Kirkwood to introduce new Cybersecurity and Compliance program this fall

Beginning fall 2024, Kirkwood Community College will be offering a new Cybersecurity and Compliance program. The introduction of the two-year program is expected to fill a major workforce need, coinciding with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ prediction that information security analysts will grow by 32% by 2032.

The new program was developed from direct industry feedback and will train students on how to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks while adhering to the industry’s best practices, and compliance with governmental regulations.

According to Kirkwood Business and IT Dean Tamara Alt, the new program will equip students with the tools to help protect the technology and data for any organization.

“We’re very excited about the new Cybersecurity and Compliance program and what it means for area employers,” said Ms. Alt. “Because our program was designed with industry collaboration, our students will graduate with everything they need to make a difference for their future employer.

The program is designed to arm the next generation of information security professionals with the expertise to not only meet, but exceed the industry standards in the fight against cybercrime. We envision them as digital knights who will know how to reinforce an organization’s defenses against increasingly resourceful and skilled cyber adversaries.”

Kirkwood will offer the majority of the program’s coursework online, with minimal on-campus commitments, according to a news release. Accelerated options will also be available for students.

Former Ruffalo Noel Levitz Chief Information Security Officer Paul Ruffalo is slated to teach the courses, which will range from Auditing Practices and Compliance Procedures to Network Attacks and Defense.

“Digital security breaches are not a matter of if, but when,” said Ms. Alt. “Moving forward, it will be imperative for every single business or organization to have the right people in place to combat these threats. With the demand for information security analysts expected to skyrocket, now is the time for students interested in this career field to get the necessary education and training in order to become a cybersecurity leader of tomorrow.”