How many of us have received an unusual email or text from a supervisor or colleague asking for private information? Or a message that doesn’t seem quite right urging us to update or reveal some very sensitive data?
At UCLA, it’s the job of Drake Chang, the campus’s chief information security officer, to help us all recognize the risks of these types of cyberattacks. Chang oversees IT security policies, ensuring that UCLA’s network and applications are safe, handling identity and access management, planning responses to cybersecurity incidents and recommending measures to protect sensitive information.
As part of national Cybersecurity Awareness Month efforts in October, Chang sat down for a Q&A to discuss the major threats to colleges and universities and how students, faculty and staff can protect themselves and UCLA against cybercriminals.
“Security is a team effort, and we aim to inspire a culture of cyber awareness year-round,” said Chang, who encourages students, faculty and staff to visit this Cybersecurity Awareness Month microsite to learn more about phishing scams, safeguarding information and devices, strengthening cloud security and understanding social engineering. “While we can build numerous controls, it ultimately comes down to people being intentional about their actions. With so much of our information now digital and our daily activities reliant on technology, cybercriminals are opportunistic. By following basic protection principles, we can prevent the majority of cyberthreats.”
