The Department of Information Technology’s (DoIT) Secretary, David Garcia, will be joining Maryland Department of Budget and Management Secretary David Brinkley, as well as Maryland Higher Education Commission’s Secretary Jim Fielder for a tour of Hagerstown Community College (HCC) this afternoon from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.

The Hagerstown Community College is the regional leader in cybersecurity programming. Cybersecurity is the body of technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect networks, computers, programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access. In a computing context, the term “security” implies cybersecurity. The amount that the government spends on information technology and cybersecurity in particular, is expected to rise. The college currently offers two associate degrees in cybersecurity and a number of specialized certificates.

“Given that October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I thought it only appropriate to visit one of our top higher education facilities whose leadership recognizes the importance and value, not only in cybersecurity education, but in the fast paced development and implementation, inherent to cybersecurity needs,” said Secretary Garcia.

HCC maintains more than 1000 computers on campus including state-of-the-art computer labs, and over 100 smart classrooms equipped with computers and data projection; as well as VHS, DVD and CD for audio. In addition, the college is home to some of the latest equipment for use in skills labs for the health sciences programs, including imaging technology.

Earlier in the day, Secretary Garcia attended the Regional Cabinet Meeting as part of Governor Hogan's three-day trip through Western Maryland.