It is not uncommon knowledge that here at Andrews University there have been many cybersecurity issues in the past. As time moves forward, all institutions must improve in order to keep up with technology that makes our life easier, including Andrews University, but that does not come without a price. We can see through the digital scars from past breaches and the tools that we use today for privacy and prevention, that keeping our campus safe involves having protection that expands to the online realm too.
Like the recent blackout on November 19 and the subsequent issues with Lamson Hall’s wi-fi afterward, many students are often aware of issues with the University’s technology only when it directly impacts them. However, many of the actual problems which need to be fixed on campus are not as explicit. According to the Information and Technology Services Department (ITS), one of the biggest issues that they face on the Andrews University campus is “constantly working on … cybersecurity threats to mitigate internal and external threats to critical data.” An example of these threats appears in email inboxes everywhere as student job offers. Usually marked by exorbitant salaries and few legitimate details on the responsibilities for the job, these scams take advantage of students all over campus who are looking for work, and prey on students who may be lacking in digital literacy.
So what safeguards are currently in place for making sure the school stays safe? In ITS’ statement for the Student Movement, they said, “Currently Andrews provides Active Directory Logins with DUO Two-Factor Authentication for students to access critical systems such as Self-Service, IVue, and Registration Central.” While these different services and security systems can allow for students to not worry in general about the many dangers that exist online, it is still not enough. Personal responsibility is key in making sure you keep your own—and sometimes other people’s—information safe. The ITS recommends that students can “pay attention to the communications they receive through social media, email, and texting for potential risk and threats to access of data” and to “keep strong passwords and be aware of the sites you access to ensure any data shared is not compromised.”
If you are interested in learning more about cybersecurity on the Andrews University campus, check out the ITS website, and to learn more about safe computing, check out Safe Computing @ Andrews for more information.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.