As we usher in a new academic year at Chapman University, I want to take a moment to address our community about some of the key cybersecurity trends we’re closely monitoring—and the steps we’re taking to keep our campus secure.

Understanding Today’s Threat Landscape

Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and higher education institutions like ours are uniquely targeted. This fall, three types of threats are particularly prominent: 

  • Ransomware: Attackers employ increasingly sophisticated methods to lock down digital assets and demand payment. 
  • Deepfakes: With advances in artificial intelligence, malicious actors can create convincing fake audio and video, posing new risks for identity theft and misinformation. 
  • Social Engineering: Phishing emails, fraudulent calls, and deceptive messages continue to target students, staff, and faculty to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. 

Regulatory Changes Impacting Higher Education

Several important regulatory frameworks are shaping how we handle and protect information at Chapman: 

  • FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): Ensures the privacy of student education records. 
  • CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act): Expands privacy rights and consumer protection for California residents, including many in our community. 
  • GLBA (Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act): Requires us to safeguard student information and maintain strong data security measures. 

Staying compliant with these regulations is not just a legal requirement; it’s foundational to maintaining the trust of our students, faculty, and staff.

Chapman’s Proactive Approach to Cybersecurity

At Chapman, we’re committed to staying ahead of cyber threats. Here are a few of our key strategies: 

  • Security Awareness: We regularly provide cybersecurity training and awareness programs to empower every community member to recognize and respond to threats. 
  • Advanced Detection Tools: Our IT security team employs state-of-the-art technology to monitor, detect, and respond to suspicious activity in real time. 
  • Collaboration: We partner with other universities, law enforcement, and cybersecurity experts to share intelligence and quickly counter emerging threats. 

Your Role in Keeping Chapman Secure

Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility. I urge everyone to stay vigilant: be cautious with emails and phone calls, use strong passwords, and promptly report anything suspicious to our IT security team.

Together, we can protect our campus, our data, and each other.

Remember, if you suspect something, report it to abuse@chapman.edu.

 

Stay safe, stay vigilant!

Keith Barros

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Chapman University