A Collaborative Approach to Securing Your Campus

Six liberal arts colleges (Amherst, Brandeis, Middlebury, Wellesley, Wesleyan, and Williams) conducted coordinated security assessments during the fall of 2013. Assessments included performing network vulnerability assessments, incorporating evaluation and penetration testing of security device architecture; reviewing security policies and procedures; conducting on-site interviews with staff to gauge awareness of and adherence to security policies and procedures; giving a report and joint presentation of the findings at each school on the relative measure of the strength of each security program; and presenting a prioritized list of recommendations and next steps. We will report on the process, what we learned, and how we are collaborating to improve.

OBJECTIVES: Understand the rationale and mechanics of conducting a collaborative security assessment * Understand whom to involve outside IT and how to ensure a successful process * Learn about the common security vulnerabilities we discovered and their relative risks, as well as how to mitigate them