UT System requires encryption of all UTSA laptop computers

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(July 13, 2012) -- To protect private student records and scholarly data, the University of Texas System has requested that all laptops owned by UT institutions be encrypted by the end of August.

In June 2007, the UT System adopted a policy to require encryption on all laptops storing sensitive data. Since the adoption of the policy, UT institutions have avoided a number of serious data exposures because many lost or stolen laptops were encrypted. During the same time frame, however, UT institutions have also experienced serious data exposures as a result of incidents concerning unencrypted laptops.

At UTSA, approximately 4,000 laptop computers must be encrypted by Aug. 28; that includes 2,500 un-encrypted laptops and another 1,500 that previously were encrypted must be re-encrypted with the newer software tool, SecureDoc. The UTSA Office of Information Technology is setting up a Laptop Encryption Center at the Main Campus and also will offer service dates at the Downtown Campus and Institute of Texan Cultures.

"Securing information, particularly student and scholarly data, is one of the most important things we can do at UTSA to keep our day-to-day operations running smoothly," said UTSA President Ricardo Romo. "I am counting on our faculty and staff to proactively ensure their laptops are quickly encrypted so we can be one of the first UT institutions to achieve 100-percent compliance by the end of August."

>> Watch UTSA Today over the next few weeks for details about laptop encryption.

 

 

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