UM College of Business creating a safer online future for our state

Fall on the University of Montana campus is always a special time - the leaves are turning, and the students' excitement for the new year and achieving their academic and career goals brings a positive energy. This year is particularly special because we welcomed our inaugural class of Cybersecurity Majors to the UM College of Business.

Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field. In Montana, over 700 cyber workforce positions are unfilled, and nationally, we expect 33% job growth over the next decade. It should also be no surprise that these jobs are high quality and high pay, with a median annual salary for cybersecurity professionals at over $100,000.

At the College of Business, we have offered a Cybersecurity Management certificate as part of the Management Information Systems bachelor's degree since 2017. Of these graduates, we are proud that 100% landed jobs in cybersecurity or related IT areas in Montana and around the country. After looking at the job market, listening to our students and responding to the needs of our state, we designed a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity that builds on the existing certificate and collaborates with Missoula College's associate degree and its status as the Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.

This program is an innovative combination of Business, Computer Science, and Management Information Systems where students earn the knowledge and skills they need to help companies, nonprofits, utilities, and governments keep their digital information and systems safe. We deliver National Security Agency-approved classes. Our professors helped train the National Guard in cybersecurity and are experts in digital forensics, coders, network experts, cybersecurity entrepreneurs, and academics.

Our students get hands-on experiences in programming, networking, analytics, statistics, and cybersecurity management with real-world experiences with the Big Four consulting firms and other cybersecurity advisory and assurance businesses. They develop the expertise to identify, detect, protect, respond, and recover from cybersecurity events and learn how cyber events impact organizations and customers.

To meet the needs of Montana businesses and government agencies, the UM College of Businesses is working hard to train the next batch of consultants, chief information officers, and chief security officers to lead and protect your organization. We are here to adapt and grow this program to respond to the needs of our state and the changing landscape of cybersecurity.

If you are a high school or college student or know someone who might be interested, reach out to learn more at https://www.umt.edu/academics/programs/cybersecurity-bachelor/default.php .

We are recruiting people with a natural interest in technology, including students who bring various interests and backgrounds. Cybersecurity is critical to every business, government agency, nonprofit, and family. Students interested in other languages could get a double major and work internationally. Health agencies and schools need thoughtful cybersecurity experts to protect data. Even law firms need people to help them recover from breaches.

We are thrilled about what the future holds for the UM College of Business and how we can help build a safer online future for our state. We hope you will reach out to learn more or visit us next time you are in Missoula.

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Havre native Suzanne Tillman is the Sprunk and Burnham Dean at the College of Business at the University of Montana.