CyberSecurity Schools In Dc – Before We Get Into The Topic, Let’s Learn Some Basic Of This Topic
Want to work just a few blocks from the White House, defending the United States from cyber-attacks? Earning an advanced degree in cybersecurity in Washington, D.C. is a good place to start. You can go straight to our list of schools that offer programs. Alternatively, take the extended tour, which includes information on online degrees, scholarships, security groups, and conferences, as well as job prospects.
Studying Cybersecurity in Washington, D.C.
In D.C., a small but exceptional set of universities is conducting cybersecurity research, making it an excellent place to pursue a doctorate in the discipline. Undergraduates can still find good bachelor’s degrees and majors in cybersecurity at George Washington University and Howard University, both of which were ranked among the best institutions for cybersecurity in a 2014 HP-funded assessment.
Here’s a quick rundown of what’s available in the District of Columbia:
Georgetown University and George Washington University have been designated by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research. Graduate students at both colleges can expect to participate in field research with instructors. In fact, under the CyberCorps program, both colleges won funding from the National Science Foundation to provide full scholarships to students.
If you go to George Washington University, you could be able to research with two members of the National Cyber Security Hall of Fame. Lance Hoffman is the co-director of the Cyber Security & Privacy Research Institute (CSPRI), while Carl Landwehr is the Lead Research Scientist.
Online Cybersecurity Programs in Washington, D.C.
In Washington, D.C., distance learning programs are strong on leadership and weak on technical skills. It’s part of the territory, but it’s also a reflection of the types of children that attend most of D.C.’s finest schools. There will be a lot of master’s programs and a few certificates, but nothing else. Here’s a quick rundown of what’s available:
Online Bachelor’s Degrees In Cybersecurity
In D.C., the only online baccalaureate degree is offered by a for-profit institution. The BS in Cyber Security and Policy at the University of the Potomac combines technical and theoretical education. Government contract management, healthcare management, information management, international business, and management are among the five concentrations available to students.
Online Master’s Degrees In Cybersecurity
George Washington University offers a pair of graduate degrees to persuade students to attend. The first is an interdisciplinary Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity Policy & Compliance that teaches tech-savvy students about cyber warfare and espionage. The second program is the Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity Strategy and Information Management, which attracts public and private-sector professionals interested in policy.
Not to be outdone, Georgetown University’s Master of Professional Studies in Technology Management degree offers an Information Security focus. The degree places a greater emphasis on ethics and analysis than on technical skills.
Through its Master of Science in Government Information Leadership program, National Defense University more directly targets government employees. A Cyber Security emphasis is available to students. Students will attend an intense weeklong seminar at Fort McNair in the middle of each session, so it is not entirely online.
If you think you’ll need it, there’s one more option: For its MS in Information Technology degree, the for-profit University of the Potomac offers a Cyber Security focus.
Online Certificate Programs In Cybersecurity
Students at National Defense University can earn a certificate in Cyber Security instead of a degree. They’ll receive four of the Committee on National Security Systems’ six professional certifications in the process: NSTISSI-4011, CNSSI-4012, NSTISSI-4015, and CNSSI-4016.
Cybersecurity Scholarships in Washington, D.C.
The majority of cybersecurity programs in Washington, D.C. are master’s degrees. On-campus graduate students might apply for departmental fellowships or assistantships to help pay for tuition and living costs. Scholarships abound, albeit most are wide, with several available to all IT students or even STEM disciplines. The next two scholarships, on the other hand, are fairly specific:
George Washington University
Scholarship for Service at GW CyberCorps: Every year, some students pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in cybersecurity are awarded a full ride for the last two to three years of their studies. Tuition, fees, books, professional development, and living expenses are all covered. Even in costly Foggy Bottom, the stipend is enough to locate a suitable place. After receiving your degree, you’ll be obliged to work for two to three years for a federal agency.
Georgetown University
Scholarship for Service at GW CyberCorps: As of 2017, the terms of Georgetown’s NSF-funded CyberCorps award were still being worked out, although the school’s Cybersecurity Fellows program will undoubtedly be similar to George Washington’s full scholarship program.
Cybersecurity Events in Washington, D.C.
Cybersecurity Meetups & Communities In Washington, D.C.
The D.C. tech community is as large as the Metro, with people traveling from northern Virginia and suburban Maryland to meet up with colleagues in the nation’s capital, and vice versa. Check out our guide to cybersecurity programs in Virginia and/or Maryland, which includes descriptions of regional Meetups like the large D.C. Cyber Security Professionals in Arlington, to learn more about some of the areas outside the four quadrants.
We’ve compiled a list of neighborhoods that cater to DC residents. The majority of the following organizations are based in the Federal City, however, they are welcoming to inhabitants of NOVA and Maryland:
- CapSec DC does not require you to deliver your graduate thesis, unlike most professional organizations. The only requirement is that you join us for a drink or meal and to mingle. (When you meet individuals in the field, the topic of collaborative access control or whatever you’re working on will inevitably come up.) Queen Vic in Northeast hosts a happy hour on the final Wednesday of every month.
