Security
Sensitive Data Guide
Sensitive Data and You
In modern life we carry around pieces of personal information in many forms, including driver’s licenses, credit cards, and Social Security cards. If mishandled, many of these can lead to our identities being compromised. To prevent this, we use common sense and do not leave these important pieces of our lives lying around where anyone can take them without our knowledge. Now, in the Digital Age, we are presented with an entirely new paradigm for securing our private information. What was, in the past, considered safely locked in our offices is now accessible, when not properly secured, with a modicum of effort by unseen intruders on the far side of the world. Even the most assiduous are likely to have some amount of sensitive information stored on computers vulnerable to these virtual trespassers and physical theft. The problem is compounded further when the scope of our work includes collecting and storing information about others.We are all responsible for ensuring that any sensitive data we are entrusted with is stored safely and securely. Failure to do this leaves the data and all the information it contains needlessly open to identity theft. Should sensitive data be compromised, there can be significant and costly consequences. In the public’s eye, a leak by the smallest department tarnishes the University as a whole.
Nightmare scenarios aside, sensitive data can be handled safely and securely as long as you recognize what is considered sensitive and handle it with the care and discretion it requires. This document will help you to start thinking about securing your data.
