It’s Cyber Security Awareness Month! This is a time to help better understand the cyber threats we face and the simple steps we can take to minimize those risks. Today we’re talking about protecting university data.
Portable storage devices – USBs, memory cards, removable or external hard drives and CDs/DVDs, Smartphones, tablets, iPods – connect to a computer and provide file storage and should be used with caution.
Here are some things to keep in mind when using portable storage devices:
- They can be easily lost or stolen.
- Confidential information should never be stored on portable media unless it is protected from unauthorized access.
- All confidential information should be stored on an encrypted secure storage media devices.
- “Encrypted USB thumb drives” are available from ITS Hardware Services at ext. 4063.
- Network drives should be used to store confidential student data, financial data, health records and research data.
- If sensitive or personal information is stored on a portable storage device and it’s lost or stolen, this could lead to significant security and privacy concerns.
If you believe that there has been a breach of confidential information on portable media, please contact the ITS Service Desk at ext. 3700 immediately.
If you use a portable storage device:
- Do not use portable storage media for university information that is not otherwise publicly available.
- Do not leave storage devices unattended and lock them in a secure area.
- Remove confidential data from mobile devices once it is no longer needed for valid business purposes.
- Please ensure that university-provided portable device(s) are returned to ITS for disposal when they are no longer required.