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User Expectations

As part of the CLA Securing Private Data Standard, all faculty, staff, and graduate students are required to adhere to the following expectations. If any expectation interferes with necessary administrative, instructional, or research operations, please discuss alternatives with your regional technician, the Service Desk, or the IT Services director. Circumstances that require exception from this policy need to be documented and approved before implementation.

  1. Purchase all computers through CLA-OIT and ensure they are configured properly by the CLA-OIT technicians before first use.
  2. Inform regional technician whenever a computer is moved to a new primary/home location or reassigned to another user.
  3. Store private data in secure locations only (e.g. University servers, encrypted laptops, etc.). Do not store private data on unsupported computers (e.g. home computers, library computers, etc.) or unencrypted removable media (USB drives, CD-ROMs, etc.).
  4. Use secure methods for sharing private data with other individuals. Do not use email.
  5. Allow automated patching, virus scanning, encryption, and backup operations to occur without interference. Do not alter security-related settings.
  6. Keep desktop computers connected to the University network continuously; connect laptop computers to university network (wired or wireless) at least weekly.
  7. Reboot computers by the end of the work day when prompted by automated patching tools.
  8. Use a strong password and change it regularly. Refer to University Standards for specific requirements. If you have administrator-level access, your password must be at least 15-characters long.
  9. Do not share account passwords with anyone, including co-workers, assistants, supervisors, technicians, or family. Do not record/post passwords in easy to find locations (e.g. taped to monitor, under keyboard, etc.).
  10. Enter username and/or password at initial login and when prompted after 30 minutes of inactivity (or 15 minutes if use a laptop, have administrator-level access, or are in a shared location).
  11. Secure unattended computers behind locked doors. Secure laptops in locked drawers or with cable locks. Do not leave laptops unattended in public locations or even in a locked vehicle.
  12. Inform regional tech of any computers that access or store highly-sensitive data (social security numbers, credit card numbers, protected health data, etc.
  13. Do not operate any computer as a “server.” Use College or University provided servers instead.
  14. If provided administrator-level access, use extra caution when Web-browsing, opening unsolicited email, and adjusting computer settings.
CLA Office of Information Technology
110 Anderson Hall
257 19th Ave S.
Minneapolis, MN 55455

612-624-4357 (4-HELP)
help@cla.umn.edu
Contact the CLA-OIT website maintainer: webhelp@cla.umn.edu