Ward Solutions, Ireland’s leading information security provider, is implementing IT security systems and awareness training across National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG), to manage information security and ensure compliance. The two year contract is worth in excess of €170,000.
Based in the heart of Galway, NUIG has more than 2,700 staff and provides undergraduate and graduate degrees and diplomas to 17,000 students each year.
NUIG aims to have best practice information security, safeguarding its data and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations. As part of a complete IT infrastructure overview, the university wanted to enhance its security processes, policies and systems.
Ward Solutions won the security partner competitive tender to help the university proactively manage and monitor the university’s IT security landscape and help implement new policies and procedures to protect against vulnerabilities. Ward initially carried out a risk assessment on a number of systems that provided a complete overview of the critical data held on these systems. It also identified and tested potential vulnerabilities and measured security controls.
Ward Solutions has now developed a set of security awareness training programmes as part of the new security policies and procedures. The online training provides advice and guidance on information security for every member of staff and insight on the role each individual plays in protecting the university. It is also providing face-to-face training for all members of staff who have responsibility for business critical and sensitive data.
John Lavelle, head of strategy architecture and security, NUIG said, “Ward delivered what they said they would deliver and this has led to a true collaborative partnership. We cater for thousands of new students and alumni each year and as a result have a vast amount of data we wish to secure.
“Ward Solutions brought the breadth of information security expertise and knowledge we needed. The size of its team means it has the ability to assign the right expert to each task, all of whom are certified to the highest levels. In addition, its experience in the education sector meant it understood our unique challenges and it could quickly develop policies and recommendations which we immediately implemented.”
Brendan Molloy, business development manager, Ward Solutions commented, “Working in partnership with NUIG, we helped to classify and prioritise data on key systems to focus security spend on the right areas. Our combined offering of managed security, consultancy and training, coupled with leading vendor technologies, has helped to reduce the complexity of IT security for NUIG and ensures the university is protected at all times.”
The next phases of Ward Solutions’ security programme with NUIG will be to enable students to securely embrace BYOD. The upcoming project aims to expand the current Wi-Fi access by implementing further secure networks across the campus through server hardening and the deployment of Web Application Firewalls.
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Photo caption – Pictured at the NUIG campus in Galway are (L-R) John Lavelle, head of strategy, architecture and security, ISS, NUIG and Brendan Molloy, business development manager, Ward Solutions
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