PLYMOUTH — New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, New Hampshire Senate President Chuck Morse, and Plymouth State University (PSU) President Donald Birx are pleased to announce the Center for Cybersecurity at Plymouth State University.

The center’s program has been developed by global cybersecurity education leader Cybint and will be taught by PSU faculty.

The intensive training will up-skill and re-skill New Hampshire workers, advancing their careers into one of the world’s fastest growing industries.

The 480-hour, online program will launch July 1, 2021, and will offer flexibility to allow employees of businesses from sole proprietorships to the state’s largest companies to participate while maintaining workplace attendance and productivity.

The cybersecurity field has grown more than 3,000 percent over the past decade. The pandemic-accelerated growth of the remote workforce has led to even greater demand, and cyber job growth is expected to increase by 350 percent through 2021. Entry-level cybersecurity positions start as high as $80,000 annually.

As of October 2020, there were more than 1,000 vacant cybersecurity positions in New Hampshire alone. In the past decade and through the depths of the economic downturn, the field has had a near zero percent unemployment rate. Skilled professionals readily gain access to lucrative existing roles and dynamic future opportunities.

Center for Cybersecurity at Plymouth State University participants will gain the expertise needed to expand their horizons and become cybersecurity professionals. The initiative is being met with enthusiasm and several local firms have already committed to enrolling employees for the inaugural cohort in July.

“This program is a homerun for students looking to advance their careers and businesses looking for a skilled workforce right here in New Hampshire,” said Governor Sununu. “I encourage Granite Staters to take advantage of this awesome opportunity for cybersecurity careers.”

Senate President Morse noted, “As a small business owner, I am keenly aware of the rapidly increasing number of cyber threats and ransomware attacks targeting New Hampshire businesses, public institutions and residents. As a Plymouth State alumnus, I am proud of the university’s efforts to protect our citizens and businesses by offering this cutting-edge training, which will allow us to keep more graduates in New Hampshire while protecting our state.”

“Our collaboration with Cybint is a great example of the public/private partnerships that thrive in New Hampshire,” says Plymouth State University President Birx. “It will help employers fill critical, open positions, while providing pathways to promising careers.”

“Partnering with educational institutions is one of the best ways to fill the talent shortage in cybersecurity,” says Roy Zur, founder and CEO of Cybint. “We are excited to have Plymouth State University join with us as a cyber center.”

For more information about the Center for Cybersecurity at Plymouth State University, visit www.plymouth.edu/cybersecurity/.

Newsletter