Historic Strength, Modern Resilience
Washington College Fortifies Cybersecurity with Pathify
Historic Strength, Modern Resilience
Washington College Fortifies Cybersecurity with Pathify
Founded in 1792 with the support of General George Washington, Washington College builds its legacy on enduring values like integrity, determination, curiosity and leadership. As the first college chartered in the sovereign United States, the college remains dedicated to inspiring citizen leaders by honoring its historic roots. But in todayʼs evolving world of escalating cyber threats, upholding this mission requires blending timeless principles with modern technology.
Chief Information Officer Irving Bruckstein leads the institution’s efforts to adapt, bringing decades of experience across IT and cybersecurity to Washington College. During his tenure as CIO and Chief Information Security Officer at several higher ed institutions, Bruckstein established a proven track record of leveraging state-of-the-art tools and methods to prevent data breaches.
Faced with cybersecurity challenges — including the aftermath of a significant ransomware attack — he turned to Pathify to support modernizing Washington Collegeʼs enterprise applications architecture, strengthen cybersecurity and enhance the student experience. Yet the partnership wasnʼt just about technology — it began with a firm handshake at a Pathify happy hour, a moment embodying both organizations’ commitment to integrity and trust.
Turning Challenges Into Opportunity
When Bruckstein arrived at Washington College in early 2024, he immediately identified a critical cybersecurity challenge — the college relied on its public-facing website as a primary source for sharing campus information, leaving sensitive data dangerously exposed. The absence of a campus portal or intranet represented an unacceptable risk — a ransomware attack the previous year revealed serious cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Data scrubbed from the public website was scattered across the dark web.
“Washington College had four to five times more sensitive data available to cybercriminals on the dark web than peer institutions of similar sizes,ˮ Bruckstein recalled, noting the public-facing website displayed key details like core business systems URLs, executive org charts and contact information — gold mines for cybercriminals phishing and spear-phishing attacks.
Bruckstein recognized an immediate need to move community-specific data behind the authentication wall. “From a cybersecurity perspective, we needed to centralize and safeguard sensitive information intended only for the eyes of the college community,ˮ he said. Brucksteinʼs familiarity with Pathifyʼs Engagement Hub gave him confidence in the solution — he saw it in action during his tenure as CIO and CISO at Salve Regina University. “Pathify represented the natural choice to create an internal portal for the entire college,ˮ he explained.
Raising the Bar
Implementing the “MyWashColl” portal quickly became one of Brucksteinʼs top priorities. “MyWashColl” launched in August 2024, creating a centralized, secure hub for internal communications and resources. “Pathify became one crucial component within a larger framework of state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools and methods,ˮ he said, noting the initiative also supported compliance with federal regulations like GLBA.
Pathifyʼs impact extended well beyond securing sensitive data — it redefined Washington Collegeʼs cybersecurity profile and reputation. “When I arrived on campus, third-party cybersecurity insurance ratings like Cowbell Cyber and MasterCardʼs RiskRecon confirmed our risks and vulnerability scores were sub-par,ˮ Bruckstein reflected. “Now, we hold an A rating for our cybersecurity profile and posture, placing us in the top 7% of scores across higher education.ˮ Within months of launching Pathify as a foundational cornerstone of its overall cybersecurity strategy, Washington College transformed its cybersecurity ratings into industry-leading status. “Pathify played a pivotal role in making it happen,ˮ he added proudly.
Bruckstein emphasized Pathify as an indispensable tool for institutions aiming to mitigate cyber risks. “The platform plays a crucial role in safeguarding data from scrubbing bots deployed by cybercriminals to target institutions public-facing websites,” he continued. “Pathify provides a fast track to a secure and protected environment.”
A Smarter Way to Manage
Beyond significant cybersecurity improvements, “MyWashColl” tackled another noteworthy challenge — resource consolidation. Washington College relied on a fully outsourced website, where even minor updates required going through the marketing and communications team — often accompanied by a vendor invoice. “Every time we needed to update the website, we received a bill. It wasnʼt cost-effective or sustainable,ˮ Bruckstein shared.
Pathify Pages (WYSIWYG content management system) offered a game-changing solution, enabling campus departments to manage their own content without additional costs. “The CMS delivers spectacular results. Weʼve seen exponential growth in how the portal and content get used,ˮ Bruckstein said. “Consolidation remains a top priority and Pathify played a key role in kickstarting this initiative.ˮ
Snapshot of Success
What began as an IT-driven initiative quickly caught fire, transforming into a campus-wide movement. “I took a ‘build it and they will come,ʼ approach, starting with IT and the portal as the example,ˮ explained Bruckstein. His strategy sparked widespread enthusiasm, with departments across campus clamoring to adopt the platform.
Pathifyʼs seamless web and mobile experience drive excitement by putting relevant information directly in front of students. “We know students pick up their smartphones over 100 times per day,ˮ Bruckstein noted. “Mobile devices are prime real estate for communication.ˮ Before “MyWashColl,” users faced a maze of bookmarks, apps and systems without a central access point. Now, the platform serves as a landing spot for mission-critical systems, cutting through clutter and delivering an intuitive, connected experience.
A Handshake Deal
While Pathifyʼs technology proved transformative, the partnership represented a commitment to old-school business values — something Bruckstein deeply appreciated. “Most contracts these days get signed digitally but for me, doing business face-to-face, with a handshake, still matters,ˮ he said.
In April 2024, this philosophy came to life when Bruckstein and his colleagues attended one of Pathifyʼs legendary happy hours. Over drinks and appetizers, Bruckstein struck up a conversation with Pathify Account Executive Tim Edwards. “I knew Pathify fit perfectly as the solution for Washington College but I hadn’t talked directly with anyone at the company until then,ˮ Bruckstein recalled.
After a few hours negotiating, Bruckstein and Edwards sealed the deal on the spot. “I signed the contract right there at the happy hour — we even took a photo to commemorate the moment,ˮ he smiled (Pathify note: check out page 4 for the photo!). For Bruckstein, the experience captured the essence of partnership — mutually beneficial, built on trust and rooted in shared values. “A good deal works for everyone involved,ˮ he quipped. “Thatʼs exactly what we got with Pathify.ˮ
Building a Legacy
Today, Washington College exemplifies the power of combining advanced technology with strategic leadership — proactively mitigating cybersecurity challenges while fostering a more connected, efficient and user-friendly campus experience.
“Pathify directly touches every single person on this campus,ˮ Bruckstein reflected. “As CIO, much of my work happens behind the scenes — if we are successful, no one gets hacked or experiences a breach. But Pathify? Itʼs unique, itʼs highly visible, itʼs transforming how we operate and communicate as a community.ˮ
By uniting cutting-edge technology with timeless business values and steadfast dedication to its historical roots, Pathify and Washington College forged a partnership as enduring as the institution itself. Together, they not only secured a historic campus but paved the way for a vibrant and innovative future.
About Washington College
Founded in 1782, Washington College is the tenth oldest college in the nation and the first chartered under the new Republic. With an emphasis on hands-on, experiential learning in the arts and sciences, and more than 40 multidisciplinary areas of study, the College is home to nationally recognized academic centers in environment, history and writing. Learn more at washcoll.edu.
