UAlbany School of Business Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate Program Addresses Critical IT Workforce Shortage

Russian graduate student Filipp Banfilov works at a computer as part of a cybersecurity course designed by UAlbany School of Business Professor Sanjay Goel, director of the Graduate Certificate in Information Security program.

ALBANY, N.Y. (August 06, 2012) – According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the growing number of attacks on our cyber networks has become, in President Obama's words, "one of the most serious economic and national security threats our nation faces."

To address this growing concern, the University at Albany School of Business announces a new program for information security professionals. The Graduate Certificate in Information Security program is designed for both students interested in entering the field and those professionals already in the field, especially in financial services, energy, and government. The specialized skills obtained through the School of Business’ certificate program will help bolster the skills of IT professionals and address a critical workforce need.

"UAlbany’s School of Business developed this innovative program in response to a dire shortage of trained information security and digital forensics professionals, especially in financial services, energy, and government," said School of Business Dean Donald Siegel. "The new graduate certificate in information security will create a trained information/cyber security workforce in New York’s Capital Region and beyond."

The program will enhance employment opportunities for those wishing to enter this lucrative and rewarding field, or those who wish to upgrade their skills. Jobs are plentiful in information security because of the growing importance of maintaining cybersecurity, as well as the rise of online forensic investigations.

The Graduate Certificate in Information Security helps students obtain the crucial technical security skills and also reinforces business skills that are equally important for any information security professional. Students learn to identify threats to computers and networks, analyze system weaknesses, respond to incidents, and design systems to prevent attacks. Courses also include vulnerability analysis, penetration testing, forensic analysis and evidence gathering, risk analysis, and policy-writing.

"With the rise of threats from cybercrime, job opportunities in this field are ranked by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as the second-fastest-growing category in the United States. Careers are opening up for people to protect us from hackers, cyber criminals and even terrorists," said Sanjay Goel, the program director and associate professor in the School of Business Department of Information Technology Management. "Many experts in the field project a significant growth in demand for skilled information security professionals with salaries to match. UAlbany's new program will help meet that demand."

Coursework can be completed through a combination of traditional face-to-face and online classes with courses constantly being updated and added to the curriculum to ensure validity and relevance. The program's online courses are being developed through a joint program with  Bauman Moscow State Technical University that was funded by the U.S. Department of Education Fund for the Improvement of Post-Secondary Education (FIPSE) Program.

For the convenience of working professionals, some classes will be held at the Albany-Colonie Chamber of Commerce headquarters at Five Computer Drive South in Albany. The chamber is the new home of the UAlbany School of Business Weekend MBA Program.

Learn more about the Graduate Certificate in Information Security program or explore all of the programs offered by UAlbany's School of Business.

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