In the age of technology, everything seems to depend on computers, especially in higher education.
At Boston University, most students have a personal computer or have access to computers provided by the institution. Grades, class schedules and ‘convenience points’ balances can all be accessed online through a system developed by the university.
But what would happen if the university’s system were somehow destroyed or attacked? Natural disasters like fires and floods are unpredictable, and viruses, hackers and terrorism are all reason to fret for the safety of vital computer data.
Jim Stone, BU’s director of Information Technology, offered assurance but minimal details about the university’s security precautions.
‘We have [a plan],’ Stone said. ‘But it’s mostly confidential. Any disaster recovery plan is most effective if no one outside the immediate group knows about it. What’s the point of having a plan if it’s not bulletproof?’
However, Stone did say that the plan involves ‘offsite storage’ and a ‘rather elaborate, complex data-backup system.’
‘One of several facilities available to use is Iron Mountain, a secure facility for storing important artifacts and data,’ Stone said.
Stone mentioned terrorism while discussing Information Technology’s system for recovering data, but said the plan has been in place since before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
‘We don’t have the system because we reacted,’ Stone said.
While there is a system of recovery for the university, it does not include professors’ outside data collection or research or students’ personal computer data.
Stone pointed out the line between someone’s personal computer and those owned and controlled by the university, and he warned that the university is not responsible if a BU community member’s personal data is lost. Rather, that person should be responsible for backing up his or her own data. Stone said.
Stone also said the university participates in drills to practice the proper procedure in case of an emergency.
‘A year ago, we had a simulated train wreck by West Campus,’ Stone said. ‘It was a very, very elaborate drill that didn’t just involve BU. The city fire and police departments were also involved.’
The drill ‘went very well,’ according to Stone, who also said some BU students were witness to the drill.
‘We did warn West Campus residents because they were going to see all kinds of emergency vehicles,’ Stone said.
Sgt. Jack St. Hilaire, BU Police Department spokesperson, said the BUPD is also taking precautionary steps in case of attacks from terrorists or others and communicates with the Boston Police Department and FBI.
‘Universities are possible soft targets of terrorist groups,’ St. Hilaire said. ‘But we haven’t received any information that BU is at a specific threat at this time.’
St. Hilaire said the action taken if disaster suddenly strikes depends ‘on a case-by-case basis,’ but the BUPD is acting to make the community involved in terrorism-prevention.
‘We’re taking steps to prepare some students and faculty with a program called ‘C.A.T. Eyes,” St. Hilaire said.
The acronym stands for Community Against Terrorism, and the BUPD will start training students and faculty for the program at the end of March, according to St. Hilaire.
‘It’s like a Neighborhood Watch but focused on terrorism,’ St. Hilaire said. ‘There are 40,000 to 60,000 students and faculty at BU compared to 64 police officers. It’s 40,000 pairs of eyes instead of 64.’
St. Hilaire said the community plays a large role in preventing disaster. He illustrated his point with the recovery of Elizabeth Smart and the arrest of the Washington, D.C., both aided by the public. He said the four main goals of the BUPD are ‘preparation, education, training and sharing of intelligence’ with the community.
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