Cyber Security Comes to Saint Mary

New Track Added to Computer Information Systems

Computer viruses, network outages, and hacking affect thousands every day—and its impact can range from inconvenient to threatening. As the number of software applications, data networks, and end-users multiply, so do opportunities for exploitation. USM’s new Cyber Security track in the Computer Information Systems program focuses on ways to protect computers, networks, and data from unplanned or unauthorized access, and how to cope with the consequences that follow.

• Cyber Crime damage costs to hit $6 trillion annually by 2021.
• Cyber Security spending to exceed $1 trillion from 2017 to 2021.
• The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects network systems and information security job opportunities to grow by 17-18 percent!

Along with understanding the software application and usability, the CIS/Cyber Security curriculum prepares students to pass two national certification tests (CompTIA Network+; CompTIA Security+)—two more ways to stand out at graduation and show employers they have what it takes to succeed.

Alumni Aaron Weissenfluh, C’95, and Corey Hamilton, M’05, helped guide the university’s development process in launching the program.