The Bakken oil shale resources were developed in North Dakota in 2014, resulting in a large rush of production that helped the state establish itself as the country’s dominant energy source. The abundant labour supply in the state and cheap corporate costs resulted in massive profits. However, now that the shale gas boom has faded, North Dakota is seeking for other sources of cash. StageNet, the state’s network, serves 252,000 daily users and protects the state’s military and commercial interests in the energy and agriculture industries. North Dakota is subjected to over 5.7 million attacks per month, and as a result, the state has shifted its objectives. North Dakota’s major goals for the coming years centre on a heavy reliance on IT services, after first relying on agriculture and energy as its primary businesses. Governer Doug Burgum has prioritised information technology and cybersecurity in the state’s agenda since 2016, emphasising on bridging the gap between consumers, businesses, and related industries. According to a research from Cyberstates 2018, North Dakota’s tech sector generates $2.2 billion, or around 4.3 percent of the state’s overall economy, and is home to more than 1,260 tech businesses. The average tech industry pay in North Dakota is $79,820, compared to the state’s average annual private-sector compensation of $49,420. With an estimated 22,300 tech workers, the state’s average tech industry pay is $79,820. North Dakota is ranked 48th in the nation for net tech employment, accounting for 4.7 percent of the overall workforce.
Growing Awareness of Cybersecurity in North Dakota
Governor Burgum signed Senate Bill 2110 into law, which protects the state’s digital infrastructure and unifies the state’s response to the growing threat of cyberattacks. The bill gives the state’s Information Technology Department jurisdiction to help establish and strengthen cybersecurity measures for all government bodies, including counties, cities, rural areas, schools, and higher education institutions. Burgum was also the driving force behind the creation of a new office to help the IT department’s cybersecurity initiatives. The governor’s call for $174 million for 24 information technology infrastructure projects and $16.4 million for cybersecurity consolidation efforts in the budget proposal is also reinforced by the approved bill. North Dakota has recently redoubled its efforts, adopting the K-20W curriculum for cybersecurity education and enlisting the help of the National Integrated Cyber Education Center (NICERC) and firms like Microsoft to train teachers in the field. Teachers participating in the programme can develop curricula for all school districts in order to educate students about the most up-to-date cybersecurity techniques of protection and to encourage new vocations in the field. Along with 40 statewide organisations, the K-20W initiative also goes out to colleges to launch new curriculums and to the North Dakota workforce. Small-scale projects, such as the State Cybersecurity Task Force established in 2015 to tackle cybersecurity risks by developing new policies and employing monitoring tools, are among North Dakota’s key endeavours. Citizens in the state can take the ND Cybersecurity Awareness Training module to learn how to protect themselves against cyberattacks, as well as enrol in the North Dakota State and Local Intelligence Center’s Cyber Program, which aims to educate and provide resources to partners and stakeholders.
Cybersecurity Education in North Dakota
North Dakota’s attempts to combat cybersecurity problems have resulted in the creation of a few higher-level degrees and certificates, allowing students who have been exposed to cybersecurity through the K-20W programme to continue their education in the field. Students interested in pursuing a cybersecurity degree and working for public sector enterprises and government facilities can now do so thanks to the Governor’s increased budget expenditures in the IT industry.
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE
Associate degrees enables students to master the essentials of computer science and information technology, such as advanced programming languages, data analysis, data encryption, and project management for improving security breach prevention measures. Associate degrees allow students to transfer credits toward advanced degrees, whereas associate of applied science degrees do not allow for credit transfer and are considered stand-alone degrees. Bismarck College has created a cybersecurity and computer networks associate of applied science degree. The degree programme emphasises fundamental foundations such as installing networks, managing servers, safeguarding operating systems, basic programming, and maintaining security procedures. It is available on-campus and online. Students who complete the programme will be able to earn certifications in Linux+, CCNA, and Security+.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
To comprehend and act on software and networking challenges, cybersecurity bachelor’s degree programmes generally contain areas like information systems, network security, web development, and cryptography. The University of North Dakota provides both online and on-campus bachelor’s degrees in cybersecurity. To develop their careers in the cyber-tech profession, students will obtain expertise and knowledge in topics such as engineering data analysis, cyber forecasting, cryptographic techniques, penetration testing, and network designs throughout the curriculum. After graduation, students will have options to work in cybersecurity research and contribute to the IT sector’s cybersecurity infrastructure. Students can receive a bachelor of science degree in cybersecurity and information technology at Bismarck College, providing a strong cybersecurity foundation for individuals looking to advance their professions. The bachelor’s degree curriculum focuses on advanced techniques in designing networks and implementing software defences, both online and on-campus.
MASTER’S DEGREE
Master’s degrees specialise in a few areas, such as current digital developments in security and cybersecurity-related leadership, as well as up-to-date network security management abilities. Students can get an online master’s of science in cybersecurity from the University of North Dakota, which allows them to expand their knowledge of cybersecurity methodologies and leadership chances. The degree programme focuses on providing students with analytical capabilities for digital forensics, as well as the ability to encrypt and safeguard data via networking systems and defend against cyber threats. To get a more in-depth view on the latest cybersecurity trends, the programme also offers concentrations in cybersecurity and behaviour, data security, and autonomous systems cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity Certifications in North Dakota
Students can get a graduate certificate in cybersecurity from North Dakota State University. Students will study about the latest dangers in the digital domain, current trends among digital organisations, cryptography foundations, and other security practises in collaboration with the University of North Dakota and Minot State University. Students can tailor their education and add to their current degrees by choosing areas linked to digital enterprises and software systems from the curriculum. North Dakota State College of Science offers an undergraduate information technology forensics certificate to go along with an associate of applied science in information technology. Students will learn how to secure computer systems while gathering digital data through the certificate programme, as well as networking fundamentals, network security, hardware essentials, and IT forensics.
Cybersecurity Programs in North Dakota
Cybersecurity Jobs in North Dakota
According to Cyberseek, the cybersecurity business now employs roughly 1,861 people in North Dakota, with 701 job vacancies. Further research on North Dakota’s cybersecurity industry finds the following: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly compensation for a cybersecurity analyst in North Dakota is $38.14, with an annual average compensation of $79,330.
Cybersecurity in North Dakota
North Dakota’s approach to cybersecurity has resulted in significant changes to the state’s landscapes. North Dakota’s government has influenced a shift in the state’s economic climate by encouraging tech companies to collaborate with important industries and expanding cybersecurity education at higher education institutions and among the state’s present workforce. The state’s continuous transition from agriculture and energy to technology has the potential to become a great equaliser in terms of resource reliance, paving the way for advancement into the digital age.
