The adoption of cybersecurity in Wyoming has opened up new possibilities for the state’s ranchlands. Its economy is based mostly on coal, natural gas, and oil shale mining excavations. According to the Wyoming Department of Employment, Wyoming’s income is based on mineral production, making the state a very valued resource for the country’s energy capability. Wyoming is known as the Cowboy State because of its vast grounds that are ideal for livestock farming, with cattle being the state’s most valuable resource. Wheat, oats, barley, corn, sugar beets, beans, and potatoes are among Wyoming’s exports. According to the Department of Agriculture, over three-quarters of the state’s cropland is irrigated on a regular basis, and majority of the state’s production is concentrated in the southeast, with only 10,000 farms owing to yearly precipitation. However, as a result of the internet age, cybersecurity provides the state with an opportunity for quick, dynamic industry and trade. Wyoming’s financial, energy, telecommunications, and emergency response infrastructures have become more reliant on information systems. As individuals want security and protection for their data, job possibilities in cybersecurity continue to grow in Wyoming. With the state’s attractions, including as Yellowstone National Park and Independence Rock, bringing in a regular stream of visitors, cybersecurity opens up new options. According to Forbes, despite being the least populous state in the US, its job growth has been 1.3 percent, and the federal government owns approximately half of the state’s acreage. The federal government’s control over the state’s territory necessitates a more progressive approach to cybersecurity, allowing federal workers to examine data and make changes that affect state-level jurisdiction.
Growing Awareness of Cybersecurity in Wyoming
The state’s Cyber Response and Infrastructure Support Program (CRISP) was created to move the state’s attention away from acquiring technology and toward developing cybersecurity services to secure key data and information systems. A key component of the strategy is incident response and training, which has been a priority since 2015. According to the Department of Enterprise Technology Services, the department adopted a cybersecurity strategy for defending agencies and stakeholders during the fiscal years 2017 and 2018. This was in response to an increase in cyber threats to Wyoming citizens. The Emersion Data Center houses a data support centre as well as a multi-purpose office facility where technology and hardware are housed. The state is now consolidating the data centre and boosting the electricity to 480 volts to accommodate the servers and storage systems. The ETS adopted and refurbished the data centre through colocation agreements with Wyoming enterprises to help finance expenditures and modernise its computer resources as part of the Capitol Square Project. The state also launched the Risk Assessment Initiative to ensure secure computing environments for agencies during the 2017-18 fiscal year. This effort aids organisations in building risk assessment plans and prioritises measurement in project planning. The Wyoming Unified Network continues to grow, allowing agencies to connect to enterprise resources and cut production costs through its data centres. In 2014, ETS launched the Wyo4Life project, which allows K-12 school districts, community colleges, and universities to use Google Apps for Education to promote technology, computing, and cybersecurity coursework. The Wyoming Government Cloud Initiative enables partners like Microsoft Azure and Silver Star Communications invest in technology for future generations by providing a secure cloud.
Cybersecurity Degrees in Wyoming
The state of Wyoming offers a diverse range of cybersecurity-related programmes and credentials.
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE
Casper College offers an associate’s degree and an associate of applied science in cybersecurity, with a focus on business assurance as a marketable asset for job employment and advancement. The associate degree offered by the college is intended to serve as a bridge to higher education. The associate of applied science, on the other hand, lays the groundwork for I.T. support without the option of transferring credits. The associate of applied science degree also qualifies students for CCENT certification. “Cybersecurity is an ever-changing subject of research. It’s built to keep up with the ever-changing demands of cyberspace threats and vulnerabilities. If you enjoy the challenge of constantly changing learning possibilities, we encourage you to join us at Casper College and participate in this exciting field of study.” Laramie County Community College offers an associate of applied science degree that prepares students for professions protecting financial information, personal data, and trade secrets from cyber attacks, with a concentration on general cybersecurity instruction. Students will be able to conduct vulnerability assessments, apply cryptography to computer networking, implement computer security procedures, and analyse information systems as part of this degree. The Cyber Security AAS Program at Sheridan College prepares students for a career in computer network and Internet security. Risk analysis, network monitoring, security software, and emergency plan response are all talents that can be developed with this degree. Certifications such as Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Security Fundamentals, CompTIA Security+, and Cisco CCNA Security provide hands-on expertise.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
Bachelor’s degrees in cybersecurity provide students with substantial understanding in networking infrastructure, computer science, and data management, which is valuable to potential employers. Bachelor’s degrees include a variety of subjects in addition to the typical information security curriculum, and students can earn their degrees in a variety of ways.
MASTER’S DEGREE
Master’s degrees in cybersecurity assist students with bachelor’s degrees in computer science, engineering, or mathematics in furthering their studies. Master’s degrees enable students to take advantage of cybersecurity opportunities and study networking, data, and information choices.
Cybersecurity Certifications in Wyoming
In addition, Casper College and Sheridan College also offer cybersecurity credentials. The Computer Security Certificate from Casper College teaches students the fundamentals of network security, operating systems, Internet networking, and computer forensics in order to diagnose, protect, and prevent computer networking problems. Students will learn about file settings, security approaches, recovering digital evidence, and operating systems throughout their studies. Sheridan College offers advanced cybersecurity training for students who have already completed coursework in computer networking and information technology. The certificate focuses on dangers to computer systems, regulations governing computer systems, and reinforcing computer systems for safety. The curriculum is meant to help students move into the college’s AAS degree programme.
Cybersecurity Programs in Wyoming
According to Cyberseek, the cybersecurity sector employs around 1,202 people in Wyoming, with 516 job vacancies. In the realm of cybersecurity, there are a few more observations to make: Supply Currently, there is a scarcity of cybersecurity jobs. The supply/demand ratio for workers is 2.3, whereas the national average is 2.0, both of which are extremely low figures. Location In comparison to the national average of 1.0, Wyoming has a location quotient of 0.70. Wyoming’s employment options are limited but growing as a result of the expansion of cybersecurity measures in the last few years. Certifications Certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Global InformationAssurance Certification (GIAC), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional are required by state and company regulations for employment (CISSP). The following are some of the most popular job titles among current employees:
Cyber Security Engineer Vulnerability Analyst / Penetration Tester Cyber Security Analyst Network Engineer / Architect I.T. Specialist / Engineer Cyber Security Consultant
The average hourly income for a cybersecurity analyst in Wyoming is $34.33, with an annual average wage of $71,400, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Cybersecurity in Wyoming
Wyoming’s economic transition from mining and cattle to information technology is now modest, but it will have a significant impact on inhabitants’ living conditions in a few of years. Wyoming’s concentration on education programmes and cybersecurity activities serves to boost potential value for entering enterprises in need of data security measures, even though the state’s industry sectors haven’t changed dramatically. The enormous fields of agriculture and energy production are continuing to be traded for business infrastructure and financial expansion as a result of digital technologies. For businesses to communicate, exchange, evaluate, and measure the supply and demand for their services, data has become critical. Cybersecurity aids with the maintenance of these transactions and has the potential to create new jobs for future generations.
