IT Services will perform security software update for university-owned Windows and Mac laptops on Thursday, June 30, as part of an ongoing effort to improve the university's cybersecurity and to protect personal, research, and institutional data.

Faculty and staff are asked to have their laptops powered on and connected to the internet from 9 to 10 a.m. on June 30 to receive the update. The software updates will be pushed to laptops automatically, and no further action is needed. No disruption to workstations or business operations is expected.

The new campus solutions for data encryption are BitLocker (Windows) and FileVault (Mac). Laptop encryption is an essential measure for protecting the sensitive data that is used to conduct university business. Following the June 30 update and through the July 4 weekend, IT Services will remotely enable encryption on any laptops not yet enabled.

ThreatLocker is being deployed for the management of user permissions on university-owned laptops. The implementation of this software will allow faculty and staff to continue to have the appropriate access they need to do their work while increasing security and reducing risk to the institution.

This software implementation aligns with cybersecurity policies on data encryption and access that are currently being reviewed by campus leadership. For questions about this update or other cybersecurity concerns, please contact your department's IT support team or reach out to Stacy Crotser in IT Services.

Securing our campus community is an ongoing effort as cybercriminals continue to evolve their efforts. In this era of persistent cyber threats, our university can be secure only with the active participation of everyone. Simple steps like securing your passwords, storing data securely in OneDrive and avoiding and reporting suspicious messages can go a long way toward protecting our campus community online. To learn more, visit the Cybersecurity Checklist.  

If you have questions or need assistance, contact your local IT support or the IT Help Desk.