Keeping Information Security Simple – Backup, Backup, Backup

Letter from the CISO, Vol 1 Issue 5 Washington University Community: Many years ago, a respected colleague told me that for her, the ultimate security was knowing that she could get her data back if something bad happened. This was a bit of a shock to me, as I was young and inexperienced enough to […]

Know the Rules of the Road

Reporting Graphic

We’re on the last leg of our road trip, but our cybersecurity adventure is far from over. The WashU Office of Information Security will always be your trusty navigator and loyal travel companion on the Road to Cybersecurity. We’ll help you steer through the twists and turns of the road ahead and give you a […]

Test Your Knowledge Competition

Bear Bucks Logo

To wrap up another successful Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we invite you to show us what you know by entering our Test Your Knowledge Competition.  Complete this activity to test what you know and receive an entry for one of several Bear Bucks awards.  Prizes Grand Prize: $500 BearBucks credit. Additonal Prizes: $250 BearBucks credits. Don’t […]

Enter Our Student Prize Competition

On October 20th, CISO Chris Shull and WashU Computer Science Major Skylar Fong cooperated to run a webinar discussing Careers in Cybersecurity. Dozens of students participated in the evening event. Chris Shull offered valuable insights about the interdisciplinary nature of cybersecurity and the qualities that he looks for in a prospective new hire. Skylar shared […]

He Held Her Hostage with His Words

Bonus Scam of the Month  On Father’s Day, 2021, Jaime Bardacke, a licensed clinical social worker in San Fransisco, received a phone call from a man who identified himself as Lt. Timothy Reid of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. Initially, Bardacke was not surprised by the call. She had dealt with legal issues involving […]

Scam of the Month: DocuSign Phishing

Example of DocuSign Phish

Attackers continuously adjust their tactics to circumvent our defensive strategies, using new methods to access our systems, data, and personal information. Even as attackers develop new scams, one element seems to carry on—impersonation. Our office frequently publishes about impersonation because it forms the basis of most phishing attempts. Often, attackers impersonate a high-ranking employee in […]

Meet Your InfoSec Team: Betsy Ball, Information Security Architect

Betsy Ball InfoSec Architect Headshot

Betsy Ball is a highly experienced IT professional with more than 30 years of experience, including work in user support as well as server, network, and firewall administration. In her role at WashU, she serves as an Information Security Architect, working with the Risk Assessment team on IT infrastructure assessment and supporting the Cybersecurity Maturity […]