September 24, 2019

Texas Comptroller Continues Good for Texas Tour: Cybersecurity Edition

(San Antonio) —Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar is highlighting the impact of Texas colleges and universities in the fight against cybercriminals as he continues his Good for Texas Tour. Today, Hegar is touting the cybersecurity programs at The University of Texas at San Antonio as well as the university’s National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC), a national leader in cybersecurity education and research.

“Texas ranked third among states in the number of cybercrime victims and second in the number of financial losses in 2017,” Hegar said. “Unfortunately, cybercriminals see Texas’ large, ever-growing population as a large and ever-growing pool of potential targets. Thankfully, our state’s colleges and universities have developed nationally recognized programs that produce the highly skilled professionals needed to address these challenges while creating high-wage, high-demand jobs for Texans.”

During his Good for Texas Tour: Cybersecurity Edition, Hegar is sharing the results of a new Comptroller’s office study detailing the threat cybercrimes pose to national, corporate and personal security. The study also explores how Texas colleges and universities are helping train a strong cybersecurity workforce to combat these ever-growing threats. He is touring a handful of Texas colleges and universities designated as Centers for Academic Excellence (CAEs) by the National Security Agency (NSA).

The NSCC is a partnership of UTSA’s academic researchers and 38 private and government entities. It has plans to build a combined NSCC and School of Data Science in downtown San Antonio, where it will continue to help resolve the nation’s greatest cybersecurity risks.

“The NSCC will serve as a catalyst for national security research, education and workforce development in Texas by bringing together the brightest minds from academia, government and the private sector,” Hegar said.

The cybersecurity industry employs about 130,000 Texans and contributes at least $35.5 billion to Texas’ gross state product. The average annual salary for an employee in this industry is $110,000, and one job in cybersecurity generates about $224,000 in economic input and $124,000 in Texas wages.

UTSA is one of several colleges and universities in the nation designated as a CAE in all NSA focus areas, which include cyber operations, cyber defense and research.

UTSA’s cybersecurity graduates are highly recruited and quickly employed, earning average starting salaries of $60,000 to $80,000 annually. To meet the needs of adult learners already in the workforce, UTSA offers a fully online Bachelor of Business Administration degree in cybersecurity, with enrollment open to students across the nation.

“UTSA’s superior training and educational opportunities – combined with its close proximity to cybersecurity offices and installations of the NSA, Department of Homeland Security, FBI and Air Force – have helped the San Antonio area become a nationally recognized hub for cybersecurity,” Hegar said.

For more information on the tour, including video and social media graphics, go to the Comptroller’s website.