Introducing the BISON Security Program Charter

Howard’s digital landscape continues to grow, and security has become more important than ever. 

We are excited to share our BISON Security Program Charter, established by our Chief Information Security Office (CISO). The Charter bridges the gap between our academic, clinical, and research domains to ensure a coordinated defense across the board. 

This establishes clear operational boundaries by operating directly within the Chief Information Officer (CIO)’s authority chain while providing structured assurance and coordination for outside domains. Instead of departments silently absorbing cyber risks by default, the charter requires clear, transparent reporting so executive leadership can deliberately evaluate, manage, and accept those risks. 

The program’s core goal is to support our daily mission of delivering and protecting institutional trust while keeping innovation moving forward. You can expect smoother, more predictable security evaluations when onboarding new systems, software, and third-party vendors. Furthermore, from routine activities to unexpected security events, the charter improves our entire community’s ability to prepare, respond, and recover. 

If you have additional questions, please open a ticket on the Enterprise Service Center or contact the Service Desk at huhelpdesk@howard.edu.