Murray State University’s Cyber Education and Research Center recently received a three-year, $1.5 million grant from the Department of Labor’s Office of Employment and Training through the Delta Regional Administration (DRA) to fund the Cybersecurity Analyst Certification Program.
The nine-month, 12-credit hour program increases cybersecurity employment opportunities for marginalized populations within the Kentucky Delta region and creates a sustainable workforce of skilled cybersecurity analysts to meet the growing demand in the cybersecurity industry. The purpose is to develop a pipeline.
This comprehensive certification program is designed to provide students with the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in the dynamic and critical field of cybersecurity analysis. Participants will gain hands-on experience in threat detection, networking, vulnerability assessment, and risk management.
The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, from network configuration and vulnerability assessment to traffic analysis. Focusing on practical, real-world scenarios, students will learn how to effectively identify and mitigate cyber threats and protect their organizations from potential breaches and data loss. All curriculum is industry certification compliant, allowing students to earn and complete multiple industry certifications.
The program offers 12 credit hours of free tuition, paid cybersecurity industry certifications including Comptia’s A+, Network+, and Security+, free laptops for eligible students, paid internships, career coaching, and job placement assistance. , real-world experience, and childcare support. Class conflict.
This program is designed for people who want to pursue a career as a cyber analyst, including those who are currently unemployed, looking for a promotion, want to change careers, or want to earn a higher income. It is designed for current and new workers and focuses on workers who have historically progressed in their careers. They are marginalized in the field of technology.
Dr. Michael Ramage, director of the Murray State Cyber Center, said the lack of women and minorities in cybersecurity is a persistent and concerning issue within the industry and is being prioritized through the grant.
“Despite advances in diversity and inclusion in a variety of sectors, women and underrepresented groups continue to face significant underrepresentation in cybersecurity,” Ramage said. “Lack of diversity in cybersecurity hinders innovation, problem-solving, and overall effectiveness in addressing complex cyber threats. Proactively promote inclusivity and provide mentorship and training opportunities. By countering bias, the industry can leverage a broader range of perspectives and experiences, ultimately strengthening cybersecurity defenses and fostering a more inclusive and fair environment.”
This project includes Ballard, Caldwell, Callaway, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Henderson, Hopkins, Livingston, Ryan, McCracken, McLean, Marshall, and Muhlenberg counties. , providing training opportunities to participants in Todd, Trigg, Union and Webster counties. All of these counties except McCracken are marked as hardship counties by the DRA. Murray State University’s main and expanded campuses in Murray, Hopkinsville, Madisonville, and Paducah allow students to travel to their nearest campus for in-person sessions. Additionally, all course curriculum will be conducted online and via Zoom. Eligibility for the program is limited to individuals who reside in the Delta region of Kentucky and are willing to work and live in the region after completing the program.
“The need for cybersecurity analysts in Western Kentucky is an issue for organizations and industries alike,” Ramage said. “The increasing digitalization and connectivity of business and the sophistication of cyber threats are creating a constant demand for skilled analysts who can protect sensitive information and protect digital infrastructure. But in many other regions Similarly, in Western Kentucky, the supply of qualified cybersecurity professionals must keep up with demand.”
This shortage is due to the large number of managed service providers in Western Kentucky, the rapid growth of the cybersecurity industry, the complexity of cybersecurity tasks, and the need for ongoing training and expertise to stay ahead of evolving threats. There can be various factors such as. Ramage said that to address this talent shortage, educational institutions, industry stakeholders, and government agencies should work together to accelerate cybersecurity education, training programs, and efforts to attract and train talent. It is said that it is necessary.
“We’re starting to see the consequences of ignoring this issue across the region,” he says. “If employers can’t find a suitable workforce locally, they will find it elsewhere. A big advantage in the technology and cybersecurity sector is also a potential disadvantage. What a region needs If you can’t provide it, it’s easier to move to another region than in other sectors, such as manufacturing companies. Most companies operate in the cloud, so they can be accessed from anywhere. For many providers The most important factor is our employees, and this grant addresses that specific item.”
In 1997, Kentucky House Bill 1 created programs of excellence in public postsecondary institutions, including Murray State University’s cybersecurity program, through the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and network management, Murray State University offers an accelerated master’s degree in cybersecurity management (available online) that can be completed in 12 to 18 months, as well as certificates at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. We offer
The university’s Cybersecurity and Network Management program welcomed its largest freshman class in program history this fall.
Learn more about murraystate.edu/cyber.