This guide will delve into everything you need to know about cybersecurity in Dallas. From educational, boot camps, and employment opportunities, here’s the complete guide on the latest cybersecurity trends in Dallas, Texas.
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Featured Cybersecurity Degree Programs
| School Name | Program | More Info |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon University | Online BS in Cybersecurity or Online MS in Cybersecurity | website |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Online BS in Cybersecurity or Online MS in Cybersecurity | website |
| UT Austin | The Cybersecurity Boot Camp at UT Austin | website |
| UC Berkeley School of Information | Master’s in Cybersecurity | No GRE/GMAT Required | website |
| Purdue Global | Online BS in Cybersecurity | website |
| Utica University | Online BS in Cybersecurity | website |
Cybersecurity operations are growing nationwide, particularly in Dallas. Although San Antonio is considered the cybersecurity capital of Texas, more cybersecurity opportunities, training, and education are growing in Dallas.
For example, a 2015 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) showed that Dallas had the third-highest number of Information Security jobs and fifth for cybersecurity demand of any city in the country.
Energy, IT, and SaaS are the top three industries that dominate the Dallas Economy. In fact, there are eight tech companies in the top 10 2022 fastest-growing companies in Dallas, with Island, an IT security company, the number one. This further highlights the need for cybersecurity talents across the biggest industries in Texas.
Cybersecurity has moved beyond just a niche concern. The Dallas Police’s massive loss of 8 million data files in 2021 due to “inadequate training” has also highlighted the need for more cybersecurity education. Now, more than five institutions in Dallas are offering one form of cybersecurity degree, training, or certification, making Dallas a great hub for cybersecurity education.
Cybersecurity courses and training available in Dallas
There are several cybersecurity courses and training available in Dallas. These are online and on-site courses that come in a variety of formats, depending on your preference. There are also a few local training centers where you can learn cybersecurity and other cyber-related courses on site. Examples of online and on-site cybersecurity training centers in Dallas are:
Certstaffix training for certified information systems security professional (CISSP) exam
The Certstaffix Training is available online, but there’s an optional computer lab located at 3010 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1200, Dallas.
Duration: It is a 5-day comprehensive course on information systems security.
Aim: This course prepares students for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional Certification (CISSP) exam.
Modules: The course covers security and risk management, security engineering, asset security, identity and access management, software development security, and security operations. Although there’s on-site computer lab access in Dallas, the course is also available online.
Course cost: The CISSP course costs about $3,100.
Certstaffix also provides training for CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA PenTest+.
See more info about all Certstaffix cybersecurity training.
Tech Talent South for SecDevOps
This is an in-person instruction training course center located at 211 N. Ervay St, Dallas. The classes are taught from 6 pm-9 pm every Tuesday and Thursday, making it 6hrs/per week.
Duration: It is an intermediate 8-week part-time course.
Aim: This course covers software development and IT operations.
Modules: SecDevOps teaches students how to deploy and maintain software using Kubernetes, AWS, Docker, Agile, and more.
Course cost: This course costs $4,750.
Per Scholas
Duration: This is a free 15-week cybersecurity training course held on-site at 211 N. Ervay St, Suite 700, Dallas.
Aim: The Per Scholas Cybersecurity course in Dallas gives students the chance to get the Cybersecurity Analyst Certification (CySA+).
Module: This course contains essentials on how to become a cybersecurity analyst, critical skills needed, and an industry-recognized certificate.
Course cost: It is a tuition-free in-person and remote training course available in Dallas.
In 2019, InfoSecurity Magazine reported that the state of Texas was preparing to implement mandatory cybersecurity training for all government employees within the state.
Here’s more info to the training program.
Cybersecurity bootcamps and certifications available in Dallas
Besides the intensive training courses above, people who are interested in jumpstarting their cybersecurity professional career can leverage the different cybersecurity bootcamps and certifications in Dallas.
SMU bootcamp for cybersecurity
This is an in-person (virtual classroom) 24-week intensive cybersecurity bootcamp by Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
It covers modules in information security, IT, and networking. This boot camp will prepare students for CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker, Linux+, Cloud+, and Server+ certifications.
The classes are convenient evening classes held from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The course costs about $11,995.
UT Dallas cyber bootcamp
This is a 12-week full-time or 26-week part-time cybersecurity bootcamp at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Students will learn offensive and defensive cybersecurity skills and will also receive professional development assistance during and after the program.
The bootcamp costs $12,495, and eligible students can get scholarships worth up to $1,000.
Divergence Bootcamp – Cybersecurity training courses
Divergence offers a range of cyber-related training courses and industry-recognized certifications. These classes can be taken at the Divergence Academy at 14665 Midway Rd Suite 220, Addison, Dallas County, or online.
The Divergence Cyber Penetration Tester class trains students on the fundamentals of Penetration testing. The class has modules on Ethical Hacking, Threat Hunting, and Cloud Security, among many others.
These classes run from 9 am – 6 pm weekly from Monday to Friday.
You’ll need to contact the institution for more details regarding the tuition.
The University of Texas at Dallas — Certificate in cybersecurity systems (CCSS)
This is an immersive cybersecurity certificate program that requires a total of 12 semester credit hours. It teaches the fundamentals of cybersecurity, information, network, and data security, among many others.
See more info about UT Dallas’s certificate programs in cybersecurity.
The University of Dallas — Graduate certificate in cybersecurity
The University of Dallas in Dallas County offers several cybersecurity certificates. Students can get CISSP-certified training with practical knowledge from experienced cybersecurity experts. The training is online and runs from 8 am – 12 pm.
You can register for the cybersecurity certificate here.
