Cybersecurity
The need for Cybersecurity specialists is at a critical level.
In 2022, cybercrime would be the world’s third-largest economy after the U.S. and China with damages totaling over $6 trillion globally. The average cost of a data breach to the company will be 9.5 million US dollars, and on average it will take 277 days or about 9 months to discover a data breach. The US government alone spends over 15 billion dollars a year on cybersecurity. It is of little wonder that certified cybersecurity specialists are in such high demand.
The Cybersecurity Program is taught in a rigorous classroom environment. This program will immerse you in the knowledge and skills required to install and configure systems; to secure applications, networks, and devices; perform threat analysis and respond with appropriate mitigation techniques; participate in risk mitigation activities; and to operate with an awareness of applicable policies, laws, and regulations. Qualified students at the end of the term will sit for the CompTIA Security+ exam.
The average pay of an individual with no experience, high school diploma, and a CompTIA Security+ certification is $58,729 a year. According to CyberSeek.com in 2022, there are over 24,000 job openings in Georgia and over 700,000 nationally for cybersecurity professionals.
Dual Enrollment Program
The Dual Enrollment program provides eligible students opportunities to earn both high school and college credit while studying at Grayson Tech. First semester students will take the college-level course CIST 1001 Computer Concepts. This course covers the fundamentals of processing, security, industry ethics, hardware operation, networking, the Internet, design concepts, and software at a rigorous college level. Students will be required to have passed a college entrance exam such as the ACCUPLACER, ACT, SAT, or PSAT to qualify for credit.
The program embeds an NCAA approved Advanced Composition course as a fourth-year language arts for graduation and admittance to college.
Certifications and Credentials Offered
- Security+ by CompTIA
- Security Pro
- Network Pro
- Ethical Hacking Pro
- Information Technology Specialist
- Microsoft Office Specialist Associate
- Microsoft Office Specialist Expert
Email: Anthony.Edwards@gcpsk12.org
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards is the Cybersecurity Instructor at Grayson Tech. Mr. Edwards earned a Bachelors in Computer Information Systems from Georgia State University and a Masters in Arts Teaching from the University of Georgia. He is currently working on his Doctor of Philosophy in Workforce Education at the University of Georgia. His industry background includes three Internet startups and working for a Fortune 1000 company. In addition to teaching in the United States, Mr. Edwards has taught in Tanzania in East Africa on a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program. His spare-time hobbies include astronomy and falconry.
