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New Campus Policy on Data Security

After our tip on November 3rd ("PDA, Laptop and Thumb Drive Security"), Chancellor Wilson issued a new guideline for data security. In essence this guideline prohibits storing sensitive or private information on portable devices unless absolutely necessary for business purposes. To comply with this guideline, you will need to take the following steps:

  • Examine your laptops, PDA or flash drive to see if you have any information that includes sensitive or private information (such as Social Security numbers, credit card information, educational records, health information, etc.) for our students, patients, research subjects, staff, faculty or alumni.
  • If you find any of this type of information, determine if you have a current business need for it. If you do not have a current business need for the information, remove it from your device. Simple deletion of these files does not adequately remove data from most devices. Please contact the School of Pharmacy IT group for assistance in ensuring the data is completely erased.
  • If you do have sensitive/private information that is essential to fulfill your work obligations, follow the mobile device security procedures outlined on the document on the IT services web site http://administration.ucdenver.edu/admin/its/security/docs/mobiledevices.pdf .

The IT group can help you determine appropriate alternatives for your data storage. Please contact us for assistance if you have private information and need help backing it up or determining an appropriate storage location.

Warning for Wireless Device Users

If you use a Macintosh or Windows PC that connects wirelessly to the campus network, a recently discovered operating system flaw could allow a remote user to take complete control of your machine. The vulnerability effects machines made by virtually all computer manufacturers (Apple, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, etc.) . To correct this flaw, you will need to load a new version of a file used by the operating system to access the wireless networks. The IT group is locating replacement files and will have them available in the next few days. Contact the IT group for help in determining if your machine is effected and how to repair the problem.

Last updated: 7/21/08