There’s a lot more to West Virginia than coal mining. West Virginia is the seventh-largest producer of natural gas in the United States. Furthermore, the state exported $8 billion worth of commodities in 2018, an increase of 14.2 percent over the previous year. West Virginia would have a larger GDP (Gross Domestic Product) than Panama if it were its own country. West Virginia is known for its chemical industry when it comes to produced goods. West Virginia’s “biggest manufacturing export sector is chemicals, which accounted for $1.7 billion of West Virginia’s total goods exports in 2018,” according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative. West Virginia’s economy is also reliant on the aerospace industry. “West Virginia manufacturers provide the aerospace sector access to raw materials such as aluminium, alloys, metals, and composites,” according to the state’s website. Because of its proximity to that supply, Bombardier and Lockheed Martin, among others, have opened operations in the state. West Virginia is home to a number of cutting-edge industrial plants, ranging from advanced chemical manufacturing to the aerospace industry, and there is a significant need for the high-tech professionals needed to keep them running.
Cybersecurity in West Virginia
West Virginia has shown to be fairly forward-thinking when it comes to cybersecurity. Rather than merely giving it a passing nod, West Virginia’s top lawmakers have taken a hands-on approach to promote what is widely regarded as a vital business. For example, according to the Secure WV Act, $4.2 million was recently set aside to establish a “Cybersecurity Office.” The office will be in charge of creating a set of unified cybersecurity regulations that will apply to both state and private sector government bodies. The Cybersecurity Office, according to Joshua Spence, West Virginia’s Chief Technology Officer, will be “a foundational step forward in cybersecurity protection of state computer systems and data.” The Secure WV Act demands that government agencies in West Virginia “undergo an adequate cyber risk assessment as required by the cybersecurity 3 framework or as recommended by the Chief Information Security Officer,” in addition to establishing the Cybersecurity Office. In addition, organisations must “manage a plan of action and milestones based on the findings of the cyber risk 14 assessment and business needs,” according to the regulations. West Virginia clearly believes in a proactive approach to cybersecurity, as seen by the Secure WV Act. While these strict new standards are beneficial to the state, they will force many agencies to recruit more cybersecurity specialists. That’s great news for anyone seeking a cybersecurity degree, especially an in-state degree, because there are so many alternatives.
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREES
Associate’s degrees in cybersecurity offered on campus in West Virginia An associate’s degree is less expensive than a bachelor’s degree and can be finished in two years. Credits obtained through an associate’s degree may be applied toward a bachelor’s degree in some situations. In West Virginia, there are now two campus-based programmes to choose from.
A.A.S. in Cyber Security is available at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College. West Virginia is a state in the US. Northern Community College offers an A.A.S. in Cyber Security
BACHELOR’S DEGREES
A bachelor’s degree or higher is required for the majority of cybersecurity employment. Graduates should have a thorough understanding of the foundations of cybersecurity after four years and 120 credit hours of study. Other subjects such as history, English literature, or a foreign language may be studied by students.
Campus-based cybersecurity bachelor’s degree in West Virginia
In West Virginia, there are numerous campus-based cybersecurity bachelor’s programmes. Two of them are based in Huntington, while the other is based in Charles Town. For more information, please see the table below. In West Virginia, students can choose from a variety of online programmes. Please see the table below for more details. A master’s degree in cybersecurity gives students advanced cybersecurity skills and prepares them to deal with a variety of cybercrime scenarios. On average, people with a master’s degree earn more money.
Online cybersecurity master’s degrees in West Virginia
There are no campus-based choices for a cybersecurity master’s degree in West Virginia. The American Public University System offers both of these degrees. The following are the details.
A Master of Arts in National Security Studies Master of Science in Cybersecurity Studies
CERTIFICATIONS
Despite having a restricted number of higher education options, West Virginia features a disproportionate number of online and campus-based certification courses. These certification programmes can help students improve their abilities in a particular area of cybersecurity.
Campus-based cybersecurity certification programmes
In West Virginia, there are now five campus-based certification programmes offered. For more information, please see the table below.
Online cybersecurity certification programs
There are nearly a dozen online certification programs in West Virginia. For more information please consult the table. With demand outstripping supply, West Virginia has launched a new effort in the hopes of increasing the number of persons studying cybersecurity. Anne Barth, executive director of West Virginia’s TechConnect programme, speaks about a recent meeting of cybersecurity leaders in the state. “We were discussing how we can conduct outreach and how we can get the word out to students about these opportunities and how we can enrol them in various programmes at educational institutions around the state,” says the group. Although West Virginia’s cybersecurity sector is currently understaffed, the supply of cybersecurity technicians in the state is expected to grow as a result of a new generation of students and potential job seekers. Because the job market may become more saturated in the future, now is the perfect time to explore a cybersecurity education.
Cybersecurity in West Virginia
Although cybersecurity awareness is growing across the country, West Virginia is particularly focused on this critical industry. The state has demonstrated a commitment to good security and the prevention of cybercrime from the highest levels of government down. West Virginia’s cybersecurity concentration has resulted in a plethora of educational possibilities, particularly certification programmes, of which the state has a plethora. Those educational prospects, as well as the higher-than-average pay offered by cybersecurity jobs, will not go ignored for long. The next generation will be looking for work in the IT business, which will entail more competition in the future. This is beneficial to West Virginia’s numerous high-tech industries since more trained IT experts will be available to fill employment openings. For future students, this suggests that now is the time to consider a career in cybersecurity.
