The following issues should be considered with respect to changes in information technology, hardware, software, processes, systems, data transmission and stewardship.
Higher education is a target for data breaches and malware attacks.
There is an omnipresent need to keep campus network infrastructure secure and efficient in the face of external threats (e.g., server and printer compromises; general cybersecurity).
An information security imperative: developing a holistic, agile approach to reduce institutional exposure to information security systems. [IT EDUCAUSE]
Strategic leadership is another information security imperative: repositioning or reinforcing the role of IT leadership as a strategic partner with institutional leadership. [IT EDUCAUSE]
"Preventing security breaches is a serious obligation that requires ongoing training, internal audits and staff vigilance." 10 Questions to Consider to Help Prevent Breaches in Student Record Security, American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, 1/26/2016
"On the policy front, higher ed officials continue to prepare for a greater level of accountability around access and outcomes, with states and the federal government, as well as the general public, demanding more transparency in data related to how graduates are faring out in the world." The Latest Trends and Predictions for Higher Ed in 2017, University Business, 12/28/2016
"This past year, higher education saw a boost in the use of technologies like predictive analytics, cloud, and augmented and virtual reality—and research indicates that these trends will only continue to rise." Data Analytics, Cybersecurity Top 2017 Higher Ed Tech Trends, EdTech, 1/12/2017
"Malicious “ransomware” attacks—where a hacker takes control of the victim’s information systems and encrypts data, preventing the owner from accessing it until the victim pays a sum of money—are on the rise against colleges and universities. Higher education institutions are well-advised to increase their efforts to defend against this particularly damaging form of hacking." Increasing Ransomware Attacks in Higher Education, National Law Review, 1/18/17
"...The industry sector with the highest number of breaches is higher education: since 2005, higher education institutions have been the victim of 539 breaches involving nearly 13 million known records. This trend may be due, in part, to the sheer number of personal records kept by these institutions, considering their ever-changing student bodies, as well as the valued open, collaborative environment of most colleges and universities." Higher education’s vulnerability to cyber attacks, University Business, 9/6/2016
Information technology hardware updates and system refreshes are necessary to keep pace with changing computing landscapes.
2018 Strategic Trends Glossary, Educause, retrieved 10/10/2017
A chaotic and diffuse social media landscape presents the university with the greatest opportunity for engagement, but also the greatest risk to reputation.
Social media usage has prompted higher education to take a closer look at social media and ensure that it is being managed in a way that minimizes exposure.
"2017 marketing predictions that higher education professionals can put into practice." Five 2017 Marketing Trends, and What They Mean for Higher Education, City Interactive, 1/17/2017
Challenges maintaining and cultivating information literacy