- Wednesday’s Cyber Risk: Wednesday is a really popular day. This organization is an outgrowth of the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, and it meets once a month for panel talks on “international cooperation, competitiveness, and conflict in cyberspace,” bringing together specialists from many fields.
- CISSP Meetup Group in DC, MD, and VA: The local CISSP chapter welcomes newcomers to its regular study sessions. The objective is to prepare you to pass the Certified Information Systems Security Professional exam.
- Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States. OWASP Chapter: OWASP stands for Open Web & Application Security Project, therefore you can guess what the monthly meetings are about. Consider presentations on VoIP platform vulnerabilities and self-protection in runtime applications.
- White Hat Academy: The White Hat Academy holds workshops and hacking events like Capture the Flag multiple times a month. It’s ideal for folks who want to swiftly improve their hacking talents and improve their hacker defenses.
You might also join a professional organization that admits student members in addition to these free groups. These kinds of organizations offer excellent networking opportunities as well as discounts on training, courses, and conferences, which we’ll go over in more detail below. Control System Cyber Security Association International, Information Systems Security Association (ISSA), ISACA (previously the Information Systems Audit and Control Association), and Cloud Security Alliance are some of the organizations having active branches in Washington, D.C. (CSA).
Cybersecurity Conferences & Workshops In Washington, D.C.
We’ve listed a bunch of cybersecurity conferences in the District of Columbia on our guide to cybersecurity programs in Virginia, including the Digital Government Institute Cyber Security Conference & Expo and the International Consortium of Minority Cybersecurity Professionals National Conference, due to the well-crossed border between the nation’s capital and northern Virginia. That doesn’t even take into account all of the events that take place in the nation’s capital (for example, the International Cryptographic Module Conference 2017), which is as popular as Las Vegas or New York.
Five more events that keep drawing people to Washington are listed below:
- The Security Principles in B-Sides DC The goal of B-Sides events is to broaden the security conversation, make it more accessible, and encourage individuals to participate. That presents itself in three days of presentations and training in Washington, D.C., with numerous tracks so that young learners and seasoned specialists alike can discover something that interests them — or simply play Capture the Flag.
- The Billington CyberSecurity Summit is an annual fall event that brings together the top security minds from the government and the corporate sector for a day of lectures. Students enjoy a substantial discount.
- D.C. Metro Cyber Security Summit: Okay, so this one is intended for big-time business CEOs who will sit in on panels and have catered lunches with industry experts. However, if you work for the government or the military, you will be able to attend for next to nothing.
- (ISC)2 CyberSecureGov: The CyberSecureGov conference, which comprises three days of presentations and training for tech workers from the public, commercial, and academic sectors, offers a significant discount to students. Expect to learn a lot about your field of interest with three tracks and several presenters throughout the day.
The Synergy Forum is a one-day series of breakout sessions hosted by Cognitio Corporation for business leaders and public sector IT professionals to learn how to effectively safeguard their data.
Cybersecurity Jobs in Washington, D.C.
Cybersecurity Jobs in Washington, D.C. Because Washington, D.C. is so small, most data on it include northern Virginia and sections of Maryland, giving a skewed picture of what’s available within the capital. Visit our guide to cybersecurity programs in Virginia for a thorough understanding of the job market in NOVA. Visit our guide to cybersecurity programs in Maryland for information on careers at the National Security Agency and other organizations in the Old Line State.
Either of those recommendations will inform you that you’re in the perfect place if you’re looking for cybersecurity jobs since the region has a plethora. The employment figures for the D.C. metropolitan area as a whole are staggering: There were 27,000 job ads in 2014, according to Burning Glass Technologies, with New York City coming in second with just under 18,000. There’s more to come. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. are all in the top five states for the concentration of information security analyst positions in the US. And there are over 1,000 people with that title in D.C. alone, not to mention those with different titles.
What kind of job do they come across? D.C. has a whopping six companies on the Cybersecurity 500, a list of the best corporations in the industry, despite being only 68 square miles in size. The Northwest quarter is home to all of those businesses. To put things in perspective, NW Washington, D.C. has one fewer item on the list than the entire state of Washington. Thycotic creates security technologies for managing privileged accounts. Star Lab is a software company that specializes in high-tech areas such as aerospace. Ridge Global was founded by the first Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to assist leaders in improving their company’s security policies and practices. Another DHS Secretary, Michael Chertoff, formed the Chertoff Group, which advises governments and multinational organizations on how to secure their infrastructure against cyber warfare. Good Harbor focuses on executive risk management consulting services. Virtru, on the other hand, creates email and digital privacy solutions for private individuals.
Cybersecurity Salaries in Washington, D.C.
More good news: employment in D.C. are not only available, but they are also well-paying. Indeed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analysts in D.C. earn $116,000 per year, nearly 5% more than the second-highest-paying state, New York. Indeed, which keeps track of starting pay for each job ad on its site, backs up some of this for related occupations: Recruited cybersecurity engineers in Washington, D.C. earn more than 20% more than the national average, while IT security specialists earn about the same as the national average.