Cybersecurity industry takes off From the cover
The overview
at the University of the Incarnate Word, said San Antonio’s prominence in the industry is built on decades of strategic development, primarily driven by its significant military and federal intelligence presence. “Joint Base San Antonio and vital commands like the 16th Air Force and NSA Texas act as a foundational pillar for the city’s cybersecurity sector,” Parra said. Additionally, the city has cultivated local talent through a variety of academic programs, ranging from grade school initiatives to university majors. Joe Sánchez, creator and executive director of CyberTexas Foundation, said the city’s robust cybersecurity ecosystem began in the late ‘90s with the first program established at St. Philip’s College. In 2001, the University of Texas at San Antonio developed its program and created the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security. Now, there are programs throughout the Alamo Colleges
Jeff Webster, CEO and president of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, said that as the largest cybersecurity hub in the U.S. outside Washington D.C., San Antonio is uniquely positioned to be a leader in cybersecurity for decades to come. This is why state legislators are eyeing San Antonio as the site for its Texas Cyber Command. “The sleepy town of San Antonio is on the cutting edge of cyber [security],” Webster said. “And this Cyber Command is one more rock in the foundation of what we’re going to do for cyber here in this community.” With the digitalization of major infrastructures, the need to protect computer systems, devices, networks and data is crucial. To meet this need, the local cybersecurity industry is projected to grow by 12% through 2028, according to the Greater SATX Regional Economic Partnership. Gonzalo Parra, assistant professor of cybersecurity
annual employment Cybersecurity
20K
15K
10K
+19.29%
0
2019 2020 2021 2022 Year
2023
SOURCE: GREATER SATX REGIONAL ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP/COMMUNITY IMPACT
District, local state university systems and private institutions.
Measuring the impact
The conditions
Quotes of note
average salary Cybersecurity
Whyte said although the industry is already thriving, the state’s Cyber Com- mand will help the city retain its talent. “I think that having Cyber Command here in San Antonio should be a message to tech companies everywhere that San Antonio is a place [where] you can move your business, [where] you can start your business, and [where] your business can thrive,” Whyte said. Webster said the industry offers more opportunities for residents to get access to well-paying jobs. “I heard a story from Alamo Colleges about a young woman who came from a family with an [annual] income of $14,000, she went and got [her] certification—just an entry-level associate degree—and her household income went to $50,000,” Webster said. School districts in San Antonio have also cultivated programs, such as North East ISD’s Institute of Cybersecurity and Innovation, which fast-tracks K-12 students into the industry. “We’re creating a generation of future workers that are going to be vastly different from what we have today in San Antonio,” Webster said.
“When you’re creating jobs and an economic base that now pays these kind of wages, it just changes the face of San Antonio.”
The average entry-level salary in San Antonio’s cybersecurity industry is $72,000, according to the Greater SATX Regional Economic Partnership.
Security analyst
JEFF WEBSTER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$89,439
Security engineer
$129,059
“[The Cyber Command] is a big win for UTSA and for the city as a whole. This is something that is going to help our country
$111,701 Penetration tester (ethical hacker)
Security architect
fend off cyber attacks.” MARC WHYTE, DISTRICT 10 COUNCIL MEMBER
$149,349
Incident responder
$132,349
Cloud security engineer
“San Antonio’s ecosystem includes a diverse range of players, from major defense contractors ... to numerous locally headquartered firms.” GONZALO PARRA, CYBERSECURITY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD
$142,332
Malware analyst
$89,658
Forensic analyst
$86,474
SOURCE: ZIPRECRUITER/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
16
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook