The Information Security Office (ISO) continuously strives for daily operational excellence
to ensure the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of University of Utah information
technology systems and data through appropriate security resources and best practices.
RECENT NEWS
IT security tip: Prepare for tax season scams
Tax season is upon us and with it comes verdant hunting grounds for scammers and phishers. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has published a great series of tips and warnings to prepare you for phishing scams that target your income tax returns. The IRS will not:
- Contact you via email, text messages, or social media
- Threaten you with criminal charges
- Ask for payment in the form of gift cards or other merchandise
And remember: If you receive a suspicious message in your UMail inbox, report it using the Phish Alert button or by forwarding it as an attachment to phish@utah.edu.
Explainer: Physical and Facility Security Rule (4-004F)
Rule 4-004F outlines the requirements to protect university buildings, facilities, IT systems, network and power cables, and other university property, as well as U community members, from myriad threats.
CISO discourages non-work apps on U-managed devices
The University of Utah's chief information security officer cautions people using U-managed devices not to install or use any application that doesn’t serve a legitimate university purpose (e.g., research, teaching, and marketing and communications).
U cybersecurity program establishes unit-level tools and reporting
A multiphased, campus-wide cybersecurity initiative commissioned by the Office of the President and Board of Regents is now underway. The program involves the implementation of new cybersecurity tools at a college/department/ organization-level.
Duo Mobile ending support for Android 8/9 and iOS 13
Although installed versions of Duo Mobile will continue to work after February 9, users will be unable to download the latest version of the app on Android 8/9, iOS 13, and older operating systems, and Duo will no longer troubleshoot issues, push IT security updates, or provide maintenance fixes for those operating systems.
Helpful Links
- Report a security incident
- Report phishing:
- Use the Phish Alert button
- Email as an attachment to phish@utah.edu
- U of U Policy 4-004: Information Security Policy — Questions? Contact ISO-GRC@utah.edu.
- Org chart: ISO comprises four areas — Enterprise Security; Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC); Identity & Access Management (IAM); and Security Assurance.
UofU IT News & Info
- UIT: Node 4
- ITS: Hardwired (authentication required)
Security advisories
ISO on Twitter
Tips & resources
University-approved platforms for restricted and sensitive data
Due to the level of risk associated with restricted and sensitive data, the university has approved only a select number of platforms for those data types. Our security matrix provides an overview of some popular platforms and the data types for which they are approved.
FERPA: How to securely share and store student data
We created a couple of resources to help instructors and students understand which applications and devices can be used to share and store FERPA-protected data, especially as more of us use new platforms to learn, teach, and connect remotely.
Telecommuting? Follow these IT best practices.
Compared to working on campus, telecommuting can present different information security risks, especially when it comes to network security, data storage, and physical security. By following these best practices, you can help protect yourself and the university from cyberthreats.
Using a VPN to access the campus network
To access certain resources on the University of Utah network, university employees and students working or studying remotely should use a secure virtual private network (VPN).
- Palo Alto Global Protect
- Departmental VPN
Secure those passwords!
Is your password secure enough?
Easy-to-guess, "weak" passwords are the main way criminals gain access to system information. Keeping passwords safe and hard to guess is critical to ensure information is not compromised.
Take a moment to review the University of Utah's password requirements and guidelines.
IT security software available through OSL
With antivirus and firewall software, you can better protect your information and reduce the risk to your computers from malicious attacks. Both are available at a reduced cost through the U's Office of Software Licensing (OSL).
Licenses are available for university organizations, work-at-home staff and faculty, and student, faculty, and staff with personally-owned computers.