Protecting My Data

You cannot secure what you don't know.

• The first step is to make an inventory of the information you use as part of your research, teaching, and administrative work, and identify where they are located.  
• If the source information is contained within an application or database, make sure you take any data exports, dumps or reports from the application into consideration as well.

Distinguish what's important from what's not 

• The next step is to categorise the identified information into what is sensitive and what is not.  
• It is often useful to set up a common language to facilitate this categorisation process.
• You may want to define a more fine-grained classification to suit the needs of your own division. For example, you could create Sub-Class 3A - Medical Records, 3B - Top Secret Research, etc. 

If you are unsure if a piece of data is Class 4, Class 3 or Class 2, ask yourself: 

• If the data were to be exposed to major media, would it hurt the reputation of yourself, your work/research unit, or the University? 
• Would an exposure violate University policies, privacy laws, or other laws and regulations? 
• Would unauthorised exposure to a malicious person be detrimental to the success of your work? 
• Would you suffer a significant setback for your work if the data was lost permanently? 
• Does the data contain personal or personally identifiable data? 

If the answer to any of the questions is 'YES' then consider the data Class 3 or Class 4. 

Protecting sensitive information from unauthorised access, corruption and accidental loss is vital to upholding the University’s world-class research and teaching standards, as well as comply with laws and regulations.

In the interests of efficiency and economy, the level of protection should be commensurate with the value of the information asset or the impact to the University if security is compromised.

The CSF Information Classification and Protection Standard provides a common framework for classifying the University’s information assets in order to determine the appropriate level of security protection. The guidelines have been developed to be sufficiently generic so that they can be applied to all areas within the University. Areas may choose to elaborate on this guideline to meet their specific needs.

Here are some SecureIT tips to safely manage your data: 

Stop and think before you share data 

Sharing information is an important part of achieving a productive learning and teaching environment at the University. Some information, however, is sensitive and may harm you or the University if it gets in the wrong hands. 

Criminals can use sensitive information against the University to tarnish our brand and impact the teaching and learning prospects of the University. 

Discretion should be used when sharing any of the following information: 

• Personally identifiable information 
• Medical and heath information 
• Student records 
• Financial information 
• Research data and intellectual property 

Always protect your sensitive files 

Keeping your sensitive files secure plays an important role in protecting the University's data. Storing sensitive information in the cloud or on local hard drives can have serious consequences, including data loss (due to a device failure) or data theft (due to lost or unattended equipment). 

The University currently offers two locations where students and staff can securely store their files 

Be mindful if you are storing data in the cloud 

Many internet companies offer online storage for your photos, emails and documents. The term commonly used to describe this service is called cloud storage. Box is a cloud storage and collaboration service that is university-endorsed and supported. LabArchives is a cloud-based electronic research notebook system that is also university-supported. Dropbox, Apple iCloud, Microsoft OneDrive, and Google Drive are all cloud storage options that are not endorsed or supported by the University of Adelaide. 

While cloud storage may feel like a hassle-free way to manage your data, it has some very real security implications that should be considered. 

• Before storing any of your data in the cloud you should consider: 
• Would the cloud provider tell you if they were hacked and your data was stolen? 
• Is your data being backed up? 
• Is your data being shared with advertising companies? 
• What happens if the cloud provider goes bankrupt or is taken over? 
• Are employees of the cloud provider allowed to view and share your data? 

When it comes to university-endorsed systems such as Box and LabArchives, you can be confident that the University has asked and answered these questions on your behalf. While you use these systems, be aware of the type of data you are storing and de-identify personal details. Also, keep an eye on who has been given access to the files and remove people's access when it is no longer appropriate. 

Always read your cloud provider’s privacy policy and data storage policy before storing any sensitive information in the cloud. If your questions cannot be answered in these documents you should contact your cloud provider directly. 

Avoid storing and accessing sensitive data on public or shared computers 

Public computers often contain hidden programs that can secretly record your passwords, emails and banking information. Hackers will also use public wifi hotspots to (surreptitiously) intercept your traffic and steal your passwords and other private information. 

Hackers can use this information to commit identity fraud or other cybercrimes.