University of Massachusetts Boston is an international university located in the USA and is known for its academic excellence. UMass Boston offers varied degree programs, masters, and PhD degrees that attract students from all over the world. However, just like many other higher learning institutions in the United States, UMass Boston is faced by the issue of cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is both a threat to UMass Boston data and information and the security of its students and members of staff. Cybersecurity is a factual issue in the university and needs to be dealt with in order to safeguard the institution and its occupants. In order to hasten its security measures within the school, UMass Boston ought to implement clear guidelines on how students and staff members in in the school will be educated on proper technology use.
History of Cybersecurity in UMass Boston
University of Massachusetts Boston greatly relies on technology for teaching and communication within and outside the university. The university has well defined technology tools that allow for easy interaction between students and members of staff (University of Massachusetts Boston, 2021). According to the UMass Boston website, there is a heightened use of modern technology tools, namely laptops and mobile phones among the students and staff members. As such, the UMass Boston system is accessed by many users at any given time. Therefore, with a congested system, what it takes is just one key security feature turned off, one unwary click on a malicious link or one malware-infected personal device and cyber attackers have an access to the system. The issue of cybersecurity in UMass Boston has recently been worsened by the global pandemic of Covid-19 (Lee, 2020). The Covid-19 pandemic has forced UMass Boston University to digitalize all its services and operations. Thus, there is increased use of technology tools for teaching and communication within the university.
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Implications of Cybersecurity to UMass Boston
All data and information about UMass Boston is exchanged through the internet. As a result, the security of the university and that of its students and staff members is at stake due to cyberterrorism. The university risks losing confidential data to unwelcome parties who might pose a threat to its security. Similarly, terrorists operate through gathering information about the places they wish to attack (Lee, 2020). Irrefutably, if terrorists access details of UMass Boston, then its security will be at high risk. Besides, information confidentiality is compromised by cybersecurity both to the university and its stakeholders. Loss of confidential information might lead to exam cheating and consequently unfair competition among the students. Also, according to the IT Security Office (2020), this is clear evidence that students have been receiving threat emails form attackers threatening their lives (IT Security Office, 2020). These threats among students are attributed to the eased access of UMass Boston’s system by unwelcome parties.
Remedy to the Cybersecurity Issue in UMass Boston
Cybersecurity is an issue that is affecting all students in UMass Boston. Therefore, its remedy will be a great relieve to all the students and staff members. According to the IT Security Office (2020), most of the attackers to the university access data through improper practices by students when accessing the university’s system. The UMass Boston has come up with a cybersecurity newsletter known as ISO News that is able to notify students when criminals are about to force an access to the university’s system (IT Security Office, 2020). However, the students have not been well acquainted with information on how to use the ISO News newsletter. In order to improve cyber security for the school and students, the university should ensure that all the students are well educated on how to use the ISO News newsletter. The education on how to use the ISO News newsletter and other security features should be given first priority, especially during this period of Covid-19 when most services in UMass Boston are being offered through the internet. Heightened security within the university will enhance the wellbeing of the students and prevent data loss from the university system.
References
I.T Security Office. (2020). Information Security Office (ISO) Tips: The best defense against hackers and phishing is knowledge. https://www.umb.edu/news/detail/information_security_office_iso_tips_the_best_defense_against_hackers_and_phishing_is_knowledge
Lee, J. (2020). Security Threats Facing Universities. https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/opinions/security-threats-universities/
University of Massachusetts Boston, (2021). Teaching with Technology Tools. https://www.umb.edu/it/avsct/conferencing
