press release
JASPER, Ind., Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As National Cybersecurity Awareness Month approaches this October, PIER Group is highlighting the unique cybersecurity challenges facing research-intensive universities and institutions across the country. The issue is drawing attention. With the rise of cloud computing and data sharing, it is more important than ever to protect sensitive research data, intellectual property, and high-value projects emerging from these academic hubs. PIER Group is a leader in providing IT solutions and cybersecurity services to R1 and R2 universities and is at the forefront of helping these universities navigate this complex cybersecurity environment.
“R1 and R2 universities are among the most targeted institutions by cybercriminals because the research they conduct is of high value and their attack surface is wide. Their networks span hundreds of thousands of computers. devices and connects to other universities around the world,” he said. Mr. Chad Williams, President of PIER Group. “At PIER Group, we believe it is our responsibility to ensure that these institutions not only remain at the forefront of global research, but also to conduct their research safely. We are building an infrastructure that allows people to innovate without fear of compromise.”
During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, universities have the opportunity to evaluate their cybersecurity strategies and adopt solutions that will protect their campuses, students, and research for years to come. Williams and his colleagues at PIER Group identified five strategies that top universities should be implementing or planning now.
1. Adopt AI for cybersecurity. To manage a network the size of a major research university with thousands of devices connected to the campus network, AI is essential to detect threats and respond quickly. AI-driven tools analyze vast amounts of data to detect anomalies and provide automated threat responses.
● Universities should: Deploy AI-enhanced cybersecurity tools that provide proactive monitoring and rapid response to cyber threats.
2. Implement a network access control (NAC) system. Modern access control solutions are often powered by AI, making it much easier for university officials to segment the university’s population and ensure only authorized users have access to sensitive information, applications, and data. It will be.
● Universities should: Implement advanced NAC systems that use AI for smarter and more effective user management.
3. Combat social media attacks. Cybercriminals use social media apps like LinkedIn and Instagram to launch attacks against individuals, and their primary goal is to infiltrate university networks.
● What universities should do: Universities should always follow the 3-2-1-1 rule. This means that you have three copies of your data in two different locations, one offsite and one immutable. You should also educate your campus community about the risks of social media and adopt cybersecurity solutions to monitor and mitigate these threats.
4. Leave legacy equipment behind. Most universities use older equipment, but even equipment that is just a few years old can make a university vulnerable to cyberattacks. Moving networks and storage to the cloud has proven to be the most economical and flexible solution, allowing universities to quickly scale up or down, while increasing security.
● Universities should: Focus on phasing out older equipment as quickly as possible and moving computing needs to the cloud.
5. Securely collaborate with the broader research ecosystem. Universities’ openness to collaboration complicates security. Real-time partnerships with research centers and external partners require secure data sharing supported by networks like The Quilt. Strong security measures are essential to protect sensitive research and intellectual property. Secure collaboration accelerates medical and technology innovation while protecting valuable data.
● What universities should do: Universities should ensure that their networks are built to handle secure and fast collaboration with internal and external research partners. PIER Group’s support and partnership with R1 and R2 research organizations fosters university-wide collaboration and enables discussion of best practices and solutions to protect student, institutional, and research data needed for innovation. Masu.
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, universities must implement strategies to protect the integrity of students, staff, and research. In doing so, we contribute to a safer global research ecosystem. For more information on how R1 and R2 universities can achieve technology leadership, please visit http://www.piergroup.com.
About PIER Group
PIER Group is a leading IT and cybersecurity solutions provider with decades of experience specializing in research universities and large academic institutions. They excel at securing and optimizing campus and research networks, as demonstrated by their work with top national R1 and R2 universities across the country, including Indiana University, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Maryland. PIER Group’s expertise includes implementing robust security measures such as Aruba ClearPass to protect sensitive data and support national research networks like The Quilt. Their work helps universities address complex cybersecurity challenges and enables high-speed, high-stakes collaboration. For more information, please visit piergroup.com.
