Higher Education Features Cyber Security Expert John Sileo

Universities perfect learning environment for data security

Higher Ed Organizations are among the highest risk groups to become victims of identity theft and data breach. Because students are relative “beginners” when it comes to personal finances, because university environments are predicated on trust and credibility, and because of the recent progress towards a mobile-centric, social-networking-dominated campus, higher education’s digital footprint is constantly exposed to manipulation.

“The most engaging speaker I’ve ever heard – period.” Debbie Bumpous, NSU Chief Information Technology Officer speaking about John Sileo

“John Sileo was the secret sauce in launching our cyber security awareness program” – University of Massachusetts Director of IT

Universities are 357X more likely to be affected by data breach than the average organization. High profile cases, some of which ended in class action lawsuits against the breached university include the University of Nebraska (650,000 breached records at an estimated cost of $92 million), UCLA, Auburn, Delaware, and Texas. Data theft is bad for students, time consuming for the administration and a public relations nightmare for the university. John Sileo knows their pain first hand, as he is generally the person contacted by universities after they have been breached.

Video: watch John help a university prevent data theft before it happens

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eveXtEku9M&rel=0]

Universities Have a Distinct Advantage in the Fight for Data Privacy

There is genuinely optimistic news amidst the gloom and doom. Because of their teaching facilities, their communication channels and their understanding of pedagogy, universities small and large are uniquely equipped to train campus wide on the simple steps to keep private data secure before it is breached. But it takes the right speaker to introduce security in such a way that it connects with a mixed audience–student and faculty, young and wise, technologically-oriented and digitally-challenged.

John Sileo sets the standard for presentations that get students, faculty and administrators to emotionally connect to the critical nature of privacy, security and identity protection. Using his own personal story of identity theft, John interacts with your audience to gain “buy in” to the increasing importance of securing identity in a mobile-driven, social-media-dominated world.

“If the presentation is boring or overly technical, the campus won’t listen, won’t learn. John is anything but boring…”

Video: Hear what university leaders have to say about John’s ability to make it personal

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eByEVFdF5pY&rel=0]

John has spoken extensively for other universities to increase awareness on privacy, security and identity. Unfortunately, he’s usually brought in AFTER THE BREACH and asked to sign confidentiality agreements that don’t allow him to disclose his work with the university. And if there is someone that respects his client’s right to privacy and confidentiality when requested, John is it. We can say that John has worked with top ranked universities in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Dakota, Nebraska, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania , Washington D.C., Utah, Wyoming and Virginia. We hope that your university/fraternity/organization chooses to proactively address the problem like those public references listed below:

Listen to what Universities have to say about John’s presentations

Wellesley College “Your presentation had the audience engaged from the first moment you started speaking. Data security is so often such a dry topic that it can be very challenging to get our users to listen to anything we have to say (let alone to show up). Your personal stories were both heart wrenching and thought provoking, and they provided an important backdrop for the lessons you were teaching. And you did all of this with humility, and a wonderful sense of humor, that caputred the audience’s attention. When people were leaving the event, many told me it was the best presentation they had ever seen and it was unanimous that was time well spent.”

— Donna Volpe Strouse, Information Security Officer, Wellesley College

“John’s presentation was excellent. He has a unique and skilled way of connecting with the audience and relating personal security to university security initiatives.”

“Felt like a knowledgeable friend grabbed me by the shoulders, slowed me down and saved me from getting into trouble.”

Engaging and entertaining delivery of what is typically a dry topic – it makes the message stick.”

“Compelling, persuasive, intelligent, common sense and passionate presentation that opens your eyes. Funny too!”

— Various CIO Coordinators and Attendees at the Six University of Massachusetts Campuses

Seal_of_Northern_State_University “The most engaging speaker I’ve ever heard – period. As part of a campus-wide cyber-security awareness program, Northern State University hosted John Sileo on our campus. John’s presentation was the culmination of a month-long awareness campaign for faculty, staff and students and part of the National Cyber-Security Awareness Month. The presentation itself was of the highest caliber. John personally catered the content of his presentation to our unique and diverse audience members. John is an incredibly motivational presenter that can speak directly to any audience, of any age. Throughout his presentation, he actively engaged members of the audience, capturing and holding their attention. This engagement brought a personal touch to the presentation and underscored the importance of his message. I would highly recommend John Sileo as a presenter or guest speaker. His expertise, friendliness, and professionalism are exemplary.”

— Debbi Bumpous, Chief Information Technology Officer, Northern State University

Foundation_Logo The Delta Gamma Foundation is the heart of the Delta Gamma Fraternity… One of the most successful programs we offer our collegiate and alumnae members is our Lectureship in Values and Ethics. Now present on 15 campuses throughout the United States (with 4 more Delta Gamma chapters in the process of completing their lectureship), our lectureship series has featured such nationally acclaimed speakers as Colin Powell, Queen Noir, Maya Angelou, Barbara Bush, Gerald Ford, Jeff Probst and many more.

On June 18, 2010, at our 64th biennial Convention in Denver, CO, the Delta Gamma Foundation sponsored our Convention Lectureship in Values and Ethics. This lectureship is very special because it is presented to the entire Convention body. Our guest speaker was John D. Sileo who spoke on identity theft prevention… John captivated an audience of 900 ranging in age from 19 to 90 telling his personal story of theft identity and educating all of us to intellectually understand the importance of one’s privacy. John is a story teller who tells a compelling story with humor, intrigue and ongoing audience interaction. The presentation was outstanding.

Delta Gamma continues to receive positive feedback on John’s presentation and performance. On behalf of the Delta Gamma Foundation, we would strongly recommend John for any audience of any age. His story needs to be told and shared.

— Roxanne LaMuth, Delta Gamma Foundation

John Sileo is the real deal. He speaks because he has something to say, but also because he is interested in his audience! If you host speakers, do yourself a favor and hire John… he will remind you of all that is good about offering a speaker to an audience.