Nicholas Tella
Chief Information Security Officer | Adjunct Faculty
College of Engineering & Design
Providence Campus
Nicholas Tella is an accomplished computer crime, cybersecurity, information security risk management, compliance and internal investigation professional. He is responsible for Information Security, Risk Management, Governance, Policy, Awareness & Training, Incident Investigation and Response, and Security Operations activities for over 9,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff members across JWU's campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Tella, a former Commander of the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit and Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force, is often sought for his extensive expertise and investigative experience during cyberattacks and data breaches. He has helped members of the Rhode Island legislature author and enact computer crime laws to protect children from cyberbullying and Internet predators (Safe Schools Act). Tella is regularly asked to testify before the Rhode Island General Assembly on matters related to data security and privacy legislation.
M.P.A., Public Administration, University of Rhode Island
B.A., Administration of Justice/Administration, Rhode Island College
Expertise:
- compliance and enforcement; computer crimes; cybersecurity; information security; investigations; identity fraud
Media Coverage:
- 04.27.22 - More than 400 Rhode Islanders targeted by change of address fraud, NBC 10
- 07.29.21 - Why the pandemic led to an increase in cyberattacks and who's being targeted, 12 News
- 06.03.21 - NBC 10 I-Team: Cyberattack may get worse, say experts, NBC 10
- 06.17.20 - IT expert: Care New England IT crash most likely caused by ransomware, WPRI 12
- 06.17.20 - Cyber security expert says Care New England hack 'is indicative of ransomware,' NBC 10
- 05.11.20 - As tech giants collaborate on contact tracing system, concerns over privacy arise, NBC 10
- 02.27.20 - IT risk management: Is your WISP policy document up to date, University Business
- 01.31.20 - Facebook launches new tool to address privacy concerns, ABC6
- 10.22.19 - Netflix may crack down on password sharing, WPRI 12
- 09.23.19 - Scammers are targeting Google Calendar, NBC 10
- 07.18.19 - Boasting 80 million users, FaceApp raises privacy, security concerns, WPRI 12
- 03.21.19 - NBC 10 I-Team: Is my phone spying on me? Some apps record everything you do, NBC 10
- 01.29.19 - Apple to fix FaceTime bug that allows eavesdropping, WPRI 12
- 11.26.18 - Police warn against 'porch pirates' during holiday shopping season, ABC 6
- 10.26.18 - Adapting higher ed computer policies to cover new risks, University Business
- 10.03.18 - First test of federal Presidential Alert system, WPRO News
- 08.28.18 - Why schools are prime targets for data breaches, WPRI 12
- 08.28.18 - Want free coffee? Your personal data is the way to pay, WBUR
- 08.27.18 - FBI warns of blackmail scam targeting people with 'secrets', WPRI 12
- 08.23.18 - Back-to-school: protecting student data from hackers, NBC 10
- 08.21.18 - Keeping student information secure, NBC 10 Coffee Break
- 08.14.18 - Free coffee? Personal data is the way to pay, RIPR
- 06.28.18 - Your Health: Online medical privacy concerns, ABC 6
- 06.04.18 - The impacts of malware threat at RI state agencies, ABC 6
- 06.04.18 - Malware threat causes trouble for three RI state agencies, NBC 10
- 04.04.18 - NBC 10 I-Team Consumer Alert: you no longer need to sign your credit card receipt, NBC 10
- 12.07.17 - Safe shopping tips to reduce the risk of identity theft, WPRI 12
- 11.24.17 - Shop safe this season: protect your holiday dollars from hackers, NBC 10
- 10.26.17 - Has Hyatt hotels learned its lesson from series of breaches, Legaltech News
- 06.28.17 - Second round of cyberattacks in Europe, WPRO 630AM/99.7FM
- 05.06.17 - Google Docs phishing scam, Steve Klamkin's Saturday Morning News Show, WPRO 630AM/99.7FM
- 04.26.17 - Business Lunch: Cyber criminals target hotel chains, NBC 10
- 04.20.17 - Holiday Inn data breaches in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, WPRO 630AM/99.7FM
- 05.02.11 - I-Team Child predators, part 1, NBC 10