We scored another sit-down with Daryl Care, who heads up our technology arm, and it sure sounds like the Information Technology team has a full plate. To be sure, it takes us laypeople here at “The Bridge” a little longer to figure out what some of the tech-ese actually means, but he is so patient with us and does a great job of translating. Nevertheless, if it’s still Greek to you, shoot us an email and we’ll provide an interpreter. IT invites you to contact them directly as well: ITCyberSecurity@lincolnlearningsolutions.org.
Us: Since we last spoke, you have a lot of new projects on your plate. As most of our readers can imagine, though, most of what your team is doing isn’t accomplished overnight; meeting your goals sometimes spans several months, or even longer.
D.C.: Yes, and not only that, but some of our goals are ongoing. Take security, for example. As everyone knows by now, security is not an issue we take lightly and it’s crucial that we enlist the entire LLS family to combat threats. That’s why, of course, everyone is required to take the online Wombat Cybersecurity Training.
Us: Full disclosure here: every time I get an email telling me a cybersecurity training deadline looms, I am not a happy camper. Turns out, though, that I have learned so much from them and have even been able to impart words of wisdom to the so-called “digital natives” in my life as well as to my mom. So, I’m getting quite a bit out of the effort.
D.C.: It’s always nice to hear feedback like that. The whole point is that, even though businesses and governments are spending so much time on and devoting so many resources to cybersecurity, attacks are still getting through. Confidential data, marketing secrets, assets, and reputations are at risk here and around the world. We need everyone to be on guard.
Us: Right, so education plays a key role in IT on so many levels. In fact, I hear you even have a staff person they call Security Joe. Personally, I call him Ranger Joe.
D.C.: You’re referring to Joe Deplato, I believe. Yes, he is the Smokey Bear of our department when it comes to protection. He’s acutely aware of how well our efforts to educate our users are paying off. Take a look at this chart he prepared to illustrate how many attacks we have thwarted over the last quarter alone:
Us: So, the training and the prodding are paying off! That’s terrific.
D.C.: Yes, it’s not only a good thing for our own internal systems, but it’s helping everyone who participates in the training to navigate more safely in their personal lives. On a related note and with the April 15 tax deadline fast approaching, Ranger Joe asked me to share a short article about avoiding tax season scams. It’s a great read, and it reinforces a lot of the lessons we’ve all taken through the Wombat Security program. If anyone ever has any questions about security, Joe is a fount of knowledge and always willing to help out our users, who can email him directly.
Us: Thanks for taking some time to talk to us again. We’re biased, but we like TEC Talks way better than TED Talks!