologies Pathways at Harper Grant Project

The Prioritizing Equity in Emerging Technologies Pathways at Harper (EmergingTech@Harper) project is funded through the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration's
Strengthening Community Colleges Training Grant (SCC3) program. Harper is developing
new emerging technologies career pathways, including a technical bridge program for
students needing basic skills support, short-term and credit certificates, and associate
degrees. This project also seeks to increase the number of women and people of color
in IT-related career fields.
The new Cybersecurity program will align with the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity
Framework and the standards for the National Security Agency National Centers of Academic
Excellence (CAE) in Cybersecurity program so that Harper can earn the designation
as a CAE. Courses will be designed to align with industry-recognized credential guidelines
including CompTIA, (ISC)2, EC-Council, and other certifications. For more information
on this grant contact SCC3 Grant Project Director Martha Karavitis-Hemmati via email
at mkaravit@harpercollege.edu.
Register for the new Community Education Cybersecurity-related courses here and Continuing Professional Education courses here.
Regional Job Outlook and Wages
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance jobs are in-demand in our region and across
the country, and this is a rapidly growing field that touches every industry from
IT to business to banking to healthcare. Many organizations are recognizing that four-year
degree requirements are not necessary to meet the need for skilled technicians in
emerging technologies.
IBM, for example, has made an organizational shift away from requiring bachelor’s
degrees for mainframe systems analysts and cybersecurity technicians and instead is
focusing more on knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and industry-recognized credentials
which you can earn at Harper.
Information Security Analysts $102,232 |
Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer
networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose
and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls
are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure.
May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.
Click here to learn more
Computer Systems Analysts $84,167 |
Analyze science, engineering, business, and other data processing problems to develop
and implement solutions to complex applications problems, system administration issues,
or network concerns. Perform systems management and integration functions, improve
existing computer systems, and review computer system capabilities, workflow, and
schedule limitations. May analyze or recommend commercially available software.
Click here to learn more
Penetration Testers $82,763 |
Evaluate network system security by conducting simulated internal and external cyberattacks
using adversary tools and techniques. Attempt to breach and exploit critical systems
and gain access to sensitive information to assess system security.
Click here to learn more
Digital Forensics Analysts $82,763 |
Conduct investigations on computer-based crimes establishing documentary or physical
evidence, such as digital media and logs associated with cyber intrusion incidents.
Analyze digital evidence and investigate computer security incidents to derive information
in support of system and network vulnerability mitigation. Preserve and present computer-related
evidence in support of criminal, fraud, counterintelligence, or law enforcement investigations.
Click here to learn more
Information Technology Project Managers $82,763 |
Plan, initiate, and manage information technology (IT) projects. Lead and guide the
work of technical staff. Serve as liaison between business and technical aspects of
projects. Plan project stages and assess business implications for each stage. Monitor
progress to assure deadlines, standards, and cost targets are met.
Click here to learn more
What is Cybersecurity and Information Assurance?
Cybersecurity is the practice of being protected against criminal or unauthorized
use of electronic data, or measures taken to achieve this. Cybersecurity can be categorized
into five types: critical infrastructure security, application security, network security,
cloud security, and Internet of Things (IoT) security. According to the World Economic
Forum, cybersecurity is quickly becoming one of the most important industries to safeguard
democratic values. The demand for cybersecurity professionals is rising globally as
cyberattacks are increasing. There is however a talent shortage. There are nearly
500,000 open cybersecurity jobs in the U.S.
“Increasing the number of women in cybersecurity helps address the shortage of skilled professionals in the field. By promoting diversity in cybersecurity, we can strive to create a stronger and
more effective workforce that can enhance cybersecurity measures.” – Barb Paluszkiewicz, CEO, CDN Technologies

According to a 2021 report from Aspen Digital, underrepresented groups such as Black
(9%), Latinx (4%), and Asian (8%) professionals make up an increasing small percentage
of the industry. Women are 51% of the U.S. population, but only 24% of the cybersecurity
workforce. In order to create a resilient and diverse cybersecurity workforce, employers
need to ensure cybersecurity and other technical fields related to cybersecurity are
welcoming, inclusive professions for everyone.
According to an ISC2 article, "In order to build strong, adequately staffed cybersecurity teams, employers – and
the cybersecurity profession as a whole – must make cybersecurity a rewarding and
welcoming career for everyone. Understanding the challenges our profession faces related
to diversity is a critical first step to accomplishing that goal and ultimately addressing
the widening cybersecurity workforce gap."
