Information Security Policy
The purpose of this policy is to ensure the protection of ºÚÁϳԹÏ’s information resources from accidental or intentional access or damage while also preserving and nurturing the open, information-sharing requirements of its academic culture. This policy is applicable to all students, faculty, and staff and to all others granted use of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï information resources. Every user of ºÚÁϳԹÏ’s information resources has a general responsibility to protect those assets, while some offices and individuals have specific responsibilities. This policy refers to all college information resources whether individually controlled or shared, stand-alone or networked. It applies to all computer and communication facilities owned, leased, operated, or contracted by the college. This includes all networked devices, including but not limited to personal digital assistants, cell phones, personal computers, workstations, minicomputers, other wireless devices such as iPads, and any associated peripherals and software, regardless of whether used for administration, research, teaching or other purposes. Today, information technology (IT) permeates all aspects of teaching, learning, research, outreach and the business and facilities functions of the college. Safeguarding information and information systems is essential to preserving the ability of the college to perform its mission and meet its responsibilities to students, faculty, staff, and the citizens whom it serves. State and federal statutes, rules, and regulations, college policies and other explicit agreements also mandate the security of information and information systems. Failure to protect the college’s information technology assets could have financial, legal, and ethical ramifications. ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï acknowledges its obligation to ensure appropriate security for information systems in its domain of ownership and control. Furthermore, the college recognizes its responsibility to promote security awareness among the members of the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï community. This policy establishes the general principles of information security that will be applied throughout the college.
Scope
All financial and administrative policies involving community members across campus, including volunteers are within the scope of this policy. If there is a variance between departmental expectations and the common approach described through college policy, the college will look to the campus community, including volunteers to support the spirit and the objectives of college policy. Unless specifically mentioned in a college policy, the college’s Board of Trustees are governed by their Bylaws.
Policy
Authorities Delegated and Retained/Administrative Responsibility
The President of the College delegates administration of the college’s Information Security Policy to the Chief Technology Officer/Vice President for Information Technology.
Information Security Objectives
Information security is critical to the interests of the college and the many constituencies it serves. The following list provides some of the objectives of information security at ºÚÁϳԹÏ. This list is representative and is not meant to suggest the full range of objectives of the college’s information security policy or program.
- Support and maintain the ongoing functions of the college. As an increasing percentage of the college’s functions are handled electronically, and with the rigorous nature of the block plan, it is critical that information and information systems be protected so the college can operate without interruption.
- Protect college assets. The college is in possession of many assets including intellectual property, research and instructional data systems, as well as physical assets. Loss of these assets could have significant financial impact as well as major negative impact on critical research and instructional programs.
- Safeguard the privacy of individuals and information. With the increasing risk of identity fraud and other potential misuses of personal information, it is paramount that the college safeguard personal information entrusted to its stewardship.
- Safeguard financial transactions and electronic communications. The college is the custodian of financial records and transactions; safeguarding these records is critical to maintaining trust relationships essential to our business function. Electronic communication is governed by the Acceptable Use Policy.
- Protect the integrity and reputation of the institution. Security breaches reflect negatively on the capability of the college to manage entrusted resources. In addition, security breaches could result in the potential for criminal or civil action.
- Prevent the use of college systems for malicious acts. The open nature of the college and the desire to provide ease of access to a large and diverse group of constituents makes us a target for unauthorized users to utilize college resources inappropriately. The college must prevent the use of ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï systems and infrastructure for malicious acts against its own systems as well as attacks against other individuals and organizations.
- Comply with state and federal laws. State and federal laws and regulations require the college to take reasonable steps to ensure the security of the data (FERPA, HIPPA, GLBA). Failure to safeguard this information could result in the legal action or cause the college to lose its ability to offer services.
Responsibility and Accountability
Chief Technology Officer
The college’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO) has overall responsibility for the security of the college’s information technologies. Implementation of security policies is delegated throughout the college to various college services, departments and other units; and to individual users of campus information resources.
