People with good analytical backgrounds that understand regulatory compliance are in demand. Their counterparts - defenders of IT systems - will always be in demand.

"We need the tens of thousands that can manage those defenders and then we need 100,000 that are out there learning the trade, that are passionate about what they do and that are willing to put in the extra hours to keep the citizens of the nation and the state secure," Dan Likarish, assistant professor and program chair of the IT department at CO-based Regis, says.

In an exclusive interview about information assurance and why the job market for information assurance professionals has seen astounding growth, Likarish discusses:

• Opportunities for information assurance professionals;
• Trends impacting information assurance education;
• Best options for someone to get into the information assurance profession.