In light of several incidents of computer theft and other issues, the University’s Department of Information Technology and Communication Security and Policy Office will host a series of events and implement a number of new initiatives aiming to increase awareness about cyber security issues on Grounds.
Shirley Payne, vice president and chief information officer, noted that her department’s efforts to increase such awareness go on throughout the year, but that this month, National Cyber Security Month, in particular offers her office increased opportunities to do this.
Payne said many of the scheduled events, including an IT professionals conference Oct. 11 and two presentations Oct. 14 and Oct. 30, focus on the protection of institutional data.
Despite this, Payne noted, the information offered in these presentations could also be applied to private computer use.
“Though the presentation [Oct. 14] was mainly focused on employees, students can get something out of it, as well,” Payne said. “What you learn at work about protection of institutional data can be transferred to your home computer where you do your own personal activity.”
She also noted that the list of events includes an Oct. 22 presentation in the Newcomb Hall South Meeting Room by a security-focused partnership between the University, the University Credit Union, the Albemarle County and local city governments and K-12 school systems and Piedmont Virginia Community College called “Who’s Watching Charlottesville?”.
The efforts to increase cyber security awareness follow up other security policy updates that took place earlier this year, Payne added. Among these previous updates was a decrease in the University’s use of social security numbers and an effort to reduce the storage of sensitive data, she noted.
The sensitive data policy change “is another step in the whole initiative,” Payne said. “It basically says no one may store sensitive data on their [electronic] devices.”
Payne said such sensitive data would include social security numbers, credit card numbers and dates of birth. She noted that individuals may often be unaware of sensitive data that they have stored for long periods of time.
Because of this, Payne said, the University has implemented some tools to help employees comply with the policy. One of these tools, she noted, is a program called Identity Finder that can scan an individual’s computer or storage devices, such as flash drives, for sensitive data.
Ultimately, Payne noted that increased awareness should contribute greatly to efforts to increase both institutional and personal cyber security.
“The bottom line is [these] events would be of use to students and faculty and staff as well,” Payne said.
— compiled by Prateek Vasireddy
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