SAN ANTONIO — Thousands of Texans are cybersecurity professionals, generating billions of dollars for the state.

“San Antonio is definitely a cybersecurity mecca,” said Larry Hurtado, managing director of QNext Corp. “Organizations want to know who is accessing which files at what point in time.”

For decades, Hurtado has worked in cybersecurity, helping companies avoid cyber criminals. It's a purpose, he says, he can get behind.

“Cyber-criminal activity is at an all-time high,” Hurtado said. “That’s what is basically driving the demand for more and more people to help support the efforts to protect a company’s assets.”

More than 1 million Americans have cybersecurity jobs according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology. However, there’s a workforce shortage. There are more than 600,000 cyber job openings nationwide.

“Where cybersecurity is No. 1 across the U.S. is Washington, D.C.,” said Jeff Fair, vice president of Cybersecurity & Economic Development at San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. “We’re No. 2 and we’ll take it because it’s a huge economic driver here in San Antonio.”

Fair lets companies know the industry is growing in San Antonio. 

“We need some experienced folks. I say, in San Antonio, we have them,” Fair said. “There’s also a ton of DOD civilian jobs here. And those are the jobs that don’t move.”

Another contributing factor is the fact that eight higher education institutions in San Antonio are Centers of Academic Excellence in cyber defense education. Fair believes that makes San Antonio an attractive choice for students and employers.

“Why San Antonio? I say because you’re going to have a skilled workforce for the next 20-30 years guaranteed,” Fair said.

As the chair of the city’s Cybersecurity Council, Hurtado says they connect educators, military and cyber pros, keeping up with the growth of Texas’ multibillion-dollar cybersecurity industry.

“There is different organizations in town that are doing different things all for the cause if you will, of basically improving cybersecurity across the land,” Hurtado said.