BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) An independent consultant who reviewed the North Dakota University System's computer security protocol says specialized training of information technology staff and other updates and testing are needed to make the system more secure.
The system experienced several computer breaches in the last year, including a hacking incident in February that exposed the personal information of more than 290,000 current and past students and employees.
Erik Wallace, principal architect of a company that provides cyber solutions, told the board at Thursday's meeting in Bismarck that some of the suggested improvements could potentially have prevented some of the breaches. He says some campuses have systems that need more security work than others.
The higher education budget proposed by the governor includes $1.5 million to upgrade the system's computer security.