Jan. 6, 2025
If you’ve ever encountered a bouncer at an event venue or bar, then you have a good visual for understanding the basic premise of cybersecurity.
“Cyber security is about defending systems infrastructure and data,” said Andrew Rozema, head of the Computer Information Systems Department at Grand Rapids Community College and nationally known cybersecurity expert. ‘If someone can get to your server — either in person or via digital means — they can damage it. Cybersecurity specialists keep bad stuff out of the network, just like a bouncer keeps unauthorized people out of a building.”
This is no small task. We’ve all heard about companies whose data and systems have been hijacked for ransom. We’ve all received the letters stating that our personal information has been compromised because some organization’s data has been hacked. Cybersecurity is, and will continue to be, a critical and growing field. It’s also constantly evolving.
“There are fundamentals that don’t change,” Rozema said. “Some things, like internetworking protocols from the 80s, are still in use. On the flip side, new threats and new ‘weapons,’ if you will, pop up every day. We’re always in an ‘arms race’ against malicious people who want to do harm. A cybersecurity expert is constantly working to understand the latest points of vulnerability and fix them. If you enter this field, you are signing up to be a lifelong learner.”
GRCC’s program is accredited by the Committee for National Security (part of the National Security Agency) as a Center of Academic Excellence.
“GRCC was only the second community college in the state to receive this designation from the NSA,” Rozema said. “I love attending cybersecurity conferences and seeing our former students giving programs and talks. We have a serious program.”
So how can someone approach cybersecurity as a learning opportunity? There are three basic options.
First, GRCC offers a Cyber Security certificate. These program courses align with the needs of industry-recognized certifications. The certificate is a great option for someone who is pivoting into cyber security from another field.
Second, the certificate can be stacked into an associate degree. The electives of this certificate program can be combined with other requirements for an associate degree, such as English and math. This is an excellent option for someone seeking an entry-level position in cybersecurity.
And third, GRCC offers a pre-cybersecurity associate degree specifically tailored for transfer to a four-year institution, where students will complete a bachelor’s degree. This “3+1” program is set up so that students complete three years at GRCC and then one year at Ferris State University or Davenport University. The degree is also highly transferable to other institutions such as Grand Valley State University.
Once you have a degree in cyber security, there’s no shortage of opportunities. According to cyberseek.org, from September 2023 through August 2024, there were only 83 cybersecurity workers available for every 100 cybersecurity jobs demanded by employers. Michigan has close to 10,000 job openings in this field.
“Cybersecurity is universal,” Rozema said. “Every organization needs it. Whether you’re working directly for a large company, or for a managed security service provider that provides services to smaller and mid-size organizations, cyber security is here to stay.”
Learn more about cybersecurity and other computer information systems programs at GRCC.
This story was reported by Julie Hordyk.