Information Technology configures your UWSP laptop or workstation with tools to maintain a secure work environment even when working from your home. This includes up-to-date antivirus and a firewall. Your UWSP computer is your most secure option when working outside of the UWSP network.
Work From Home Security Procedures For Your UWSP Computer
When working from home on your UWSP computer you must adhere to the following security procedures.
- Do not share your UWSP computer and lock it when you step away.
- Keep your MFA devices (phone, fobs) easily accessible and Ignore/Decline MFA prompts that display for no reason. You should only accept MFA prompts that are expected, like when accessing university resources.
- Inform the IT Service Desk as soon as possible if MFA devices are lost/stolen, or if you have concerns about suspicious activity.
- Ensure that your UWSP computer always receives the most current security updates from IT. Watch UWSP Campus Announcements to learn when security patches and updates are available, then do one of the following:
- Manually install updates at a time convenient to you: Most security patches are available to manually install starting on Thursday afternoons and can occasionally take up to an hour to complete. You should restart your computer after running these installs.
- Allow updates to install automatically: Patches not previously installed will install automatically the following Monday after 1 AM. To automatically receive patches:
- Leave your UWSP computer turned on overnight when Campus Announcements alerts you to patches that are scheduled to automatically run.
- Make sure the device does not fall into sleep mode by adjusting power settings and laptop lid settings.
- Leave the computer plugged into power.
Additional Security Procedures
When working from home or away, all UWSP employees and affiliates must additionally take the following security precautions.
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Keep all paperwork secure when not in use. A locked drawer is preferable. If that is not an option, keep paperwork in a file cabinet or box out of plain sight.
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Do not email files containing sensitive data as attachments. Attachments are easily forwarded with no tracking mechanism. Instead, when sharing files or collaborating on documents with co-workers, share links to your files.
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If you suspect an email did not come from the sender in the From line do not reply to the original email. Instead, open a new email and add the sender's email address from Outlook's address book or from your contacts. If you have questions about a sender's legitimacy, contact the IT Service Desk.
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Use UWSP's secure Cisco Secure Client VPN when traveling. Do not use public Wi-Fi without the protection of VPN. See ftc.gov's, "How to Safely Use Public Wi-Fi Networks".
Always keep your work and personal emails and files separate.
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Do not use your personal email to conduct business.
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Do not save university data to your personal device, computer, or flash drives.
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Do not save work files to third-party cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc)
Save all of your work files to your UWSP OneDrive. If working on your personal device, install the Microsoft Office 365 desktop apps and the OneDrive app for free.
See Wisconsin Public Records Law Wis. Stats. §19.31-19.39
Contact the IT Service Desk for additional help!