AP Cybersecurity

The need for Cybersecurity specialists is at a critical level.

In 2025, Cybercrime led to more than $10.5 trillion in global damages, effectively making Cybercrime the world’s third-largest economy after the United States and China. According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025, the average cost of a data breach globally was about $4.44 million in 2025, while in the United States the average cost reached an all-time high of over $10 million per incident, and the average time to identify and contain a breach from first compromise to full containment is roughly 241 days or 8 months. The US government alone spends over 25 billion dollars a year on cybersecurity. It is little wonder that certified cybersecurity specialists are in such high demand.

The Grayson Tech AP Cybersecurity Program offers a rigorous introduction to the field and aligns closely with college-level, introductory cybersecurity courses. Students learn about common threats and vulnerabilities and how they combine to create risk. Students study how to manage and mitigate risk through defense-in-depth strategies. Students explore specific vulnerabilities, attacks, mitigations, and detection measures across a variety of domains including physical spaces, computer networks, devices, and data and applications. Throughout the course, students consider the impact of cybersecurity on individuals, organizations, societies, and governments. Qualified students at the end of the term will sit for the CompTIA Security+ exam.

The average salary of an individual with no experience, high school diploma, and a CompTIA Security+ certification is over $67,000 a year. According to CyberSeek.com in 2025, there are over 17,000 job openings in Georgia and over 510,000 nationally for cybersecurity professionals.

The program embeds an NCAA approved Advanced Composition course as a fourth year Language Arts* for graduation and admittance to college.

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  (Industry Standard)

• AP Cybersecurity Credential (Professional Skills)

• Security Pro by CompTIA (Applied Skills)

• Competency in Networking by CompTIA (Applied Skills)

• Cisco Networking Academy (Various Badges and Certificates)