Industry-recognized cybersecurity certification training in Dallas
If you need recognized certificates for cybersecurity, here are some other institutions with industry-recognized training academies in Dallas:
- CONNECTIONS IT SERVICES
Connections IT services is a CompTIA Authorized partner based in Dallas offering cybersecurity and other related classes with industry-recognized certificates.
- CYBER DEFENSE CENTER – 501(C)(3)
The Cyber Defense Center is headquartered in Dallas and provides cybersecurity internships and apprenticeships to students and professionals.
- BAXTER CLEWIS CONSULTING
Baxter Clewis is an industry-recognized cybersecurity consulting firm that provides services to firms and has a cybersecurity training academy.
- RED KNIGHT SOLUTIONS. LLC
Red Knight Solutions provides IT & cybersecurity services and industry-certified training in Dallas. The firm has special training for Veterans.
Besides these, Dallas also holds an annual Dallas Cyber Security Summit. It is an in-person & virtual summit where keynote speakers are invited to have interactive discussions.
Some of the speakers at the last event were Sheraun Howard, FBI Supervisory Special Agent, Dallas Division, and Chad Adams, Cybersecurity Advisor at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, US DHS, among others.
Cybersecurity schools and degrees in Dallas
According to a recent initiative, Texas schools are required to develop their cybersecurity modules and provide training to their faculty and staff. Senate Bill 820 mandates that school districts draft a cybersecurity system to protect their schools’ cyber infrastructure. They must also carry out risk assessments and appoint a cybersecurity administrator who will serve as a liaison between the state, school districts, and parents. It is clear that Texas takes cybersecurity seriously, and Dallas is no exception.
The Dallas county and the entire Dallas-Fort With region have several schools offering associate, Bachelor’s, and Master’s degree programs. Here are some cybersecurity degrees and courses in Dallas colleges and the Dallas-Fort Worth region:
Cybersecurity associate degree programs in Dallas
| School | Program |
| Dallas County Community College District | AAS in Cyber Security – Cyber Defense |
| Mountain View College | Associate in Applied Sciences – Computer Information Technology (Networking Security Awards) |
| Richland College, Dallas | AAS in Cyber Security |
Cybersecurity bachelor of science programs in Dallas
| School | Program |
| Southern Methodist University | Bachelor of Science – Computer Science – Security Track |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | Minor in Information Assurance |
Cybersecurity master’s degree programs in Dallas
| School | Program |
| Southern Methodist University | MS in Cybersecurity |
Online cybersecurity master’s degree programs in Dallas
| School | Program |
| Southern Methodist University | Online Masters in Cybersecurity |
| University of Dallas, Dallas | Masters of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity |
Texas is a big hub for cybersecurity degrees and schools. See the full list of Texas schools offering cybersecurity degrees.
Cybersecurity jobs, salary, and companies in Dallas
With eight cyber-related companies making up the top 10 of Dallas’s fastest-growing companies in 2022, it’s clear that the demand for cybersecurity jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth region has never been higher.
Island, an IT security company, is ranked number one as Dallas’s fastest-growing company in 2022.
In 2021, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex (DFW) company based in Frisco, MTX Group Inc., a global tech consulting firm, was ranked number one. The list featured four cyber-related companies, which doubled the following year.
This demand has led to more jobs for cybersecurity engineers and information analysts.
Here are some cybersecurity jobs in Dallas and their respective salaries according to the employment site, Indeed.
- CYBERSECURITY ANALYST
The average salary of a Cybersecurity Analyst in Dallas is $97,826.
Skills Required – Public Cloud Security, Threat Hunting, Security Information and Event Management, Threat Intelligence & Response, and Comprehensive Software Security.
- PENETRATION & VULNERABILITY TESTER
The average salary for a Penetration & Vulnerability Tester in Dallas is $136,782.
Skills Required: Applicants are required to have certain skills such as Threat Hunting, Container Security, Comprehensive Software Security, SaaS Application Security, and Anomaly Detection.
- SYSTEMS ENGINEER
The average salary for a Systems Engineer in Dallas is $95,298.
Skills Required: You’re expected to have skills in Cloud Security, Container Security, Comprehensive Software Security, SaaS Application Security, and Privileged Account Security.
- CYBERSECURITY CONSULTANT
The average of a Cybersecurity Consultant in Dallas is $118,180.
Skills Required: The required skills for this role include Cloud Security, Preventative Antivirus, Security Foundation & Threat Intelligence, Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service, and Cloud Access Security Broker Management, among others.
- CYBERSECURITY MANAGER
This is the Advanced level of a Cybersecurity Analyst.
The average salary of a Cybersecurity Manager in Dallas is $126,985.
Skills Required: Cloud Security, Cybersecurity Strategy, Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Management, Security Insider Threat Management, and Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service.
- CYBERSECURITY ARCHITECT
The average salary for a Cybersecurity Architect in Dallas is $134,799.
Skills Required: Applicants are required to have skills such as Container Security, Public Cloud Security, Cloud Security, Microservices Security, and SABSA, among others.
Between May 2021 through April 2022, there were 39,798 cybersecurity job openings in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington region. This is despite the fact that there were 39,738 workers in the cybersecurity sector within that same time frame.
This shows that the cybersecurity job demand in the Dallas region is very high, with a shortage of talent. In fact, cybersecurity job demand in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington region is at a 2.8 quotient, more than double the national average of 1.0.
The report shows that only about 8,471 workers in the region have at least one form of Cybersecurity certification. In contrast, 19,736 cybersecurity job opportunities in Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ask for at least one cybersecurity certification such as CISSP, CISA, CISM, CompTIA Security+, GIAC, and CIPP.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 33 percent increase in new cyber-related jobs such as information security between 2020-2030. This is significantly higher than the average of 7.7 percent.
It is clear that there’s a huge demand in Dallas for cybersecurity and other related jobs such as information security analysts.