Best Cyber Security Schools In Maryland

Best Cyber Security Schools In Maryland – Before We Get Into The Topic , Let’s Learn Some Basic Of This Topic

For aspiring cybersecurity experts, Maryland offers a diverse range of online and traditional education programs. Even better, it may place them in positions, whether private sector, government service, or research. If you’re convinced, check out our list of Maryland schools that offer cybersecurity programs. Continue reading for more information about the state’s cybersecurity landscape.

Studying Cybersecurity in Maryland

Maryland’s linkages to cybersecurity are difficult to emphasize. It was an obvious choice for government facilities such as the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Rockville, the sole Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) for cybersecurity, because of its proximity to the nation’s capital. The state, on the other hand, did not wait for Washington to throw money at it. It was one of the first states to have a cybersecurity strategy. Maryland is one of only three states, according to the Pell Center, with fully prepared cyber R&D agendas that connect the dots between higher education and local companies to train and retain cybersecurity specialists.

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In layman’s terms, this means that the state’s colleges can provide you with a high-quality cybersecurity degree and assist you in finding work. Not just a few, but the vast majority of them. Maryland has more nationally accredited institutions than any other state, with 17 NSA/DHS Centers of Academic Excellence. Eight of these are community colleges, which provide students with a faster path to a profession.
There’s almost too much going on in Maryland’s cybersecurity education landscape to cover it all, so here are a few key players:
In October 2015, John Hopkins University’s Information Security Institute was awarded a $2.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation, which will be used to fund full scholarships for graduate students who earn the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service.
The acclaimed CyberCorps SFS is not just offered at JHU. The University of Maryland-Baltimore County and Towson State University both have it, which is only reasonable given that Towson was the first school in Maryland to offer cybersecurity degrees.
The Maryland Cybersecurity Center at the University of Maryland hosts an annual conference where researchers can present and hear about the newest research discoveries. In terms of research, it was awarded a $500,000 NSF grant in September 2016 to investigate why mobile users are particularly vulnerable to cybercrime. Maryland’s lone public member of the elite Association of American Universities has secured a spate of grants.
HP commissioned a study in 2014 asking cybersecurity experts to pick the finest cybersecurity institutions. Both Johns Hopkins and UMD cracked the top 25%, while the United States Naval Academy was Maryland’s top-ranked school at #14. The National Security Agency, the Naval Cyber Warfare Development Group, and the Navy Information Operations Center are among the top government and military organizations that have internship arrangements with the school’s Center for Cyber Security Studies.
Bowie State University is part of a group of historically black colleges and universities that the US Department of Energy has enlisted to create a cybersecurity education-to-employment pipeline for ethnic minorities.
At the local level, too, a job pipeline is in the works. The Chesapeake Regional Tech Council is partnering with UMBC and Anne Arundel Community College to place local cybersecurity graduates in local jobs.
In 2010, the University of Maryland-University College carved itself a position in the field of cybersecurity education. It is proud of its Cyber Padawans, a cyber competition squad that placed first in the world in 2014.

Online Cybersecurity Programs in Maryland

Maryland is one of the top states for online education, particularly in the field of cybersecurity. This is owing to the University of Maryland-University College’s unusual heritage, which began focusing on remote education before the internet existed. The school makes almost its entire catalog available online, which might not be a huge problem if it only offered a few tech courses. However, the school alone offers 15 degrees and certifications in cybersecurity.

Unless you aim to acquire an associate degree, you’ll have alternative public and private options for your online study. Although Anne Arundel Community College and other two-year universities offer cybersecurity associate programs on campus, they have yet to be made available online. The best option is to enroll in an online certificate program that leads to an associate’s degree. You can then enroll in a convenient on-ground associate program and take as many individual distance learning courses as you choose. You could also pursue a bachelor’s degree straight away. Here’s what’s available:

Online Associate Degrees in Cybersecurity

Maryland’s colleges do not offer associate degrees in cybersecurity online to the same extent as bachelor’s, master’s, or certificate programs, as is the case in many other states. For most degrees, the state’s community institutions preferred online courses to entirely online programs as of 2016.

Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Cybersecurity

You can either start with a bachelor’s degree or transfer in with an associate’s degree in a similar field like general computer science. Because of the University of Maryland-University College, you’ll have a variety of possibilities once you arrive. The public institution offers all of its programs online and leads the field in bachelor’s degrees in cybersecurity.

