Mitch Davis, CIO of Bowdoin College, knew that he would have a problem selling the college community on security improvements, simply because most organizations and people resist change. So before proposing a massive security infrastructure revamp that would ultimately include tighter identity- and access-management controls, he worked with two faculty members to create a course titled “Senior Seminar in Network Security.” The eight students in the class researched existing security practices and used this information to help write a new set of security policies for Bowdoin. The result: These students and faculty became a team of advocates for campuswide security improvements. Davis, who also works outside of academia, believes this technique can succeed in a corporate setting, too. He advises CIOs to assemble a cross-functional team to review corporate security policies against industry best practices and to call in consultants, if needed, to point out security holes and potential exposures. “The goal is…to build a security advocates team that works throughout the organization to support existing practices, develop new solutions and provide feedback to IT,” Davis says. “The best security solutions are those that protect the business and its assets while at the same time empowering the company and the staff. Having people from all departments involved in the decision process helps build security solutions that are supported rather than circumvented by departments and staff.” Related content feature 4 remedies to avoid cloud app migration headaches The compelling benefits of using proprietary cloud-native services come at a price: vendor lock-in. Here are ways CIOs can effectively plan without getting stuck. By Robert Mitchell Nov 29, 2023 9 mins CIO Managed Service Providers Managed IT Services case study Steps Gerresheimer takes to transform its IT CIO Zafer Nalbant explains what the medical packaging manufacturer does to modernize its IT through AI, automation, and hybrid cloud. By Jens Dose Nov 29, 2023 6 mins CIO SAP ServiceNow feature Per Scholas redefines IT hiring by diversifying the IT talent pipeline What started as a technology reclamation nonprofit has since transformed into a robust, tuition-free training program that seeks to redefine how companies fill tech skills gaps with rising talent. By Sarah K. White Nov 29, 2023 11 mins Diversity and Inclusion Hiring news Saudi Arabia will host the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh By Andrea Benito Nov 28, 2023 4 mins Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe