Professional Cybersecurity Certificate

Why Enroll?

Cybersecurity professionals need to be able to deal with network security and investigate cybersecurity crimes or events, in accordance with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework categories. Due to the high demand for qualified cyber talent, it has become imperative that we respond to the huge cybersecurity workforce gaps by training leaders in cybersecurity who can fill the roles outlined in the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. The ability to develop, protect, and defend IT systems, is a highly sought-after skill by local employers, with well over half of all job opportunities at the local, state, and national levels focusing on these particular skills.

Our students have gone on to excel in the public and private industries, many in high-paying, high-impact positions. Companies that employ our graduates include Google, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Security Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Northrop Grumman, U.S. Department of Treasury, Environmental Research Systems Institute, Mitre, Idaho National Lab, Los Alamos National Lab, Department of Justice, Federal Reserve Board, Booz Allen, and SoCal Edison.

Career Outlook & Opportunities

The demand for cybersecurity professionals is growing throughout the state, the nation, and the globe.

Across the nation, employers are struggling to find qualified workers to fill the major gaps in the cybersecurity workforce. In California alone, there are more than 72,000 job openings, with almost 1,600 job openings in San Bernardino County. The national figures are even bleaker, with more than 500,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions. The number is significantly increasing.

U.S. News and World Report stated that the information security profession is growing at a rate of 36.5% through 2022 (link). The U.S. Department of Labor projected information security profession would be one of the top ten fastest growing occupations, with a growth rate of 35.5%, from 2018-2028 (link). Across the globe (based on industry consensus) there will be 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs by 2021, according to Cyber Security Ventures (link), and employers are struggling to find qualified workers to fill the major gaps in the cybersecurity workforce.

The U.S. has a total employed cybersecurity workforce consisting of nearly 1 million people, and there are currently almost 500,000 unfilled positions. In California alone, there are more than 72,000 job openings, with almost 1,600 openings in San Bernardino County (figures from CyberSeek’s Cybersecurity Supply And Demand Heat Map). Percentages of filled (relative to unfilled) cybersecurity positions shows the huge gaps that exist as employers search for qualified cyber talent. The cybersecurity unemployment rate was at zero percent in 2019, where it has been since 2011.

Opportunities

For more information on careers & opportunities, please visit the CSUSB Cybersecurity Center's Student Resources page.