You can choose from three online BS programs in cybersecurity when you register at UMUC, not including a minor in the field. The BS in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity is designed for people who want to work as network managers, systems administrators, or network security analysts in the corporate world. The Cybersecurity Management and Policy degree, on the other hand, is multidisciplinary and geared for those who like to write and implement security policies rather than code. As a result, whereas the BS in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity prepares students for 16 technical industry certifications, the Cybersecurity Management and Policy program only prepares them for two: the CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA Network+ examinations. Do you want to learn how to code like a pro? Try a degree in Software Development and Security; you’ll master numerous programming languages and be able to write secure software.

Online Master’s Degrees in Cybersecurity

When you get a master’s degree, you’ll find that online programs are more widely available. That’s because many are designed for people who are already employed, and it’s only natural to make such degrees accessible.

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With five different master’s paths, UMUC once again takes the lead. They’re geared for everyone from local cops to government employees who have to create and implement security protocols to secure the country’s infrastructure and data.

Cybersecurity studies are also available entirely online at two private colleges. Capitol Technology University is the first (formerly Capitol College). While the BS in Cyber and Information Security is only offered online for the last two years of study, the MS in Cyber and Information Security is completely online. All of the courses in a Capitol Tech online degree are delivered in real-time rather than asynchronously. Johns Hopkins University, for example, offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity/Security Informatics. Students who enroll know how to program and perform sophisticated math. They’ll have experience in encryption, hash functions, signature methods, and authentication, as well as the ability to identify hazards to both hardware and software.

Online Certificate Programs in Cybersecurity

Maryland has a plethora of online certificate programs for both graduate and undergraduate students. The former can be completed either as a stand-alone course for students who are not ready to commit to a two-year degree or as part of an associate program with careful planning. The latter equip working professionals with a specialized skill set that will help them succeed in their careers.

Let’s start with the certificates for undergraduates. Consider UMUC’s Computer Networking certificate, which is designed for ambitious network administrators and provides only a smattering of cybersecurity courses. If you’re not interested in distance learning, Anne Arundel Community College offers a Network Security certificate, and if you’re not interested in that, you should look at its half-dozen regular degree and certificate alternatives. Hagerstown Community College takes a program comparable to UMUC’s and Anne Arundel Community College’s and kicks it up a level. As a result, the Advanced Network Security certificate is now available online in 75 percent of cases. It prepares students who have completed previous network security coursework for industry certifications including Security Certified Network Specialist, Security Certified Network Professional, and Certified Ethical Hacker.

Moving on to graduate certifications, Capitol Technology University boasts the most comprehensive selection of 12-credit options, ranging from Secure Cloud Computing to Secure Software Development. Simply choose a specialty and complete the four needed eight-week courses. With specialties like Homeland Security Management and Cybersecurity Technology, UMUC isn’t far behind. Because most of their credentials are 15 credits, coursework will take a little longer to finish. Last but not least, Towson University’s Information Security & Assurance department offers online study at the graduate certificate level. Even though the curriculum is aimed at IT professionals, it is designed in such a way that persons without technical experience can get up to speed through introductory training.

Cybersecurity Scholarships in Maryland

Almost every institution has a foundation that works solely to award scholarships to students. Even though such awards may have individual eligibility requirements, most foundations use a similar application and software to assess which candidates are eligible for scholarships. Furthermore, several academic departments at colleges have a scholarship or federal grant money to work with, thus computer science departments are a fantastic area to explore for funding. Here are a handful of the most relevant cybersecurity scholarships available from foundations, departments, and government grants:

Anne Arundel Community College

Barrett and Anne McKown Scholarship for Cyber Security Study: Residents of Anne Arundel County are eligible to earn a scholarship from the McKowns’ private endowment if they plan to study cybersecurity at a local community college. To be eligible, you must attend full-time and have a 3.0 GPA or above. Apply by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submitting a single application to the Anne Arundel Community College Foundation, which also qualifies you for three other scholarships for Computer Technologies students.

Frostburg State University

Computer Science Scholarship: Students enrolled in a Computer Science Department program, such as the BS in Secure Computing and Information Assurance, can apply directly to the department for financial aid. There are a few prerequisites: You must have a 3.0 GPA overall and in Computer Science programs, as well as have completed the majority of core courses. To apply, fill out the Frostburg State University scholarship application in its entirety.
Presidential Merit Scholarship: Dr. Joan DeVee Dixon and Dr. Alvin C. Broyles Although this scholarship is less specific than the Computer Science Scholarship, you will still be eligible provided you submit the usual scholarship application. It is awarded to full-time STEM students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and a demonstrated financial need.

