Agriculture has historically been the most visible part of the Kansas economy, comprising both farming and ranching. Oil and natural gas became key contributors in the twentieth century, but they have been diminishing for years. Today, major contributors include aerospace, telecommunications, and consumer products manufacturing. Healthcare and education, professional and commercial services, commerce and transportation, and leisure and hospitality are the largest employment sectors in the state. A number of significant firms have their headquarters in Kansas. Kansas is home to Sprint Corporation, Payless Shoes, Koch Industries, Coleman, Textron Aviation, Spirit AeroSystems, and Bombardier Aerospace. With three large bases presently located in Kansas: McConnell Air Force Base, Fort Leavenworth, and Fort Riley, US military installations give a considerable boost. Although Kansas does not have a large economy, the existence of several major league players and significant economic sectors that are also attractive targets for cybercrime ensures that cybersecurity will thrive in the state.
Cybersecurity Culture in Kansas
Although the cybersecurity sector in Kansas is small at the moment, it is large and active enough for any information security specialists to consider making a home and a career there. And there is undoubtedly a growing pool of assistance and services accessible. The Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is the state’s branch of the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Its goal is to help small businesses with all aspects of starting and growing a company in today’s society. Of course, this now includes inspections of small business cybersecurity processes as well as training to improve preparation and response protocols. For the past three years, the Kansas City Cyber Security Conference has been hosted. This one-day event brings together IT leaders for networking and information sharing about their cybersecurity experiences and concerns. WiS-KC (Women in Security, Kansas City) is a non-profit organisation that was created in 2000 to help women who are working in or studying information security. WiS-KC helps women at all levels of cybersecurity by providing mentors, networking opportunities such as monthly meetings, and resources such as scholarships and courses.
Cybersecurity Degrees in Kansas
Education choices in Kansas are currently limited, in line with the size of the cybersecurity business in the state. However, this is starting to change. The University of Kansas and Kansas State University have stepped in to help the sector by putting together degree programmes and other resources. Wichita State University and Friends University have also created two information security education programmes. The National Science Foundation awarded the University of Kansas School of Engineering a $4.7 million grant through the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service Program in 2016. Students who complete this degree will be hired by the government after graduation. A Cybersecurity Boot Camp has also been developed by KU, which takes place in Overland Park and has a 24-month completion timeframe. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Kansas State University’s Center for Information and Systems Assurance as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research.
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE
Cybersecurity is a highly technical field that necessitates substantial education. However, numerous entry-level occupations with simply an associate’s degree are still accessible. Associate’s degrees can be finished in two years or less, making them a good option for those who don’t have the time or finances to complete a four-year programme.
Campus-based associate’s degrees in Kansas
In Kansas, there is currently only one cybersecurity associate’s degree programme available. In El Dorado, Kansas, Butler Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science in Cyber Security degree programme on campus.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
Most cybersecurity positions now require a bachelor’s degree. Candidates who majored in any of a variety of technology-related areas are frequently accepted by employers. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, or at least an emphasis in some part of information security, will, however, provide you an advantage and broaden your employment prospects.
Campus-based bachelor’s degrees in Kansas
Kansas schools now offer five cybersecurity degrees, all of which are available in a campus-based structure and have a cybersecurity focus. Below is further information on these programmes.
MASTER’S DEGREE
Master’s degrees are becoming more desired as cybersecurity occupations rise to higher levels of corporate management. Master’s degrees have become almost mandatory for cybersecurity instructors and those seeking careers in research or cybersecurity consulting. Kansas schools and universities presently offer five different master’s degrees in cybersecurity, three of which are taught on campus and two of which are delivered online.
Campus-based master’s degrees in Kansas
As shown in the table below, Kansas colleges and universities offer three options for on-campus cybersecurity master’s degrees: two from Friends University in Wichita and one from the University of Kansas at Lawrence.
Online master’s degrees in Kansas
There are two cybersecurity master’s degree programmes to choose from for individuals who want the convenience of online instruction. The Master of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity and the Master of Professional Studies in Information Assurance Management are both offered by Fort Hays State University.
CERTIFICATIONS
Certification programmes are now available in a wide range of cybersecurity disciplines and at almost every career level. Students just getting started in cybersecurity, cybersecurity experts eager to update or expand their knowledge, and those pursuing an additional degree but lacking the time to complete one can all benefit from certification programmes. Kansas schools, on the other hand, have only established two cybersecurity credentials so far. We anticipate receiving further information in the near future.
Campus-based cybersecurity certifications in Kansas
Only one campus-based cybersecurity certification programme is currently available from Kansas schools, and that is the Certificate in Cyber Security offered by Butler Community College on its El Dorado campus.
Online cybersecurity certifications in Kansas
Kansas institutions also offer a cybersecurity certification programme that may be accessed online. A Graduate Certificate in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity is offered by Wichita State University.
Cybersecurity Programs in Kansas
Cybersecurity jobs in Kansas
Kansas covers a large portion of the Great Plains, but about 90% of it is still dedicated to farms and ranches, according to some estimates. As a result, the state’s cybersecurity presence is now limited. According to Cyberseek, Kansas had 6,524 employees engaged in some area of cybersecurity in the 12 months ending September 2019. Employers in the Jayhawk state have posted a total of 2,822 new information security jobs that need to be filled. The majority of the information security activities in and around Kansas City is concentrated on the eastern border. There were nearly 3,700 cybersecurity job ads in the year through September 2019 in both Kansas Cities (Missouri and Kansas), which are adjacent to each other on the border between the two states. Wichita (458) and Topeka (457) were the two other Kansas cities with notable information assurance job posts (266). According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, security analysts in Kansas earned an average hourly income of $41.42 in May 2018. Their annual pay averaged $86,160. Both of these are close to or slightly below national averages. Kansas, on the other hand, has a quality of living that is around 17% lower than the national average.
Cybersecurity in Kansas
Given that farming and livestock occupy up to 90% of Kansas’ territory, the cybersecurity business is remarkably thriving. However, by US norms gathered from other states, Kansas’ information security activities is somewhat modest. The existence of significant enterprises situated there, as well as high-value information targets such as healthcare and telecommunications, has made cybersecurity a quickly developing sector, and it will continue to do so.
