University Business - December 2007 - (Page 12)

EDITOR’S NOTE Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One T IS THE SEASON FOR ANNUAL TECHNOL ogy surveys, so let’s take a look what CIOs and IT directors around the country are reporting. According to CDW-G, in its third annual “Higher Education IT Security Report Card” (available at www.cdwg.com/ higheredsecurity): • Less than half of campus networks are safe from attack; 58 percent report at least one security breach in the last year. • Data loss or theft has increased 10 percent in the last year, up to 43 percent, including the loss or theft of staff and most pressing. An institution that has been fortunate enough student personal information. to escape a security breach may be less likely to divert funds • Increased attention to the convergence of IT and physi- to an area where immediate results can’t be seen. That’s uncal security solutions, but slow adoption of these tools. derstandable, but some experts say it’s just a matter of time • A lack of staff resources cited as the biggest barrier to before they, too, are attacked. Will next year’s surveys reveal improving campus IT security more of the same? Or, as with Katrina-related destruction and Sound familiar? Those results are not much different the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings, will it take a from the previous year’s survey results. Once again, security major event before institutions finally become serious about issues—and the inability to resolve them—top the list, fol- securing their networks? When it comes to budgeting, adlowed closely by concerns over funding. ministrators would do well to remember that prevention is That point is echoed in other surveys. always less expensive than cure. For example, in the Educause “Current Is- Security is a top IT sues Survey Report, 2007,” (www.educause PRESENTERS WANTED .edu/2007SurveyResources/13140), IT issue, followed by And speaking of budgets (and bad segfunding and security topped the list at instiues), don’t forget to budget time for the funding problems. tutions of all sizes. In addition, security and annual EduComm conference, which identity/access management (considered as celebrates its fifth year when it heads back different issues in the survey) are the first- and second-ranked to Las Vegas from June 18 to 20. issues expected to become even more significant next year. With its focus now exclusively on higher education, EduThe “2007 Campus Computing Survey,” conducted by Comm will offer more hot-topic sessions than ever, particuthe Campus Computing Project (www.campuscomputing. larly in the areas of presentation technologies, smart classroom net), reveals that although the percentage of campuses report- planning and design, social-networking, and digital coning hacks or attacks on campus networks continues to de- tent. We’ll also feature more practical “how to” sessions and cline, IT security and crisis management present continuing hands-on workshops to make your trip a memorable one. challenges for college and university officials. Visit our new EduComm website (www.educommconEven our own University Business “Technology Spending ference.com) to get more information about attending the Survey ’08” in this issue, conducted by Datamonitor, finds event, sponsorship opportunities, and schedules. that although IT security is “top of mind” for institutions, it is And if you are interested in presenting a session, either not necessarily a big ticket item for them. alone or as a team, you can submit a proposal either through Do you see a pattern here? Why is it that, year after year, the website or by contacting me at the address below. security tops the list of technology issues, yet IHEs don’t seem to be adequately funding efforts to address it? Part of the answer is no doubt priorities. Campus budgets are increasingly under attack, and funding often goes to whatever problem is Write to Tim Goral at tgoral@universitybusiness.com. 12 | December 2007 universitybusiness.com http://www.cdwg.com/higheredsecurity http://www.cdwg.com/higheredsecurity http://www.educause.edu/2007SurveyResources/13140 http://www.educause.edu/2007SurveyResources/13140 http://www.campuscomputing.net http://www.campuscomputing.net http://www.educommconference.com http://www.educommconference.com http://universitybusiness.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of University Business - December 2007

University Business - December 2007 Contents College Index Company Index Advisory Board Editor's Note Behind the News Viewpoint Admissions On The Hill Marketing Future Stock Independent Outlook Technology Spending Survey '08 Conference Call A Working Education 30 Smart Business Ideas Educause in Emerald City What's New Calendar of Events End Note

University Business - December 2007

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