In 2010, CNNMoney magazine ranked information technology security engineer as one of the best 20 jobs in the nation. You could enter the field as an information security specialist by earning a certificate, diploma or associate degree from Gwinnett Technical College or another of Georgia’s technical schools.
“Even through the recession, security was a growing part of information technology,” said Mehmet Kilinc, program director for the information security specialist program at Gwinnett Technical College. “Every day we hear about security breaches, identity theft and hackers threatening our computer systems. We depend on computers more and more, and the security risks are increasing.”
The employment outlook for computer network, systems and database administrators is projected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“We will accept someone into the program with no computer science background, but this is considered a more advanced area of computer science,” Kilinc said. “You shouldn’t choose this field just because it’s considered one of the best jobs. If you don’t enjoy it, it doesn’t matter how much in demand you are.”
Prospective students need a high school diploma or a GED, and are required to take a college placement exam. The majority of classes are at night.
Completion requirements for the programs are 22 hours (two-semester minimum) for the certificate, 57 hours (four-semester minimum) for the diploma and 68 hours (five-semester minimum) for an associate degree.
For in-state students, tuition at Gwinnett Tech is $1,130 per semester for a full 12-hour course load.
Successful students should like working with computers and solving problems. “They need patience, because this is a cat-and-mouse game. Hackers are smart people, so we have to be smart, too,” Kilinc said.
Having strong ethics is essential. “We serve as the police force of the Internet. If the police force isn’t ethical, we’re all in trouble,” he said.
The program includes courses in computer concepts, hardware installation, information security fundamentals, networking security systems, operating systems security, how to write security policies and how to configure fire walls and proxy servers.
“Computer forensics is the class where we have the most fun,” Kilinc said. “Students in our criminal justice department and our information technology department take it together and learn from one another. We take a case and break it down all semester.”
Students learn how to detect crime, conduct an investigation and present evidence in court. It’s good preparation, whether graduates go on to conduct criminal or corporate investigations.
“One of the beautiful things about learning forensic tools is that they are also needed for disaster recovery. Backing up data and recovering data is a huge problem for corporations and organizations these days,” Kilinc added.
Graduates will find ample job opportunities in business and industrial firms, financial institutions, government agencies, software developers and Internet service providers.
“The starting pay ranges from $40,000 to $80,000 annually, depending on the location and a person’s skills and work experience,” Kilinc said.
For information, call Gwinnett Tech’s computer science department (678-226-6495) or go to www.gwinnetttech.edu.
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