Cyber Defense

It seems we learn daily of a crisis caused by cyber security challenges of both public and private sector employees. This growing field is in high demand for talented cybersecurity professionals who are driven by their love for technology and the interesting, challenging, and meaningful work that a cyber defense career can provide

Why study Cyber Defense at Coastal Georgia?

The Cyber Defense concentration at Coastal is unique because it allows you to combine your interest in criminal justice and investigation with your talent in information technology. Those who work in the field of cyber defense can make an impact by helping keep governments, businesses, and even our nation’s critical infrastructure safe and functioning.

“The college students are getting real-world training that can’t be duplicated in a classroom environment,” said Assistant Professor of Cyber Defense, Dr. Nelbert “Doc” St. Clair.

What will I learn?

Coastal Georgia students benefit by participating in a required internship within the information technology field, providing real world experience. As part of the learning process, students enter cybersecurity competitions, also known as CTF (capture the flag). This gamified approach helps students learn at their own pace while competing against other students. Our students also benefit from research initiatives – attending cybersecurity conferences and participating in community service projects.

What can I do when I graduate?


Data Security
  • Protecting and maintaining the integrity of businesses, customers, and other data
Application Security

  • Ensuring software and other applications cannot be hacked, compromised, accessed or disabled without proper authorization

Network Security
  • Protecting network infrastructure and software from unauthorized access
Operational Security
  • Day-to-day monitoring and security management
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
  • Authenticating users and authorizing them to access specific applications, data, and other systems
Privileged Access Management (PAM)
  • Controlling and monitoring privileged access for users, accounts, applications, and other system assets
Vulnerability Management (VM)
  • Proactive identification (such as scanning) and resolution (such as patching, systems hardening, implementing new solutions, etc.) of potential threats and vulnerabilities in the IT ecosystem
Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM)
  • This can include mobile device management (MDM) and other processes and technologies for securely enabling a mobile workforce
Security Training
  • Teaching employees and other users to identify and appropriately deal with common security issues like phishing, malware, or social engineering.

A group of Cyber Defense students spent their Thanksgiving holiday installing upgrades on computers at the Boys and Girls Club.

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE WITH A MAJOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, CONCENTRATION IN CYBER DEFENSE

  • Dr. Nelbert St. Clair

    St. Clair, Nelbert

    Associate Professor of Cyber Defense

    912-280-7757

    Dr. Nelbert St. Clair is an Assistant Professor of Cyber Defense and Director of the Coastal Cyber Center. He earned his Doctor of Science (Dsc) in Information Systems and Communication from Robert Morris University (Moon Township, PA), M.A. in Information Technology Management from Webster University (St. Louis, MO) and a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno (Reno, NV). He earned all his civilian education while severing (now retired) in the Army National Guard for 23 years. He currently maintains 15 active cyber/IT certifications.

    Dr. St. Clair started at the College in Fall of 2019, with the task of building a Cyber Defense program from the ground up. As the Director of the Coastal Cyber Center, a non-profit center aimed to provide IT services to non-profit and small businesses, he reaches out to the local community with the help of the Cyber Defense students. He believes in giving back to the community.

    Dr. St. Clair inspires students to begin a career in the field of Information Technology. He brings to the Cyber education world, 23 years of experience in leadership, security, and military knowledge (National Guard including two deployments), 14 years in the private sector and 8 years working for the federal government. Dr. St. Clair’s main focus is cybersecurity education, but he enjoys recruiting new students and partnering with local businesses, to provide cyber education and services to the community, with the help of his students.

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