70 | OPINION | EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
“So far this year, nearly 840,000 personal records have been exposed in cyber atacks against 12 universities, including nearly 300,000 in
Data security: fit for purpose?
Data security has hit the headlines several times in recent months. To date, the most publicised breaches have occurred within businesses operating online or universities in the US but, according to John Butler, VP Europe at technology provider Ellucian, the warning signs are also there for universities in the UK
T
echnological developments have enhanced our capacity to collect and store data, but with these immense benefits come the responsibility to
safeguard personal information. Up to 40 million people worldwide are thought
to have been affected by the major data breach that affected Target credit cards in December 2013. While in May, 145 million eBay users were informed of a security breach which potentially made their personal details available to fraudsters. While they received a great deal of atention from
the media, these are not isolated incidents. A new study by IBM concluded that, since last year, data breaches have risen by 15%. The 2013 Information Security Breaches Survey revealed that the average large business in the UK lost between £450,000 and £850,000 on their year’s worst security breach, with a number of breaches often combining to cost more than £1m a year. Across the Atlantic, higher education institutions
have also been under atack. So far this year, nearly 840,000 personal records have been exposed in cyber atacks against 12 universities, including nearly 300,000 in one of the two major atacks on the University of Maryland. At Indiana University alone, the social
security numbers of 146,000 current and former students were compromised. HEIs in the UK need to take heed of these instances and the implications of potential breaches to their own data systems. The figures show the vulnerability of the personal
information held on data systems and its value to the unscrupulous. Whether in the US or over here, the responsibility for safeguarding such information lies very firmly with the institution that holds it. In the UK, legislation compels institutions to safeguard all personal data. The IBM report concludes that, ultimately, there is an acknowledgement that all senior managers are held responsible for data security. In the case of Target, the chief information officer resigned ahead of the chief executive’s very public departure. They have not been the only heads to roll. Universities which have enjoyed the benefits of
improved administrative function and student experience through the introduction of complete data management systems may feel concerned by this, but they should not be. Data defence solutions that are ready-made for the higher education market are available and can be dove-tailed to fit with existing student information systems. With the right tool, an institution can stay ahead in the data defence challenge. A specific product that is developed for higher
education institutions should be fit for purpose. It must be designed to encrypt application data such as sensitive personal information; to monitor database traffic, detect blocked threats and to help improve compliance reporting by consolidating audit data from databases,
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