APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Cyber thieves are becoming more advanced in stealing information.
It happened to a company in Green Bay when its payroll system was compromised.
To counteract the thieves, there is a growing need for more workers who specialize in being one step ahead of hackers.
Trace Lamberd tells FOX 11 he finds the power of the internet fascinating.
“The fact that they’re networks that are everywhere, but not being able to see it is crazy to me.”
Lamberd, a student at Fox Valley Technical College, is turning that curiosity into a career.
He’s studying within the college’s cyber security program.
“It’s great to have that on top of what you do in any field, because every company is looking for it.”
There is a growing need for the skill-set right here in Northeast Wisconsin.
“More and more businesses with all the different attacks, realize that this is important and it can actually ruin a business,” said Joe Wetzel, Security Instructor at Fox Valley Tech.
Weztel says the number of internet security jobs are beginning to outnumber the workers to fill them.
“What needs do they have, and how we can tool students to get them in those positions quickly.”
The college tracks the number of IT security jobs in our area. An entry level position would be an information security analyst.
In Brown County, there were total of 148 jobs in 2010. In 2017 that number jumped to 177.
Winnebago County had 22 open positions in 2010, that number rose to 25 in 2017.
In 2010, Fond du Lac County had 33 jobs available, that climbed to 40 in 2017.
Experts, like Weztel say cyber-attacks are only going to become more common.
“It really puts a lot of pressure on the company, to know it’s their responsibility to secure this data.”
Which Lamberd, says it’s a skill, he’s glad to have on his resume…. “A huge add on, really good for career building.”
Statewide numbers show that since 2010, the number of internet security jobs has increased by 17 percent.
