Keeping campus networks safe and secure: high-profile network security incidents on college campuses have been a major source of interruption of service. Here's how one university's IT team is fighting back. (Security).

Awareness of security issues has heightened dramatically over the past several years. High-profile security incidents at various campuses, including Indiana University, have sparked action in the education community. Actions have included the appointment of security officers at many institutions, and the recent establishment of the joint EDUCAUSE/Internet2 Computer and Network Security Task Force.

Campuses are subject to daily probes and scans by people on the outside looking for systems with specific vulnerabilities to exploit. These violations can cause serious interruptions in operations or disclosure of sensitive data. Colleges and universities are often targeted because of the perception that they have lax security coupled with high-capacity systems and networks. High-capacity networks that facilitate quick transfer of large files are attractive to violators looking to store sizable files.

University systems are also targeted as a means of intrusion into other more attractive systems. A couple of years ago, some university systems were used to wage denial-of-service attacks against various company Web services in an attempt to prevent legitimate users from using that service. The attacks caused financial hardship, and many services had to temporarily shut down.

Cabling Installation & Maintenance recently talked with Mark Bruhn, Indiana University's chief IT security and policy officer, about trends in beefing up network security at his campus installation:

Q: How has the education community responded to heightened concerns about network security?

A: Due to cultural issues, mechanical concerns and cost, higher education professionals have been hesitant to install security measures--such as perimeter firewalls and strategic mechanisms that facilitate monitoring of network traffic. However, as we experience more serious incidents that affect personal workstations, …