Cybersecurity Guide

Your guide to cybersecurity schools, programs, and training in Mississippi

Written by Cybersecurity Guide Contributors – Last updated:
In this guide

This guide contains a brief insight into cybersecurity education and career opportunities in Mississippi. 

Mississippi’s economy shifted from agriculture to manufacturing over the 20th century, converting traditional cotton production to reforestation programs. Poultry provides the primary source of livestock alongside soybeans as its main crop, accounting for the majority of the state’s production value. 

Mississippi’s manufacturing sector, which produces automotive parts, lumber, and processed foods, has become a reliable but slowly shrinking source of jobs and income due to industrial development programs.

In contrast, the hospitality and service industry, which includes federal, retail, wholesale, real estate, and social services, remains the state’s primary source of income.

The state government is a major employer, funded primarily by sales taxes. Local governments rely on real estate taxes for revenue, and large employers offer union benefits to boost productivity.

While the transportation sector has declined, it still accounts for 21 percent of employment in the state.

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Mississippi is a particularly attractive target for cybercriminals for many reasons. First, the state has a relatively small population and economy. This makes it easier for cybercriminals to blend in and operate undetected.

Second, Mississippi’s economy is heavily reliant on agriculture and other industries that are heavily dependent on technology. These industries are often targeted by cybercriminals who are looking to steal intellectual property or disrupt operations.

In 2017, the legislature enacted the Enterprise Security Program, which requires state agencies to implement cybersecurity measures.

The Mississippi government is also taking steps to address the cybersecurity threat and the state created a cybersecurity unit within the Department of Public Safety.

However, there is still much more that can be done to improve cybersecurity in Mississippi.

Growing awareness of cybersecurity in Mississippi

According to Mississippi’s Department of Information Technology Services, during the 2017 Legislative session, Mississippi’s legislature enacted the Enterprise Security Program, which supports cybersecurity approaches to state enterprises.

The program outlines overseeing all state agencies to install security programs, systems, services, and policies to acquire technology solutions and assist in new cybersecurity initiatives.

Before this development, the state had only the Enterprise Security Policy, which outlined minimum requirements for agencies to protect data and information technology back in 2013. 

Listen to this episode of the Cybersecurity Podcast with Dr. Stephen Torri from Mississippi State University.

Mississippi has established multiple ways to raise awareness of cybersecurity and provide resources for protection in response to the growing threat of cyberattacks against public sector organizations. The state’s Enterprise Cloud and Offsite Hosting Security Policy, which was last updated in 2018, outlines additional requirements for these services.

The Enterprise Security Awareness Training Standard and Cybersecurity Incident Notification Response Standard, both updated in 2019, provide computer-based training and incident response procedures for cybersecurity events.

Among its policies, the Mississippi Statewide Architecture & Technology Infrastructure Plan frames more detailed initiatives and principles to oversee and implement across the state, giving businesses guidance for technology investments and decision-making processes. 

Mississippi also holds its annual Cybersecurity Summit to educate citizens about threats, discuss future initiatives, and celebrate advancements during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, observed every October.

Other cybersecurity organizations in Mississippi:

Cybersecurity education in Mississippi

Mississippi provides its citizens with various academic degree opportunities to increase training and preparation for future information technology careers.

State and local governments require workers handling sensitive data information related to public and private sector companies to have training in computer security methods.

With a cybersecurity degree, those requirements will be met according to current standards, and allow those receptive to gain better employment. 

Learn more about cybersecurity programs

Cybersecurity associate degrees in Mississippi

Traditionally, associate degrees help students prepare for a career in cybersecurity with the necessary concepts. Over two years, students in cybersecurity associate degree programs will train students to handle firewall breaches, secure computer software hacks, and encode sensitive data information.

  1. Copiah-Lincoln Community College Natchez Campus

    Natchez, Mississippi
    Program: Cybersecurity Technology Program
    Credits: 67
    Cost per credit: $146
    Delivery method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details

  2. Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wesson Campus

    Wesson, Mississippi
    Program: Cybersecurity & Networking Technology Program
    Credits: 67
    Cost per credit: $146
    Delivery method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details

  3. East Mississippi Community College

    Scooba, Mississippi
    Program: Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking Technology
    Credits: 65
    Cost per credit: $165 in state | $265 out of state
    Delivery method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details

  4. Hinds Community College

    Raymond, Mississippi
    Program: Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity Technology
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 62
    Cost per credit: $148 in state | $275 out of state
    Delivery method: Campus & online
    Learn more: Program details

  5. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

    Perkinston, Mississippi
    Program: Associate of Applied Science Degree in Cybersecurity Technology
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 76
    Cost per credit: $165
    Delivery method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity bachelor’s degrees in Mississippi

Bachelor’s degrees typically teach students advanced cybersecurity methods for cloud networking, hardware/software systems, and encryption. This allows students to deepen their knowledge of information security, with flexible terms for course completion and a solid foundation for career advancement.