Harford Community College

Women in Defense Mid-Atlantic Chapter Scholarship: Female students pursuing an AAS or degree in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity are eligible for this $2,500 prize. It is awarded to candidates with a 3.25 GPA who want to work in national security. Use a single application to apply for this and all other Harford Community College Foundation scholarships.

Howard Community College

The NSF S-STEM award is available to full-time students in a variety of majors, including Howard’s cybersecurity and information assurance programs. To be eligible, you must be in financial need and have a 3.0 GPA. Fill out the FAFSA and an application for the S-STEM Scholarship.

Johns Hopkins University

The National Science Foundation’s CyberCorps Scholarship for Service allows students accepted into the Master of Science in Security Informatics (MSI) program to apply to have their tuition and fees eliminated, as well as earn a generous living stipend. If they are successful, they will complete a summer internship and subsequently work for a government agency for several years. Apply to the MSI program by January 31st to be considered for the Scholarship for Service.
Anyone applying for full-time enrolment in the MSI program is automatically considered for the Information Security Institute Fellowship (ISIF), which is awarded based on academic credentials.
The key distinction between this and the conventional ISIF is that veteran students must have their military status validated by a Veterans Affairs official to be eligible.

Montgomery College

AAUW-Gaithersburg Scholarship: The AAUW-Gaithersburg Scholarship is a comprehensive scholarship for female STEM majors, including those in computer science. What’s the catch? To be eligible, you must live in Montgomery County. Use one online application to apply for this and other Montgomery College Foundation scholarships.
ACCESS II Scholarship for Engineering and Computer Science: The ACCESS Scholarship is worth $4,000 and is only available to current engineering and computer science students who want to transfer to a bachelor’s degree. There is a separate application form for this award.
Scholars Program of the AFCEA-Bethesda Chapter: Cybersecurity is one of four majors eligible for an annual scholarship from AFCEA-Bethesda. The prerequisites are straightforward: a 2.5 GPA, financial necessity, full-time status, and high school graduation in Montgomery County. Use the Montgomery College Foundation’s standard scholarship application to apply.
Highland Technology Services, Inc. is a company that specializes in technology. Scholarship: A local firm gives back by providing a small scholarship to a Montgomery County citizen enrolled in an IT or information assurance school. Eligibility and the amount of the grant are determined by financial need and merit. Use the standard scholarship application to apply.

Prince George’s Community College

Jamal and Tirrell Hubert Memorial Prize: Available through the school’s Institutional Scholarship Program, this one-time $1,500 scholarship is for students who have overcome difficulties. Recipients must attend a public high school in the county and be enrolled in an Information and Engineering Technology Department program, such as the AAS in Cybersecurity.

The Community College of Baltimore County

Heacock, Richard, and Katherine Students enrolled in at least two classes at the Catonsville campus can qualify for this award by completing a Community College of Baltimore County Foundation scholarship application and filing the FAFSA. It is only available to students pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Information Systems Security, or Information Technology. One of the most important factors is financial need.

Towson University

Applied Information Sciences Scholarship: Outstanding undergraduates in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences, particularly those in the Computer Science program’s security track, may be eligible for a one-time award of $2,400. Professors nominate students, so there’s no need to apply.
Only upperclassmen in the BS in Computer Science program’s security track are eligible for the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service. It pays for the last two years of tuition and fees, as well as providing stipends of over $24,000 per year for living expenses, professional development, and health insurance. What’s the catch? If you receive it, you’ll work for a government agency after graduation for a few years.
Seniors in the Department of Computer and Information Sciences with a 3.5 GPA and extracurricular activity in the topic, whether through club membership, tutoring, or volunteer service, are eligible for the Doris K. Lidtke Excellence in Service Award, which is worth $1,000 to $2,000. For application instructions, contact the department.
Only Computer Science majors (regardless of track) compete for the $7,000 nonrenewable James W. Smith Scholarship. Financial need isn’t a consideration, and all you need is a 3.0 GPA to be considered. For application information, contact the Computer and Information Sciences Department.
The Wendy and Larry Letow Scholarship is worth less than $1,000, but it’s still free money for upperclassmen who want to graduate with as little debt as possible. Apply to the Computer and Information Sciences Department.

