We are InfoSec: Members of the Information Security Department at KAUST.
Our mission: To enable you to be a Human Firewall by shielding yourself, your family, and KAUST from today’s cyber-attacks.
Cyber attackers have developed sophisticated methods to guess or brute force passwords, and they are constantly getting better at it.
Updating systems and software is essential to protect our data, but even with the best technologies and antiviruses we are still prone to get hacked, and our best line of defense starts with you. Due to the environment we live in, we constantly transfer and store sensitive data in different machines and in cloud services which is why data security is important.
To ensure that our data is always protected and secured we must use authorized systems, use licensed software, properly delete digital files, authenticate before sharing sensitive information and make sure hard copies of document are safely stored.
A safe working environment starts with data security, which is why we depend on you to help us protect our data by reporting phishing emails even if you are not sure, or any suspicious activity found on the web and ask questions if in doubt about a website.
Use Services Authorized by KAUST: Only use KAUST authorized services, such as KAUST SharePoint, Druva and OneDrive when transferring, sharing or storing sensitive data as they have up to date technology that will keep the data safe. Don’t use your personal machines or your personal email accounts for business data.
Use Licensed Software: Using licensed software makes it harder for a hacker to break into the system to steal sensitive data, as a licensed software is much safer than an unauthorized or unlicensed software.
Deleting Digital Files: When disposing off and deleting files that are not needed, it is important to double check the recycling bin to make sure the file is deleted for good.
Authenticate Before Sharing: When sharing files, make sure you are sending it to the right person with a secure connection.
Remember to Lock: When leaving the office, make sure important documents are locked and secured. More importantly, if leaving your desk for a few minutes, make sure your PC is locked with a password. Leaving workstations unlocked is one of the most common causes of data leakage.
Cloud Services: Online storage options such as Dropbox, Apple iCloud, or Google Drive are not to be used for storing or sharing sensitive information unless you have prior approval. Remember to only use KAUST authorized cloud services instead.
Now is the time to be a Human Firewall.
If you haven’t already done so before, you can log in to https://humanfirewall.kaust.edu.sa and learn more by going through our eLearning courses.
You can also reach out to us to attend our monthly security awareness sessions and cyber cafe to learn the latest tricks cyber attackers are using and how you can spot and defend against them.
The lessons you will learn will help to protect you, whether at work or at home. We want you to be a Human Firewall, and your mission starts now; reach out to us at AskInfoSec@kaust.edu.sa.
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