MAYHEW — East Mississippi Community College is offering a new program in cyber security to help meet the growing demand for information technology security professionals.

Students who complete the program will earn an associate’s of applied science degree in Network Security Technology.

Financial institutions, corporations and government agencies are scrambling to hire cyber security experts to offset the increased threat posed by computer hackers, EMCC Local Area Networking instructor Brandon Sesser said.

“The need for cyber security professionals is immense,” Sesser said. “Corporations, the National Security Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the CIA and the FBI all want them.”

The Information Systems Audit and Control Association, or ISACA, predicts there will be a global shortage of 2 million unfilled jobs in the Cyber Security field by 2019. According to CyberSeek, there is an annual shortfall of about 40,000 information security analysts in the U.S., with an additional 220,000 openings that require Cyber Security related skills.

“Expanding our course offerings to include cyber security makes sense,” EMCC Vice President for Instruction Thomas Ware said. “Part of our responsibility as educators is to adapt our curriculum to keep pace with changes in the job market and provide students the means to capitalize on career opportunities.”

Sesser said local companies are looking for cyber security graduates and that it isn’t just large corporations and government agencies who are hiring.

“Mid-sized companies are also hiring cyber security professionals and more and more mom-and-pop businesses are realizing the importance of hiring someone who can help protect their information,” Sesser said. “The job prospects are good locally for students who graduate from the program.”

The Network Security Technology program is offered through EMCC’s Information Systems Technology Department. In addition, students can also earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking Technology.

While the first year is taught in the classroom, students have the option of taking online classes during their sophomore year.

Students will sit for their A+ certification during the first year.

“It is a global certification,” Sesser said. “If you have you’re A+, it shows you know how to work on computers and how to repair them.”

Testing for the Network+ and Security+ certifications are available during the sophomore year.

Those with questions can email Sesser at bsesser@eastms.edu call him at 662-243-1946.