Cincinnati State to offer cyber security major starting Fall Semester

August 13, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2014

CONTACT
Robert White
Media Relations/Communications Coordinator
(513) 569-4775 (office)
(859) 468-6640 (cell)
robert.white@cincinnatistate.edu

Cincinnati State will offer a major in cyber security compliance starting with the 2014 Fall Semester.
The major is designed to help address the growing need for Information Technology (IT) professionals
who are trained to help organizations protect themselves against online attacks and comply with
governmental and industry protocols designed to safeguard sensitive data.

“IT professionals who understand both security and compliance are in extremely high demand,” said Paul
Weingartner, chairman of the new program at Cincinnati State. “Companies need IT people who, in
addition to their technical expertise, also understand how to implement, monitor and protect critical
business data using regulatory policies and protocols.”

Weingartner said the new major will build on Cincinnati State’s existing, fully accredited Computer
Network Engineering Technology Program. The cyber security major will provide a particular focus on
information technology and security for regulatory compliance as it applies to:

 Health Services (HIPAA, or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
 Financial Services (GLBA, or Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act)
 Accounting Regulations (SOX, or Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
 Payment cards (PCI-DSS, or Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standard)

The associate degree program is designed for completion with two years of full-time study, and includes a
co-op work-study requirement. Students will learn proper security administration in such areas as
programming, networking, server and database administration, and hardware architecture, as well as the
protocols used to protect and transfer information on public and private networks.

Students will also study fundamental loss prevention concepts, including implementation of total security
programs and methods used to assess and protect online information resources.

“Many of the data breaches we see are not the result of hackers defeating technical safeguards, but
rather they gain access to systems and data due to an inadequate implementation of security policies and
procedures,” Weingartner said. “That’s why organizations are hiring people who can help them develop
and implement data access controls, disaster recovery and business continuity plans.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the computer security field is projected to see 22 percent
growth between now and 2018. The BLS estimates there are about 340,000 jobs in the industry now. Job
titles include security network analyst, network administrator, computer systems administrator and
computer security specialist.

Academic Vice President Monica Posey said Cincinnati State is now recruiting industry professionals to
serve on a Program Advisory Committee to provide direction, technical guidance and support for the
cyber security program. Members also will be recruited to provide internships and co-op opportunities for
Cincinnati State students.

The Ohio Board of Regents approved the new major in July. Enrollment is open now for the 2014 Fall
Semester, which begins Aug. 25.

ABOUT CINCINNATI STATE
Cincinnati State (www.cincinnatistate.edu) offers more than 130 associate degree and certificate
programs in business technologies, health and public safety, engineering technologies, humanities and
sciences and information technologies. Cincinnati State, with average enrollment of about 10,400
students in the 2013-14 academic year, has one of the most comprehensive co-op programs among two-
year colleges in the U.S.

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