Securing Physical Media and Using Physical Media File Storage and Sharing

Overview

CDs, DVDs and flash (USB) drives are popular due to their portability and capacity; however, risks exist for them to fall into the wrong hands. Proper security measures should be taken to prevent the contents from being accessed by unauthorized users.

Using Physical Media

Do not store sensitive information on USB drives. Private university information should never be stored on USB drives. NCU provides network file storage that can be accessed remotely and on any university-owned computer. 

If you must use USB drives for backup of files, be sure to encrypt the contents to protect them. Encryption features are built into Windows and MacOS X.

What Should I do if I Lose Physical Media that Contains University Data?

Immediately report the incident to IT by filling out an IT security incident form.  Depending on the nature of the information on the media, the university may be legally required to take certain action.

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If you suspect a potential security issue involving any private information—whether the information is on a computer, on paper, on the web, etc.—immediately report the details to IT.