UB Information Security Officer Discusses Challenges of Keeping UB Safe

As UB’s Information Security Officer, Nadira Persad is responsible for establishing and maintaining a university-wide information risk management program to ensure that information assets are adequately protected. I invited her to share her perspective in my Technology and Innovation course with the School of Management. She discussed her role as Information Security Officer and the key trends in information security. Prior to joining UB in 2014, she gained a deep understanding of information systems from her extensive knowledge and background in IT audit, information security and risk management over the past 18 years.

Nadira emphasized the changing way we’re treating our information as more things move to the cloud. “We’re seeing everything as a service now,” Nadira said. “Security, infrastructure, platform and software are all services.” She believes we shouldn’t resist the move to the cloud, but embrace it instead. It is here, and it is inevitable.

About 20 minutes into the presentation, the students received a surprise visit from Shark Girl. A mascot based on the statue located at Buffalo's Canalside, Shark Girl is UBIT’s reminder to students to be wary of phishing attempts. Nadira and Shark Girl held a fun and interactive quiz with the students to drive the message home.  It was a great change of pace, and a fun way to talk about serious issues that affect all of us at the university.