Nick Fredrick, GRC Security Analyst I, is one of the newest additions to the Office of Information Security. After earning his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from St. Louis University, Nick interned for our Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC) team, where he was eventually hired as a full-time analyst. Throughout his time at WashU, Nick has had several duties and focuses. Currently, he focuses on risk management by identifying and assessing information security risks that affect WashU, conducting risk assessments for third-party vendors, developing and implementing risk mitigation strategies and controls, and monitoring and reporting on the status of risk management activities. Nick enjoys stopping bad actors alongside his coworkers, noting that the “amazing InfoSec team makes it very enjoyable to work together.”
Nick has always been drawn to technology, following his dad, who also worked in the IT field. He remembers the night his dad brought home the brand-new Xbox 360 and how learning about the technology and exploring it created a bond between him and his family. Nick was drawn to InfoSec because it “plays a part in almost every function on a computer.” He also notes that information security does not stop at the inner workings of a computer and that social engineering can “manipulate individuals to give bad actors access to confidential information.” These tactics can target anyone in the outside world through “text, social media, and any other way of communication.”
Nick likes playing video games like League of Legends – Teamfight Tactics (TFT) with his friends and family in his free time. When he’s not at his computer, he is at his family lake house “enjoying the sun and trying not to get burned!” For anyone wanting to learn more about cybersecurity, Nick recommends a YouTuber named PirateSoftware, who shares valuable knowledge from their experience in the cybersecurity industry.