Cybersecurity one of fastest growing sectors in business

As spring 2025 commencement rapidly approaches, I reflect on this academic year and all that our students and faculty have accomplished. I remain especially proud of the progress we have made in launching our cybersecurity degree.

Cybersecurity represents one of the most urgent and growing sectors in business today, and the University of Montana College of Business is working diligently to meet the demand. In Montana, more than 700 cybersecurity-related positions remain unfilled, and national projections show a 33 percent increase in job growth over the next decade.

Since 2017, the University of Montana has offered an associate degree in cybersecurity at Missoula College. That program has proven so effective and utilized, with 100 percent job placement for graduate, that it became clear we needed to expand.

In 2023, the Montana Legislature responded to the growing demand for cyber professionals by appropriating funds through House Bill 10. The College of Business received a portion of that support to build a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, developed in partnership with Missoula College and its status as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. This funding has supported student scholarships, faculty hiring, specialized training, industry certifications, and advising.

Earlier this month, President Seth Bodner and I hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of our new CyberOps Lab. The lab offers the tools, hardware, software, and secure systems, necessary to train students to protect our state, businesses, and communities from cyber threats. Our students and faculty are enthusiastic about this resource, and we are deeply grateful to the legislature, Governor, and industry leaders who helped create these opportunities and resources.

Our program combines business, computer science, and management information systems to prepare students to help businesses, nonprofits, utilities, and governments protect their information and digital infrastructure. We offer courses approved by the National Security Agency. Our faculty include cybersecurity entrepreneurs, experts in networks and digital forensics, and professors who have collaborated with military learning exercises. 

Although many envision cybersecurity as hacking tests, the field encompasses far more. We require professionals who can analyze business vulnerabilities, develop preventive strategies, and train employees to recognize and address cyber risks. This is precisely the work we are doing at the University of Montana.

The College of Business is committed to addressing the needs of a digital society. We are now in the second year of our cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program, with 43 students currently enrolled in the NSA-approved curriculum. We are eager to see what lies ahead for these students and for the future of this critical program.

To learn more about the program or inquire about enrollment, visit umt.edu/cybersecurity.