Higher Education
We have extensive experience providing information security and network engineering services to the higher education system. Prior to launching Cyber Stoics, Eric Smith served as the first “Shared CISO” in higher education. Eric was the Chief Information Security Officer for a consortium of liberal arts colleges and universities, including Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA, Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, and Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. Prior to this role, Eric served for twelve years as the Associate Director of Networking at Bucknell University. Eric continues to serve on the advisory council for the Computer Networking Technology program at SUN Area Technical Institute.
Information Security for the .edu space is an attractive yet complicated challenge, as colleges and universities function as collections of other industries. Most schools must support various business units with vastly different operational and technical requirements:
Traditional Business Units: Higher Ed institutions need HR, Finance, Accounting, and Payroll departments, each with their own compliance and regulatory requirements for security.
A Hotel or Apartment Complex: Any colleges or universities with on-campus housing has to provide housing for its students and must maintain systems to manage housing, room selection, and scheduling for summer camps, guests, and other special events.
A Bank: Financial Aid and the Bursar’s office have very specific requirements for security.
An Internet Service Provider: Stable, secure, and robust internet service is a necessity. This extends to all areas of the campus, including residential, educational, and administrative spaces.
A Sports Arena: Colleges and universities have to provide facilities for athletic events, including ticket sales, physical security, Wi-Fi for spectator spaces, and wired internet connections for media covering the events.
Retail Stores and Restaurants: The college bookstore, dining services, vending machines, and other retail locations need point of sale terminals, credit card processing, inventory and ordering systems, and more.
A Police Station: Public safety offices in higher ed resemble the operations of a police force and are often responsible for managing electronic door access control systems, issuing parking permits, maintaining security camera and emergency telephone systems, and supporting technology in their internet-connected patrol vehicles.
And finally, a school: Scheduling classes, providing classroom technology, accounts and systems for students and faculty, managing grades, transcripts, faculty evaluations, and the myriad back-end services needed to allow teachers and students to succeed.
Providing centralized security and technology services in higher education environments is a tremendous yet rewarding challenge. Contact us today to find out how our decades of experience in technology can help your school’s information security program thrive.
