On July 23, 2024, Pacific Oaks College was alerted to a significant data security issue when an internal page of the Pacific Oaks College Community Site was discovered to be publicly accessible. This site was primarily designed to collect petitions for degree conferral. While the majority of the exposed information was classified as directory information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), certain details, such as the preferred name for the diploma, semester of degree conferral, and personal email addresses, are considered private and protected under FERPA regulations.
Upon receiving the notification, the college’s team acted swiftly to mitigate the situation. Within an hour, the page was removed from public access to ensure no further exposure of sensitive information. By the early hours of July 24, the site was secured, effectively eliminating the risk of unauthorized access to the data it contained. Following the removal, the IT Security Team conducted a comprehensive audit of all publicly facing sites to confirm that no additional information was compromised or accessible.
To assist individuals potentially affected by this incident, Pacific Oaks College has initiated proactive measures to enhance data security awareness. They have developed an on-demand training program focused on equipping participants with knowledge on how to protect themselves from common threats such as email and text scams. This free training opportunity reflects the institution’s commitment to fostering a secure online environment for its community.
Pacific Oaks College emphasizes its dedication to maintaining the privacy of personal information and the importance of transparency in addressing security issues. By informing stakeholders and providing resources for safeguarding their data, the college aims to restore trust and confidence within its community. Individuals interested in participating in the data security training can respond to the notification by a specified deadline to receive access to the course materials.
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