In mid-February, a leading online job site had more than 500 cybersecurity jobs posted in Alabama, and that number is projected to increase by 32% in the next seven years, according to Abigail Carter, associate director of computer information technology instructional programs for the Alabama Community College System.
Despite the growth in cybertechnology-related jobs in the state, many recent graduates lack the experience needed to snag those positions. That’s why the Alabama Community College System has launched the Alabama Cybersecurity Fellowship, a new cybertech training program for community college students, in partnership with Enterprise-based Advantage Consulting & Solutions and Innovate Alabama.
The fellowship’s pilot semester began in January with computer science students from Trenholm State Community College in Montgomery, Enterprise State Community College in Enterprise and Wallace Community College in Dothan. During the 16-week program, students participate in extensive cybersecurity lab training and work two days a week with local employers. They will earn $18 per hour and three college credits toward their computer science degree.
“Nationwide, there are more than 750,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, and Alabama is no exception to this shortage,” says Shannon Allen, program director at Innovate Alabama, which is funding the Alabama Cybersecurity Fellowship.
“With the state’s strong defense and aerospace industries, along with the increasing digitalization of businesses across all sectors, the need for skilled cybersecurity workers continues to rise,” Allen adds. “Employers are looking for talent that not only understands cybersecurity principles but also has hands-on experience navigating real-world security challenges. Programs like the Alabama Cybersecurity Fellowship play a critical role in bridging this gap, providing students with practical, paid experience in cybersecurity and IT environments while helping to meet Alabama’s growing workforce needs.”
Seeing a Need
Years ago, Kevin Seldon graduated from the computer information systems program at Enterprise State Community College and had a difficult time finding local employment in the field of information security. After six months of searching, he finally landed a help desk position at Fort Rucker (now Fort Novosel), where he eventually worked his way up to information systems security officer. Today, as president of Advantage Consulting & Solutions, Seldon says that while the demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow, the access to jobs in the field remains out of reach for many new grads.
In 2024, Advantage Consulting & Solutions partnered with a North Carolina community college to provide virtual internships for several cybersecurity students. After the program yielded great success, Sheldon and his team approached the Alabama Community College System to discuss piloting a similar program in Alabama.
The community college system was eager to collaborate, and Innovate Alabama joined as a funding partner for the program.
“Innovate Alabama is dedicated to strengthening the state’s talent pipeline in high-growth fields like cybersecurity,” Allen says. “By supporting the Alabama Cybersecurity Fellowship, Innovate Alabama ensures that students — particularly in rural and underserved areas — gain access to high-quality, hands-on learning opportunities. Investing in programs like this helps keep top talent in Alabama, supporting our innovation ecosystem and ensuring that employers have access to a skilled workforce.”
Developing a Program
To provide students with real-world, hands-on experience, Advantage Consulting created a simulated computer network environment of commercial industry and public sector companies’ networks, excluding the data, for each student. This laboratory simulation allows students to perform typical cybersecurity job functions and tasks without putting an organization’s sensitive or proprietary information at risk.
When the fellowship launched in January, students spent their first month working in the lab and learning from Advantage Consulting professionals. The training covered information about cybersecurity programs, why they are needed, and how to manage them, as well as how to communicate with stakeholders.
After preliminary training, the students started working twice weekly with their assigned employers. Some of the participating employers include Southeast Health, Great Southern Wood Preserving, EnTech, Construction Partners and the Alabama Community College System, Carter says.
“The employers recognize that they need people with cybersecurity skills, and they were invested in putting students in this environment,” Carter says. “There’s no agreement in place for long-term hiring, but we believe this experience will prepare students to interview powerfully and make connections that may help them secure permanent employment in the field.”
As the fellowship engages students in their final semester of study, “our hope is that one or more employers like what they see and extend an offer for full-time employment,” Seldon says. “This program not only equips students with practical, workforce-ready expertise but also helps local employers access a pipeline of skilled, in-demand talent — strengthening the local cybersecurity ecosystem and addressing the national workforce gap.”
Planning for the Future
Traditionally, rural Alabama has been known for agriculture, industrial and health care industries, Seldon says. All of these industries are currently undergoing modernization to incorporate technology at a rapidly growing pace, and “where there’s technology, there’s a requirement to protect it,” Seldon says. “That talent has to come from somewhere, so why not right here?”
Based on the success and interest in the Alabama Cybersecurity Fellowship, the community college system hopes to expand the program to other areas throughout the state. System leaders are reviewing potential grant opportunities and other avenues to fund an expansion.
“Over the long term, we aim to strengthen Alabama’s cybersecurity workforce by creating a sustainable talent pipeline — particularly in rural and underserved communities — so that businesses and government agencies have access to skilled professionals who can meet the state’s growing cybersecurity needs,” says Innovate Alabama’s Allen. “By investing in programs like this, we’re not just supporting students; we’re driving economic growth and innovation across Alabama.”
Understanding the Work: What cybersecurity interns and grads can do
Cybersecurity is a highly technical and complex field, but that doesn’t mean less experienced professionals can’t make important contributions. In fact, recent grads and even student workers can play important roles in the field.
Entry-level cybersecurity work focuses on foundational tasks such as monitoring security alerts, basic vulnerability assessments, using Security Information and Event Management tools, and endpoint protection, says Kevin Seldon, president of Enterprise-based Advantage Consulting & Solutions.
For example, at his firm interns have built and secured virtual servers and assessed the security posture of commercial companies that aim to sell their software products to the federal government, Seldon says. New entrants to the field often find work as junior cyber analysts or other entry-level cybersecurity roles.
More experienced professionals are needed for expert-level cybersecurity work, which “involves a much deeper understanding of risk management, security threats, security frameworks, incident response and digital forensics,” Seldon says. “At this level, professionals may be responsible for developing and implementing security strategies, conducting penetration testing, reverse-engineering malware and performing digital forensics investigations.”
Nancy Mann Jackson is a Madison-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.
This article appears in the April 2025 issue of Business Alabama.
