A new program at ECPI University aims to unite two crucial areas: the ever-growing need for more cybersecurity professionals and those whom the pandemic has put out of work or who are just looking for a new challenge.
The school’s accelerated cyber and information security technology program allows people with a four-year to degree to put those credits to work earning a bachelor’s in cyber and network security in as little as 12 months.
“There’s an enormous need for cybersecurity professionals in all companies with the responsibility of maintaining security of data,” Jim Rund, ECPI Columbia campus president, said. “It’s created an enormous need for CIS, or computer information specialists, that are savvy in the cyber and network security area, especially in South Carolina.”
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 31% growth rate in information security analyst jobs nationwide from 2019-2029, which translates to an additional 40,900 workers. Projectionscentral.com estimates that South Carolina will see a 7.5% growth rate in that field by 2021 and a 31.6% growth rate, or a need for an additional 420 workers, by 2028.