Xavier has implemented new and upgraded security features this year. This is part one of a three-part story about the migration of technology at an all-girls school.
The online safety and security of Xavier students and faculty have always been pressing matters. Now, because of the more digital advances, the XCP informational technology team (IT) is taking a larger step.
Xavier is implementing new locks, updating computer efficiency and mainstreaming communication.
Garrett Mortensen, director of help desk services has assisted in the installation of new security features.
“We are getting to an age where people access good and bad things, easier than in the past,” Mortensen said.
The new locks on doors do not contain keyholes. The locks now have door sensors that require ID cards to open. These ID cards are small electronic devices that now take the place of tangible keys. The goal is to eventually have them on every door at Xavier.
This new technology also allows the administration to lock doors automatically from a remote place, in case of a lockdown.
Aside from physical upgrades, Xavier is also implementing new procedures that protect students and staff. “We are training Xavier to be more aware of phishing attempts,” said Mortensen. Phishing attempts are when hackers email staff or students, pretending to be reputable in order to access account data.
“People are out there trying to socially engineer themselves into us. What we’re trying to do is prevent it from happening,” says Mortesen.
Mortensen advises staff and students not to click everything they see. Ransomware, a type of malware that locks a victim’s data, files, devices or systems, renders staff’s or students’ systems inaccessible and unusable until the attacker receives a ransom payment. This is becoming more of a social issue in today’s culture.
“We must keep up-to-date with new technologies because we’re entering an age where everything is so advanced and rapid,” Mortensen said.
Jeri Butts, director of the attendance office, states that these features have advantages, especially with the improved security of Xavier’s Canvas system where grades are stored.
Karen Vance, director of Xavier security, stated that Xavier has improved its communication with surrounding schools like Brophy and Saint Francis, in cases of emergency.
“In the past, there was a delay in contacting law enforcement due to staffing shortages,” Vance says. But now that all three schools have shared contacts and can easily communicate without having to go through someone else.
“I believe good communication is fundamental to good security. With improved communication Xavier students and faculty are apprised in case of an emergency,” Vance adds.
The long-term goal of integrating new technologies is to keep Xavier up-to-date and to keep students safe, leading to a more secure school.
