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growing cybersecurity program is giving South Georgia students the opportunity to get their foot in the
door of one of the state’s fastest-growing industries.
OTC’s cybersecurity program only began in 2019,
with 24 students in all. That total has since more
than tripled and, according to Cybersecurity and
Information Technology Instructor Terry Hand, an
emphasis on real-world, hands-on training makes all
the difference.
“Beyond the classroom, we wanted to give students some real hands-on training, the classroom can
only go so far,” Hand told James. “We actually require
our students to go to a business and perform 100
intern hours just to get their feet wet and learn how
things work.”
OTC’s Cybersecurity Club, which Hand also
oversees, is ranked in the top 100 nationally in the
National Cyber League and has scored SkillsUSA
National gold (2023) and silver (2024) medals. Those
results helped put OTC on the map, but for students
it’s more than just fun and games. It’s the start of a
career. OTC’s cyber program has articulation deals
with schools like Kennesaw State, Middle Georgia
State and Georgia Southern.
“I’m encouraging our students to keep going with
their training, transfer your classes, get your degree,
keep going if you can,” said Hand. “They get excited
about cybersecurity, they wonder what’s next, can I get
more? And we try to show them where they can go.”
Why is cybersecurity such an in-demand field? The
average cost of a data breach for a company in 2025 is
$4.8 million, and 61 percent of small and medium-sized
businesses suffered a breach in the past year. Employment for information security analysts is projected to
grow 32 percent over the next decade, far outpacing
the average for all occupations. And the rising tide of
AI is only increasing demand— both when it comes to
cyberattacks and defense.
Many of Georgia’s 22 technical colleges offer cybersecurity programs, and with growing ties to local
businesses, law enforcement, the military and four-year
universities, Hand says the rising tide is lifting all ships.
“It’s great when your program is doing well, and
I know a lot of other programs are doing well, I love
seeing that when everybody is thriving. I do believe
in the importance of cybersecurity, what it can do for
companies, what our students can go and help companies do, help protect them from some of these crazy
threats you see in the headlines.”
So, what happened to the essential economy, as
Ford’s Farley asked? It's never been more alive than
it is today here in Georgia, where technical college
students in every corner of the state are receiving the
applicable, in-demand skills that are driving the economy of tomorrow.
Patrick Hickey is a staff writer for James and James Magazine
Online.
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