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Physical and information security issues continue to plague colleges and universities. Thefts, data breaches, violence: All of emerged as top issues for administrators and IT. Are American campuses headed in the right direction in their efforts to safeguard data from loss or theft and to protect sensitive information? How active do IT departments need to be to protect their networks and their students, faculty, and staff?
The State of School Security
This fall, CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), conducted its third annual Higher Education IT Security Report Card, surveying 151 higher education IT directors and managers to examine the status of IT security on campuses.
The results are not happy ones. Over half the respondents suffered at least one electronic security breach in the past year. Loss or theft of data is up 10%. Schools lack fully integrated physical and IT security systems, as well as resources and funding. And students and faculty alike aren't aware of security policies and disregard the ones they are aware of.
Assessing School Security
If you attend Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, you're no doubt familiar with its "Don't be a Tad' campaign—a series of amusing, illustrated episodes about "Tad Ramey" that appear on the university's website, e.g.:
Tad Ramey does not think twice about replying to an e-mail from his bank with personal information.
Unfortunately for him, it is a phishing scam.
Tad may as well have shouted his personal information to the world.
Tad is trapped in the phishing scam.
His identity is stolen.
When he is alone, Tad knows it is OK to cry.
Links
- "Don't Be a Tad," www.lsu.edu/its/tad.htm
- Higher Education IT Security Report Card, www.cdwg.com/higheredsecurity
Vicky Stormo
"Unfortunately, it takes a tragedy to wake people up."
Brian Voss
"A problem in IT security can derail everything else you're trying to do."
Resources for School Security
These resources are designed to provide you with fresh insights into the challenges of planning, developing, and implementing effective safety and security strategies in higher education: the technologies, the issues, and the role of IT in making it all come together effectively.
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