Deploying New Laptop Encryption Capabilities
January 31, 2011
In December 2010, the University's Internal Audit Committee approved a new policy to encrypt all university owned laptops, and directed the Information Security Office (ISO) to promulgate the new policy and facilitate deployment of the new tool in the coming months. The new policy is available at: http://links.utexas.edu/cuqzjpk
Eighteen early adopter units across campus joined with Information Technology Services (ITS) in the initial roll-out of the University's new enterprise whole-disk encryption system, WinMagic's SecureDoc. SecureDoc, which provides encryption for both PCs and Macs, was selected - and the ITS expenditure to purchase SecureDoc client licenses for all university owned laptops was endorsed - by IT governance.
The initiative has received strong support from campus leaders who realize that laptops with sensitive University data must be encrypted due to the large number of University-owned laptops that are lost, stolen or go missing each year. The lack of encryption on these devices puts the University at significant risk.
ITS involvement in the early adopter group helped in building best practices and ironing out implementation issues prior to the campus-wide roll-out. The ISO has shared important information regarding the new policy and timing of the deployment of WinMagic SecureDoc 5.1 with the campus IT community. Please go to the following forum to learn more: https://techstaff.utexas.edu/forums/techforum/viewthread/218
