Thrown into the Deep End

Brian T. Nichols, Louisiana State University

Many institutions have created high-level positions with responsibility for IT security and policy –and some are newly established posts. What’s required to navigate these relatively uncharted waters?Brian Nichols shares lessons learned after nearly one year as Louisiana State University’s very first chief security and policy officer.

When appointed as Louisiana State University’s first chief IT security and policy officer last year, I was energetic and ready to go. I can recall sitting across the table from the CIO when I accepted. “Brian, you’re the first of your kind here, so there’s no roadmap to follow,” he told me. “Hmm,” I thought, “I’m being thrown into the deep end. I hope I learn to swim fast!”

As I complete my first year I’d like to share some thoughts on what any new CISO needs to know. Those long in the profession will certainly relate, but perhaps my observations will have greater value for anyone starting out, or considering a career as a CISO. Here are seven things I wish I’d known as I hit the water “in the deep end.”...

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University of Minnesota Reorganization Takes Hold

One of the boldest realignments of academic programs in the institution’s history, which had been in progress since an announcement one year ago, took effect July 1. Along with other functional units, the university’s IT organization has basically reinvented the way it works with the reorganized collegiate units...

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New IT Associate Vice Provost and CIO at UT San Antonio

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