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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Safeguard Your Data


Safeguarding MCC’s and personal data has never been more difficult or important. How do you safeguard sensitive/confidential data? The manner of protection often depends on what kind of data you are safeguarding, how important or sensitive it is to you, to MCC or your Students.

The following tips will help you become aware of how to protect data both at work and at home.


-- Password-protect your access
Use a strong password or pass-phrase to protect access to your data.  MCC enforces a Password Policy requiring you to change your password after 180 days and use a combination of upper and lower characters and special characters.  This may not be the same with your own personal banking or online shopping accounts.  It will be up to you to create strong passwords.

-- Identify where the data is stored
It is important not to place data with personal identifiers (M number, Address, SSN, etc.) on the M: drive, in shared directories or in directories where non authorized personnel or students have access.  Have specific places within your network drive where you store sensitive/confidential data where specific protection methods are used to keep them more secure.

-- Encrypt stored sensitive/confidential data
Whenever possible, encrypt stored sensitive/confidential data, whether it is being permanently or temporarily stored. This can help prevent unintended disclosure even if your system has been compromised or you lose your USB Drive.  All MCC laptops are now required to have disk encryption software installed on them.  If you use a USB drive make sure you use one that is encrypted and password protected.

Donna Pogroszewski
Communications and Network Services
01/11/2013