The University of Southern Mississippi offers an Information Security minor that complements bachelor’s degrees with a focus on network security, IT policies, intrusion detection, Linux administration, and multi-layered network operations.

  1. University of Southern Mississippi

    Hattiesburg, Mississippi
    Program: Cybersecurity BAS
    Credits: 120
    Cost per credit: $385 in-state | $469 out-of-state
    Delivery method: Online
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity master’s degrees in Mississippi

Mississippi College’s MS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance focuses on cybersecurity leadership and management, with research in analyst and engineering programming and design.

Mississippi State University’s MS in Cyber Security and Operations offers advanced, on-campus education for students with software development, hardware and software applications, and data communications skills with mathematical fluency.

  1. Mississippi College

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Program: Master of Science in Cyber Security and Information Assurance
    Credits: 30
    Cost per credit: $713
    Delivery method: Campus & online
    GRE requirement: Not required
    Learn more: Program details

  2. Mississippi State University

    Mississippi State, Mississippi
    Program: M.S. in Cyber Security and Operations
    CAE designation: CAE-CD, CAE-R, CAE-CO
    Credits: 31
    Cost per credit: $597 in-state | $892 out of state
    Delivery method: Campus & online
    GRE requirement: Optional
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity PhD degrees in Mississippi

Mississippi State University incorporates a full, complete education in cybersecurity and computer science through its Direct Admit Ph.D. program.

The program extends knowledge through specialization, allowing students to research in-depth concepts related to algorithms, computer theories, and the sequential complexity of data composition. 

  1. Mississippi State University

    Mississippi State, Mississippi
    Program: Ph.D. Computer Science – Computer Security Concentration
    CAE designation: CAE-CD, CAE-R, CAE-CO
    Credits: 63
    Cost per credit: $537
    Delivery method: Campus & online
    GRE requirement: Not required
    Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity certifications in Mississippi

  1. Hinds Community College

    Raymond, Mississippi
    Program: Career Certificate in Cybersecurity
    CAE designation: CAE-CD
    Credits: 30
    Cost per credit: $118 in state | $220 out of state
    Delivery method: Campus & onlilne
    Learn more: Program details

  2. Mississippi College

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Program: Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity & Information Assurance
    Credits: 18
    Cost per credit: $713
    Delivery method: Campus & online
    Learn more: Program details

  3. Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

    Perkinston, Mississippi
    Program: Cybersecurity Technology Certificate
    Credits: 32
    Cost per credit: $165
    Delivery method: Campus
    Learn more: Program details
Learn more about cybersecurity professional certifications

Cybersecurity jobs in Mississippi

Initiatives through the state’s legislature and advancements in cybersecurity education throughout universities grant those committed to cybersecurity careers with potential advantages for jobs.

The continuous shift from agriculture to manufacturing and the tightening grasp on the state’s services and transportation industries lead many in cybersecurity to not only further develop needed services but grow the state’s economic success as well. 

With a total of 2,290 job openings in Mississippi, about 5,015 people sustain employment in the cybersecurity field, according to Cyberseek‘s September 2023 through August 2024 data. 

Additional insights in the cybersecurity field include: 

Supply The supply of cybersecurity workers in Mississippi maintains a supply/demand ratio of 78 percent compared to the national average of 83 percent. 

Learn more about cybersecurity careers

Certifications State and local governments alongside private and public sector companies require competency in certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Global Information Assurance Certification(GIAC), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). 

Some of the top job titles for current employees in the state include: 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shared that in May 2023, the average hourly wage for a cybersecurity analyst in Wyoming was $45.95, with the average annual salary at $95,580.

Cybersecurity in Mississippi

Mississippi’s shift from agricultural production to manufacturing and services makes way for new opportunities in the cybersecurity field.

As state and local governments provide the majority of employment throughout the state, students graduating with computer security and cybersecurity degrees provide the pathway for higher household incomes over the state average.

Although the state stagnates in economic growth, its initiatives in cybersecurity education and policy make way for improvement to the state’s current condition among the nation.