Vet News: San Antonio Poised to Expand as National Cybersecurity Hub

SAN ANTONIO,  April 28, 2015  /PRNewswire/ -- San Antonio,  Texas, is cultivating the largest military and civilian federal cybersecurity community outside of the   Washington  Metro area, alongside a dynamic private sector, to support advances in protection and prevention.

With more than 200 companies serving the cybersecurity market in  San Antonio , including all major defense contractors and 100 locally based cybersecurity companies in the private and public sector,  San Antonio  has grown a "critical mass" of cybersecurity capability. The city builds on an existing growth platform that includes established military operations, and talent and business incubators, establishing great potential for the region and earning national recognition for the cyber industry.  

The  University of Texas at San Antonio's  cyber program has been ranked No. 1 in the nation, according to a just-released survey sponsored by Hewlett-Packard. In February, UTSA announced it would launch an Open Cloud Institute to develop a degree program in cloud computing and big data, and  St. Mary's University  announced the creation of its Cybersecurity Master's degree.

" San Antonio  is a breeding ground for cybersecurity resources, a place where technologies are being developed and enhanced to defend the nation, and a work force is being built to support the cybersecurity technology industry—the fastest growing area of advanced technology investment in the world," said  Mario Hernandez , President of the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF).

The SAEDF is the organization leading business recruitment and has assisted many information technology organizations locate to San Antonio .

The depth of  San Antonio's  cybersecurity assets, include an interconnected cyber ecosystem; a long history in defense-oriented cybersecurity and cryptologic mission; an entrepreneurial culture; national award winning educational institutions with proven cybersecurity training programs; and a population that embraces and supports the military and information technology.

The 24th and 25th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, and NSA Texas, give  San Antonio  the largest federal cybersecurity presence in  the United States , outside of  Washington .

The 24th Air Force at  Port San Antonio  safeguards key components of the Defense Department's information networks and employs more than 1,300.  Electronic warfare and other operations are the charge of the 25th Air Force. U.S. Cyber Command officials predict as many as 1,000 additional personnel in the next three years and increased partnerships with private-sector contractors to support the Defense Department's ongoing cybersecurity mission in  San Antonio .

"The strength of  San Antonio's  cybersecurity industry is evident in the community's commitment to grow and foster a sector for which it is ideally suited," said  John Dickson , Principal at Denim Group in  San Antonio . "Locally based companies are continuing to grow at a rate of 30 percent per year and innovative technologies are the result."

About the SAEDF
The SAEDF is a private, non-profit organization responsible for attracting new business and industry to  San Antonio .

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