Survey Reveals Most Small-Business Owners Plan to Hire a Cybersecurity Professional Within the Next Year

New research indicates that concerns about impending cyberattacks are driving small-business owners to seek in-house cyber expertise

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – June 10, 2015 – High-profile cybersecurity breaches at major retailers and other businesses have ignited consumer fears about data theft and spurred companies to strengthen their data security and protection. New research shows that while small-business owners remain largely unprepared to withstand cyberattacks today, many are already planning to invest in new or enhanced security measures to protect their customers, according to a survey commissioned by DeVry University.

“The increased demand for cybersecurity experts has created new professional opportunities for recent grads in computer information and technology fields,” said Rajin Koonjbearry, Ph.D., professor in DeVry University’s College of Engineering & Information Sciences. “Pursuing a program specialization in cybersecurity is one of the ways to prepare to meet the growing call for experts who can help businesses protect customer information and business assets.”

According to the survey, nearly 50 percent of small-business owners have been victims of cyberattacks, and four in five owners see cybersecurity as a greater concern now than they did one year ago. And while less than one-third of small-business owners feel very prepared for a cyberattack today, nearly three-quarters of those surveyed plan to increase their spending on cybersecurity expertise and resources over the next five years.

The cybersecurity field is projected to grow 37 percent between 2012 and 2022 —much higher than the national average for all occupations — with demand already increasing within the federal government and health care industry.[1] Small businesses are following suit with increased cyber hiring projections and security budgets; of the small-business owners surveyed, 61 percent plan to hire a cybersecurity expert within the next year.

“Having a good cybersecurity program requires more than technology or software,” Dr. Koonjbearry said. “The right personnel can play an integral role in maintaining vigilant watch on the security of business data and creating new safeguards against possible attacks. That skillset is becoming more and more valuable to employers.”

DeVry University’s bachelor’s degree program in Computer Information Systems, which offers a specialization in Cyber Security Programming in select campus locations, prepares graduates to join the workforce successfully as technical and management professionals in a variety of industries. To learn more about DeVry University’s College of Engineering and Information Sciences and degree specializations, visit https://www.devry.edu/online-programs/area-of-study/technology.html

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About DeVry University 

DeVry University strives to close society’s opportunity gap by preparing learners to thrive in careers shaped by continuous technological change. Founded in 1931, the university offers undergraduate and graduate programs onsite and online within six areas of study: Accounting, Business, Healthcare, Technology, Liberal Arts, and Media Arts & Technology. DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission (HLC, www.hlcommission.org/). The university’s Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. To learn more, visit devry.edu.

With more than 75 locations in the U.S., DeVry University is one of the largest private-sector universities in North America. The university is a part of DeVry Education Group (NYSE: DV), a global provider of educational services. Find DeVry University on Twitter @DeVryUniv and Facebook at /DEVRYUNIVERSITY, or visit newsroom.devry.edu.

About the Survey

The DeVry University survey, conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com), surveyed 503 owners of U.S. companies with fewer than 100 employees. The survey was conducted between April 7 and April 20, 2015, using an email invitation and an online survey.

Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 4.4 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

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[1] http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm#tab-6

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Donna Shaults
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