University of Michigan

ITSS: Information Technology Security Services - Keeping IT Safe at U-M

Privacy Matters

Each of us is responsible for protecting the private personal information collected and stored by the University for business purposes, as well as our own. A person’s name alone is not useful to a criminal, but when combined with other information, an identity can be stolen and exploited.

Private Personal Information and Three Ways to Protect It

Name Birth Date Gender National ID (i.e., Social Security Number) Country of Citizenship Citizen Status Visa/Permit Data Driver’s License	If you don’t need it, DELETE it!	Ethnicity Disability Information Marital Status Criminal Record Date of Death Military Status; Veteran’s Information Credit Card Number
	If you keep it, PROTECT it!
	If you’re done with it, DESTROY it!

Security and Access Within U-M's Computing Environment

U-M is committed to maintaining a secure IT environment for teaching, learning, research and administrative activities, and at the same time, providing an open infrastructure to support the University’s mission. Web access to the vast data resources in U-M's institutional systems increases our efficiency; it also increases the risk that personal information can be compromised inadvertently, misused intentionally, or even stolen.

Individual behavior matters, and you can make a difference. Protect the private personal information that is entrusted to us and follow safe computing practices when accessing centralized systems, such as Wolverine Access and departmental files, that contain private personal information.

How You Can Protect ID

You can reduce the risks and increase security with remarkably little effort. Take these first steps toward protecting private personal information:

Analyze information you work with and determine what could cause harm in the wrong hands.
Assume responsibility for security of computer accounts, passwords, and workstations.
Ensure that only appropriate persons have access to data under your control.
Report suspected incidents to your local Information Technology security staff and/or management as soon as possible. (If you believe a crime has been committed, contact U-M’s Department of Public Safety at 763-1131.)

For more information, read the University Record article, "U-M focuses on protecting private personal info" (May 22, 2006).