New Hampshire’s economy is tiny, yet it is well-diversified. Professional business services, manufacturing, government, and healthcare are the main industries in terms of employment. Healthcare and education institutions dominate the list of New Hampshire’s largest individual employers, with financial intermediaries (insurance and investment corporations) being included. Cybercriminals have made all of the top employment industries prime targets, therefore they must maintain robust cybersecurity efforts.
The Climate for Cybersecurity in New Hampshire
New Hampshire has taken a proactive approach to generating resources and a strategic plan to combat cybercrime and secure government data, systems, and networks. The New Hampshire Department of Information IT was established to administer and coordinate the state executive branch’s technology resources. This includes the New Hampshire Cyber Integration Center and the state’s cybersecurity webpage (NHCIC). In 2016, the governor established the NHCIC through executive order. It is in charge of safeguarding state government information assets. New Hampshire is also one of an increasing number of states having its own chief information officer, who is responsible for overseeing government data security. In proportion to the size of the state’s economy, private enterprise cybersecurity resources are limited. Although the workforce is currently modest, demand for new cybersecurity specialists significantly outnumbers supply, therefore industry employment will grow as quickly as qualified experts become available. The state’s manpower shortages could be attributable in part to its closeness to, and hence rivalry with, Boston, which has a sizable cybersecurity job market.
Cybersecurity Degrees in New Hampshire
Because New Hampshire has such a small cybersecurity community, public schools and universities are likely to provide few degree and certification choices. However, a few of institutions have stepped up to the cybersecurity plate, assembling specialised staff and developing programmes to teach the next generation of information security experts. The University of New Hampshire’s Center for Cybersecurity Leadership, Education, and Outreach has its own website (CCLEO). UNH is also the only school in New Hampshire to be designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security (CAE-CDE). The University of New Hampshire has created two different information assurance degree programmes. Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), which focuses on online degree programmes, currently offers three cybersecurity degrees online. One is a bachelor’s degree and the other two are master’s degrees.
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE
Most cybersecurity jobs necessitate substantial training and education due to their highly technical nature. Even yet, there are many entry-level jobs available that simply demand an associate’s degree. An associate’s degree is a better option for many students because programmes may be completed in two years or less. Returning to school for a four-year bachelor’s degree will greatly boost work opportunities once a profession has been established.
Associate’s degrees offered on campus in New Hampshire
New Hampshire community colleges presently offer four associate’s degrees in cybersecurity. On-campus formats are available for all four.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
For most job postings in cybersecurity, employers would normally demand candidates to have at least a bachelor’s degree. Most technological degrees, especially STEM degrees, are frequently accepted. Professionals with a cybersecurity speciality, or at least a cybersecurity concentration, will have an advantage over the competition in the employment market. At the moment, only two bachelor’s degree programmes with cybersecurity specialties are available in New Hampshire, one online and the other on campus.
Campus-based bachelor’s degrees in New Hampshire
A Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security is now available at the University of New Hampshire. This programme includes a broad security curriculum as well as adequate cybersecurity courses to enable degree holders to work in information security roles.
Online bachelor’s degrees in New Hampshire
A Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity has been developed by Southern New Hampshire University and can be done entirely online.
MASTER’S DEGREE
Master’s degrees are becoming more desired as cybersecurity occupations rise to higher levels of corporate management. Master’s degrees have become almost mandatory for cybersecurity instructors and those seeking careers in research or cybersecurity consulting.
Online Master’s Degrees in New Hampshire
There are currently no on-campus cybersecurity master’s degree programmes available in New Hampshire. However, there are three possibilities available in online formats. Southern New Hampshire University offers two of these programmes: a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and a Master of Science in Information Technology – Information Security. One is the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Policy and Risk Management provided by the University of New Hampshire.
CERTIFICATIONS
At nearly all professional levels, cybersecurity certifications are offered for a variety of cybersecurity specialties as well as general information security knowledge. Students at the beginning of their education, cybersecurity specialists who want to refresh or expand their knowledge, and even individuals who want to get an advanced degree but don’t have the time or means to do so can all find appropriate certification programmes.
Campus-based cybersecurity certifications in New Hampshire
New Hampshire institutions currently offer two cybersecurity certifications, both of which are taught on campus.
On its Concord, New Hampshire campus, NHTI Concord’s Community College provides an Information Technology Security Certificate. At its Claremont, New Hampshire location, River Valley Community College provides a Cybersecurity and Healthcare IT Certificate.
When compared to the state’s population, the density of information security jobs is one of the lowest in the country. This is most likely owing to the fact that the state’s southern section, which is the most densely inhabited, has a large number of residents who commute to Boston for work. As a result, many residents of the state work in another state. However, the current supply of cybersecurity personnel is far smaller than the already overworked workforce in the rest of the country. As a result, organisations in New Hampshire should be on the lookout for cybersecurity expertise. The state’s southernmost section has the majority of information assurance job possibilities. In comparison to other states, cybersecurity specialists in New Hampshire are well compensated. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for security analysts was $48.48 in May 2018, and the average yearly compensation was $100,850. The cost of living in New Hampshire is said to be roughly 5% higher than the national average. This ignores the fact that inhabitants of the state pay some of the lowest tax rates in the country. There is no personal income tax or general sales tax in the country.
Cybersecurity in New Hampshire
The state of New Hampshire has a small economy, and the existing cybersecurity workforce is similarly modest. However, demand outnumbers supply by a larger proportion than in most other US states. This could be due to competition for cybersecurity professionals from nearby Boston, which has a much larger job market right now. However, educational institutions are taking the initiative to develop high-quality information security degree and certification programmes. As a result, the supply of information security specialists should begin to increase in the near future.
