BOONE, N.C. — Around the world, four out of five ransomware attacks target small to medium-sized businesses, and 60% of small businesses close within six months of a cyberattack, according to numerous reports. At Appalachian State University, 3 million emails are flagged weekly as potential threats to the university’s network.
Threats such as these — and opportunities to meet them head on — were among the key topics presented to more than 350 people during App State’s fourth annual Cyber Summit, held Feb. 21 at the university’s Boone campus. Cybersecurity professionals representing more than 80 business, nonprofit and government organizations from 12 states joined App State students, faculty and staff at the summit, which was hosted by the Department of Computer Information Systems in App State’s Walker College of Business.
“Over the past four years, this event has become one of the preeminent cybersecurity events in the tristate area of North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia,” said App State Acting Provost Neva J. Specht. “Safeguarding digital assets and information is critical to public, private and nonprofit organizations. It’s a burgeoning, constantly innovating industry, with increasing market demand.”
Throughout the day, seven experts addressed attendees, including speakers offering practical advice to students who will soon be entering the job market.
Marc Varner, corporate vice president and global chief information security officer at Lowe’s Companies Inc., gives his keynote address at the university’s fourth annual Cyber Summit, held Feb. 21 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Key skills for cybersecurity professionals
Keynote speaker Marc Varner, corporate vice president and global chief information security officer (CISO) at Lowe’s Companies Inc., emphasized the importance of foundational business knowledge for cybersecurity professionals.
Varner also advised students that, to succeed in cybersecurity, they must develop soft skills such as critical thinking and empathy alongside growing their technical abilities. Additionally, students aiming to work in the field should be able to understand stakeholders and create individual brands, he added.
“The vast majority of what you’re going to be doing is going to be done at the behest of your business,” said Varner. “And the better you understand business, the more successful you will be.”
App State’s Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity is the first in North Carolina to be housed within a business school, the Walker College of Business. In addition to the bachelor’s degree, App State’s cybersecurity course offerings include a cybersecurity concentration for computer information systems majors and a cybersecurity minor.
“The integration of cybersecurity education within the Walker College of Business is crucial for developing professionals who can navigate both technical and business landscapes,” said Walker College of Business Dean Sandra Vannoy. “We’re equipping students with a strong business foundation that will ready them to address the complex challenges of today’s world.”
Additionally, the ability to recognize ethical dilemmas — along with an insatiable drive to learn — is a key competency for the emerging workforce, according to Jim Webb, deputy chief information officer and chief information security officer at App State.
“We have to understand the business objectives as well as the technology,” said Webb. “And we need guardrails for where technology can go, ethically, as jobs emerge.”
App State Acting Provost Neva J. Specht delivers remarks at the university’s fourth annual Cyber Summit, held Feb. 21 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Meeting growing industry demand
Aaron Rose, cybersecurity evangelist at Check Point Software Technologies, said technology advances are outpacing the number of people working in cybersecurity, resulting in a shortage of skills and talent.
A 2023 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study found that, globally, an estimated 4 million cybersecurity professionals are needed to protect digital assets, with a shortage of 800,000 workers in the United States. According to IBM, the average cost of a cybersecurity breach worldwide is $4.88 million.
“You have excellent job security,” said Rose. “Cybersecurity jobs are not going anywhere anytime soon.”
App State alumnus Ben Agner ’12, head of cyber defense engineering and innovation at Truist Financial Corp., shared that, during this time of rapid industry growth, paths to cybersecurity careers have varied. Many who currently work in the field didn’t begin there, he said, but rather in roles that include security operations or support specialists, government threats and compliance officers, business or risk analysts, networking or cloud engineers, or software developers, among others.
Agner said App State is on the right track for “building a cybersecurity program to close the education gap.”
Over 350 cybersecurity professionals, educators and students gathered on App State’s Boone campus Feb. 21 to attend the university’s fourth annual Cyber Summit, held in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility. Pictured seated at center is Dr. Sandra Vannoy, dean of the Walker College of Business at App State. Photo by Chase Reynolds
AI-boosted cybersecurity
Throughout the event, speakers highlighted the rapidly evolving area of artificial intelligence (AI).
“Everything changes every day,” said Varner, adding that AI “wasn’t being talked about by companies 12 months ago, but now it’s on the board meeting agenda.”
Noting the transformational potential of AI in cybersecurity, Webb said AI may help businesses secure their data, especially if they validate the solutions that AI tools provide.
“In the future, AI may be harnessed to provide scale and agility alongside humans to defend against cyberattacks,” he said, adding that this may be especially helpful for small to medium-sized businesses that are currently not prepared to defend themselves against cyberattacks.
To equip its business students with the knowledge and skills needed to harness AI tools, App State is launching new AI concentrations for both its Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in applied data analytics programs, beginning this fall. Additionally, new AI courses — such as AI, Business Systems and Cybersecurity — have been incorporated into the curriculum for the B.S. in cybersecurity program.
Chris Taylor, coordinator of App State’s cybersecurity program and practitioner-in-residence in the Walker College of Business’ Department of Computer Information Systems, far right, talks with students at the university’s fourth annual Cyber Summit, held Feb. 21 in the Grandview Ballroom of Kidd Brewer Stadium’s north end zone facility on App State’s Boone campus. Photo by Chase Reynolds
Rose encouraged summit attendees to embrace AI, not fear it, and learn as much as possible about the technology.
“AI isn’t going to take your job,” he said — “humans who effectively use AI will,” he said.
All proceeds from App State’s Cyber Summits, through registration fees and support from event sponsors, are used to provide scholarships for students in the Department of Computer Information Systems (CIS). For the 2024–25 academic year, 16 CIS students have benefited from this support.
“I’m grateful to our speakers and our sponsors for helping us bring cybersecurity to the forefront at Appalachian,” said Samantha Williams, event coordinator and administrator in App State’s Department of Computer Information Systems. “This summit has showcased our university’s role as a forum for industry–academic partnership and helped prepare our students to harness the opportunities of tomorrow.”
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About the Department of Computer Information Systems
At Appalachian State University, computer information systems (CIS) students gain valuable professional skills and capabilities that prepare them for careers in a wide variety of technology-related industries. Students learn how to successfully interface between the technical and management aspects within organizations. Part of the Walker College of Business, the Department of Computer Information Systems offers two of 13 undergraduate business majors at App State, all of which promote solid business acumen and technical fundamentals. Learn more at https://cis.appstate.edu.
About the Walker College of Business
The Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University delivers transformational educational experiences that prepare and inspire students to be ethical, innovative and engaged business leaders who positively impact their communities, both locally and globally. The college places emphasis on international experiences, sustainable business practices, entrepreneurial programs and real-world applications with industry. Enrolling more than 4,000 undergraduates in 11 majors, Walker College has the highest enrollment of full-time undergraduate students in the University of North Carolina System, and more than 250 graduate students are enrolled in the college’s three master’s programs. App State’s Walker College is accredited by AACSB International — the premier global accrediting body for business schools. Learn more at https://business.appstate.edu.
About Information Technology Services
Appalachian State University’s Information Technology Services (ITS) is committed to providing innovative and reliable technological resources and support for teaching, research, learning and working. ITS is responsible for implementing, monitoring and maintaining all centralized information technology — such as network services, technical infrastructure, data center operations, VoIP phone lines, desktop support, academic technology, print and copier services, research computing, information security and project management. ITS is led by the chief information officer and comprises seven central IT divisions: Academic Technologies, Enterprise Applications, Information Security, Infrastructure, IT Support Services, Systems and Research Computing and the Project Management Office. Learn more at https://its.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