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Undergraduate upperclassmen and graduate scholars can receive free tuition and hefty living stipends ($22,500 for undergrads and $34,000 for graduate students) through the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service. In exchange, they will work for a federal agency in cybersecurity for two to three years following graduation. Apply online at the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering Department’s website.

University of Maryland-College Park

Booz Allen Hamilton Scholarship: The Booz Allen Hamilton Scholarship flows through the Computer Science Department, which has a cybersecurity specialization. Seniors interested in big data, cloud computing, or cybersecurity are eligible for the award, which is based on academic excellence.
While there are more than a dozen Computer Science Department scholarships available to cybersecurity students, this is the only one specifically for them. Students who have completed one year of undergraduate study can apply for the scholarship through the department, which is awarded to two outstanding students each year.
Rabins, Irving, and Ida Endowed Scholarship in Engineering: A $2,500 award may be available to students with disabilities who are enrolled in an undergraduate engineering degree, such as the BS in Computer Engineering with Cybersecurity concentration. To apply, go to the Clark School of Engineering’s website.

University of Maryland-University College

The Drake Family Endowed Scholarship is for any undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a cybersecurity degree. Students who apply for institutional financial help and are eligible for the scholarship will be notified to apply.
Scholarship for Cybersecurity Students from the Gerencser Family: Undergraduate cybersecurity students with 15 credits and a 3.0 can apply for the Gerencser Family Scholarship to help them continue their studies. Enrollees are given the award based on their financial needs. Are you enrolled in a master’s program? Don’t be concerned. If you’ve finished nine credits, you can also apply for the Gerencser Family Scholarship.
Graduate Cybersecurity Scholarship Program: This $3,000 prize is extendable for a second year of master’s-level studies if the winner maintains a 3.2 GPA.
The ManTech Scholarship-Military has nearly identical qualifying standards to the Gerencser Family Scholarship, with one major exception: it is only open to military members, veterans, and their families. Graduate and undergraduate students receive separate rewards.
Graduate Open Systems Science Scholarship: This scholarship, like the majority of UMUC’s, is awarded to students in financial need. What kinds of pupils are you looking for? Spouses and children of military personnel enrolling in the MS programs in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or Cybersecurity Policy. To be considered, you must have a 3.0 GPA and nine completed credits.

Cybersecurity Events in Maryland

Cybersecurity Meetups & Communities in Maryland

For cybersecurity students and experts, the Beltway offers a plethora of relevant gatherings. Go to our Virginia page for various communities in the south, including some in and around Washington, D.C. You also have possibilities if you wish to network and/or develop your knowledge firmly within Maryland’s borders:
DataTribe Cyber Security Meetup: DataTribe is a cybersecurity tech incubator. In 2016, it built an east coast office in Fulton, Maryland, and immediately began hosting a monthly gathering that doubles as a guest speaker series.
MC-Cyber Get-Together: MC-Cyber isn’t a DJ; the MC stands for Montgomery College, which manages the group’s Information Technology Institute. Its goal is to broaden people’s understanding of cybersecurity careers and provide opportunities for students and novices alike to put their abilities to the test.
MD Cyber Meetup: Cybersecurity professionals in Baltimore get together almost every month for a bite to eat. That’s all there is to it. It’s all about networking and there’s no set agenda. The MD Cyber Community Meetup, which has a similar name and spirit, is organized by the same person. Even though there is a lot of overlap between the two groups, sign up for both to make sure you always know where to go.
Mid Atlantic Cybersecurity Experts Meetup: It doesn’t happen very often, but a nice meetup outside of Baltimore and the DC metro area does come up now and then. In this situation, a small but increasing group of cybersecurity experts meets every other month in Aberdeen to hear from outside speakers and discuss ideas.
Technical Tuesday: Cybergamut describes itself as a group of cybersecurity experts who specialize in all aspects of cyber and information security. The club, which is based in Elkridge, hosts a monthly event called Technical Tuesday, which features local speakers for 90-minute speeches and debates. At one of cybergamut’s Maryland
The Ethical Hackers Club (TEHC) is a Columbia-based organization that promotes persons who have a professional security certification or are working toward one. The organizers include a lot of hands-on penetration testing, although speakers also show up from time to time.

