A Leader in Information Security

{ FEATURE Article } A LEADER in Information Security

by PAMELA DEAN

KEEPING CSUCI’S INFORMATION “CSUCI is the first campus in the CSU system to fully technology and computer systems secure implement multi-factor authentication for all faculty, staff from hackers and cyber criminals is Jim and students, giving us an excellent layer of protection August’s expertise. against phishing and other attacks” August said. He joined CSUCI as the University’s new Associate Vice He has led his staff of 37 full-time employees and 10 stuPresident for Information Technology Services and Chief dent assistants through multiple changes to improve service Information Officer in April 2019 with more than 25 and increase efficiency across the University and is currently Student directory information was moved off the public internet to reduce phishing attacks and projects to encrypt data and deploy the DUO multi-factor authentication system were accelerated. rolling out a new information technology governance process involving campus stakeholders to help guide future projects. His team has also absorbed roles from other units "Technology is continuously advancing, but as of the Division of Business & Financial Affairs and consola smaller University, we can make significant idated positions when possible to reduce costs. gains by making better use of technology we During the pandemic, ITS focused on shoring up already own or adopting technologies already cloud-based systems to enable the University’s faculty, proven by other CSU campuses." – Jim August staff and students to work remotely. They also configured and distributed over 100 laptops to faculty and staff and re-purposed nearly 300 existing laptops for distribution to years of experience. He previously served in information For the future of technology at CSUCI, August is guidsecurity leadership roles at the University of the Pacific in ing the University toward making better use of features in Stockton, California and at the Tarrant County College systems the campus already owns rather than investing in District in Fort Worth, Texas. costly new ones. Since his arrival he has faced many challenges and “Technology is continuimplemented numerous changes within Information ously advancing, but as Technology Services, but a string of phishing attacks a smaller University, forced information security to the top of his list. we can make sig“Within my first few months on the job, students across nificant gains by the country, including at CSUCI, were hit by a series of making better use successful phishing attacks targeting their bank accounts of technology we and financial aid,” August explained. “Improving security already own or became my highest priority.” adopting techAugust’s team enhanced basic information technology nologies already processes for inventory management, vulnerability scan- proven by other ning, software patching, and expanded antivirus coverage. CSU campuses.” students in need.