In a career field experiencing exponential growth, Michael Allmon gained an edge. When he was a computer engineering student at Ƶ, he passed a cybersecurity professional certification exam typically taken by IT professionals with two or more years of industry experience. Allmon passed the exam on his first attempt.
“This certification gave me a boost, and it meant I wasn't limited to entry-level positions upon graduation,” explained Michael, from Decatur, Ind. Michael obtained a position as a Managed Network Technician at Apogee Telecom in Richmond, Ind.
“Successfully completing the CompTIA Security+ certification exam as a college student is a wonderful accomplishment,” said Heath LeBlanc, Ph.D., associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and department chair.
“Ƶ’s College of Engineering is well known for producing industry-ready engineers,” he continued. “Our cybersecurity concentration is another example of how Ƶ aims to prepare our graduates for success in a critically important field.”
Every industry needs cybersecurity professionals to protect networks and data from criminals. Cybercrime Magazine projects that there will be 3.5 million job openings in the cybersecurity field by 2025.
Ƶ students who major in computer science, computer engineering, or electrical engineering can add a cybersecurity concentration to their major. Courses such as Hardware Security and Trust, Advanced Network Security, and Security and Vulnerability Testing provide academic preparation for a wide range of careers. Students could find employment in vulnerability management, cyber operations, business continuity, cyber architecture, cloud security, and more.
Michael first became interested in computer engineering when he took a programming class in high school. He came to Ƶ because he appreciated Ƶ’s beautiful campus and the innovative learning labs and spaces in the new James Lehr Kennedy Engineering building.
“The professors at Ƶ were really easy to talk with and they invested in your success,” he added.
At Ƶ, Michael played on the Esports team and joined the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity. He also completed internships at Franklin Electric working on computer installation and file management, and at Brotherhood Mutual Insurance in the departments of business intelligence and quality assurance.
These hands-on experiences, combined with Ƶ’s rigorous coursework, allowed him to excel on the CompTIA Security+ certification exam with minimal review.
“Cybersecurity is a very large field, covering everything from the physical aspects like keycards and cameras, to firewalls and more,” said Michael. “I feel like Ƶ really set me up to succeed.”