This logo signifies all the new security initiatives that Information Technology will be launching in the coming months.

In the wake of the laptop theft in March, the College’s Information Technology (IT) division has developed a college-wide campaign of information security initiatives using the logo MetroProtect – Secure IT to notify the College community of important improvements.

Under President Stephen Jordan’s authorization, Business Controls, Inc. conducted an independent review of IT policies and procedures including current systems, data security and the network to ensure that if another theft were to occur there would be no threat to the personal information of students, alumni and employees. (To read about the review go to http://www.mscd.edu/~collcom/artman/
publish/security_twv3040506.shtml.)

IT has been working over the summer to begin implementing many of the recommendations resulting from the investigation, including the development of the MetroProtect campaign to disseminate information about its reforms.

According to George Middlemist, interim VP for information technology, some of the most critical security policies have already been passed by the President’s Cabinet or are being discussed by the Technology Initiatives Committee (TIC). These include a password policy that requires everyone to use strong passwords and that passwords be changed every 120 days.

“We anticipate that the password policy will go into effect in mid-October,” Middlemist said. “Additional policies under development will address session timeouts and the handling of confidential data.”

IT also has begun scanning all College laptops for confidential data, including social security numbers and credit card information. Faculty and staff with laptops will be contacted by an IT staff member to schedule a time for scanning.

Detailed information about these policies and upcoming changes will be distributed through announcements in @Metro and by e-mail, all clearly denoted by the MetroProtect logo.