Cybersecurity Conferences & Workshops in Maryland

Maryland is bordered by DC and northern Virginia (home to the Pentagon and many of the largest military contractors), making it a hotspot for cyber defense events, some of which may be found on our Virginia page. However, there are far too many events in Maryland to mention. For information about forthcoming conferences, forums, and seminars, contact Buy MD Cyber. The site should keep you up to date on long-running specialized organization meetings, such as the Federal Information Systems Security Educators’ Association (FISSEA) Annual Conference, as well as new events, such as the first annual Federal IT Security Conference in 2016. Now for the essentials of the conference:

The Defense Information Systems Agency and the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Agency are hosting the AFCEA Defensive Cyber Operations Symposium.
The conference, hosted by the Electronics Association, brings together government agencies, military personnel, and industry executives for three days of discussions on safeguarding the United States from cyber threats.
BSidesCharm: BSides events are always lovely, but in Charm City, they’re even more so. BSides Charm City is a place where you’ll meet a lot of friendly faces because it’s organized by — and especially for — residents. A hiring happy hour and event party were held in addition to the normal lineup of speakers, workshops, and extended pieces of training.
The CyberMaryland Conference is not a local affair, as it coincides with both the National Cybersecurity Hall of Fame Awards Dinner and the CyberTini networking party. Forums are sponsored by state research universities and nationally prominent technology corporations. Choose your favorite speakers and panels, then wander through the displays or start your career at the employment fair.
When cybersecurity professors aren’t teaching, they attend the High Confidence Software and Systems Conference. They’re doing some research. And the brightest from around the world travel to Annapolis for three days to speak at the HCSS Conference alongside their private-sector lab colleagues.
This two-day Gaithersburg conference, hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, contains standard lectures and panels and is aimed at researchers and practitioners who want to observe what direction security standards are headed in.
The International Cryptographic Module Conference (ICMC) has only been held outside of Maryland or DC once since its beginning in 2013, even though it does not target government employees like many other conferences in the region. This one, on the other hand, is for business cryptographers who will meet for four days of workshops and live presentations.

Cybersecurity Jobs in Maryland

Maryland has the fourth-highest concentration of information security analysts in the country (according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, only Arkansas, Virginia, and DC have more cybersecurity professionals per 1,000 jobs.) The state also ranked seventh in terms of cybersecurity job postings, with over 11,400 in 2014, a 39 percent increase. Maryland’s superiority on the field, though, maybe underestimated. After all, many Maryland residents commute to work in the capital or take the Metro to Arlington and the surrounding suburbs.

The state, on the other hand, wants more of those people commuting within the state. The Cybersecurity Investment Incentive Tax Credit (CIITC), which encourages businesses to locate in Maryland, aims to secure Maryland’s grip on cybersecurity innovation. That’s one of the reasons DataTribe, a cybersecurity tech incubator, relocated there.

Even if no new companies took use of the CIITC, there is still much to work with right now. In Maryland, you’ll find the National Security Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Defense Information Systems Agency, the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, and the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center. However, not all of the state’s jobs are with the federal government or the military. The Fortune 500 ranks Lockheed Martin in Bethesda at #64. It also ranks #65 on Cybersecurity Ventures’ top 500 list of cybersecurity startups, alongside 12 other companies from Baltimore to Bethesda. When you search the entire DC metropolitan area, which includes the nation’s capital and northern Virginia, you’ll find 58 members of the Cybersecurity 500. Within a 30-mile radius, there are almost 11% of the world’s greatest cybersecurity firms.

Cybersecurity Salaries in Maryland

The good news about working in cybersecurity in Maryland is that the average specialist earns 10% more than their counterparts around the country. What’s the bad news? Living in Maryland is 25% more expensive than in the rest of the United States. Much of this is due to its closeness to Washington, DC, which, due to its tiny size and recession-proof economy, has a perpetually high cost of living. So there are a few possibilities available to you.

Option 1: Work for federal firms or government contractors in the DC area, which may pay a little less but provide excellent benefits and employment security.
Option 2: Relocate to a more rural area of the state, where the cost of living is lower, and look for work with private companies attracted by the state’s tax credit and pro-cyber security stance.
Option 3: Aim for the stars and land a high-paying job in a cost-effective region. You might just find it in Maryland, with everything it has to offer.