Information Security Engineer
The Information Security Engineer is responsible for providing interpretation of this and other related policies, disseminating related information, and enforcing information security policies across campus.
College Services
Various officers within the college have the primary responsibility and authority to ensure ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï meets external and internal requirements for intellectual property, research and institutional data, privacy and security of confidential and business information. Multiple departments are responsible for general security issues (legal issues, security compliance, physical security, communications, and IT infrastructure security). These individuals or departments are responsible for assisting in the development of college information security policies, standards, and best practices in their areas of responsibility. They are also responsible for advising departments and individuals in security practices related to areas they oversee, as follows:
- Personnel information and confidentiality - Human Resources
- Student information and confidentiality - Registrar’s Office
- Financial information and transactions - Finance and Administration
- Financial aid information – Financial Aid
- Perkins Loan information – Student Accounts
- Infrastructure, communication, and systems security and audit - ITS
- Legal Issues - Finance and Administration division for engaging legal counsel service
- Health information - Student Life
- Alumni, parent, and donor information - Advancement Office
- Other information - Information Security Officer
Departments and Other Units
Departments and other units are responsible for the security of any information they create, manage, or store, and for any information they acquire or access from other college systems (i.e. student records, personnel records, business information).
Note: The security of applications and data administered by departments and individuals outside of the ITS: Division is the responsibility of the administering department. ITS: staff will provide advice and support for implementing security measures when requested.
Data Management
Data Access
Students, faculty, and staff who use personally-owned systems to access college resources are responsible for the security of their personally-owned computers and other network devices and are subject to the following: the provisions of the college’s security policies, standards and guidelines for best practices for users of college computing and network facilities as well as all other laws, regulations, or policies directed at the individual users.
(1) Unauthorized Account or System Access
- You may not access or use, or attempt to access or use, any computer accounts other than your own assigned account or any computer system for which you have not been granted access. In other words, users should use only their own files, those that have been designated as public, or those that have been made available to them with the knowledge and consent of the owner. The College’s Academic Honor System and its prohibitions against plagiarism and cheating, among other things, applies to student use of any files and information obtained on CC’s computing resources used in the preparation of academic coursework.
- Users may not access computers, software, data or information, or networks without proper authorization, regardless of whether any damage is done or whether the computer, software, data, information, or network in question is owned by the college.
(2) Campus community members all share in the commitment to safeguarding the college’s data. The college will rely on the principle of ‘least privilege’ in granting access to data and information.
- Initial access to data and information must be authorized by the appropriate Data Steward;
- Campus community members’ access needs may change due to a new position, changes in responsibilities in an existing position, or termination. Human Resources and ITS: shall collaborate to ensure appropriateness of ongoing access;
- Privileged users’ (system administrators, database administrators) access to data shall be periodically reviewed to ensure that access to data remains appropriate;
- On occasion, the campus community needs to provide external individuals or groups (auditors, contractors, vendors) with access. In those instances, an access start date and an access termination date shall be simultaneously identified. Should a need for access beyond the termination date arise, the Data Steward or designee initially approving access should be consulted.
Operational Controls to Provide Effective Security
The college controls internal access by segregating the entities gaining access, approving access, and provisioning access. Access is eliminated when an entity separates from the college.
Reporting Information Security Incidents
Reporting incidents is an ethical responsibility of all members of the ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï community. All the information related to information security incidents should be reported promptly to the ITS: Division by contacting the Help Desk.
Loss of Computing Privileges/Disciplinary Implications
Protecting the security of college information and information systems is the responsibility of every member of the college community. Each student, faculty, and staff is responsible for understanding and complying with all current and future approved IT policies and procedures including this Information Security Policy. Failure to comply with these policies may result in loss of computing privileges and/or disciplinary action, up to and including termination. Examples of noncompliance include, but are not limited to:
- Inappropriately accessing and/or using college data;
- No person may store or use programs on college-owned systems that violate or hamper another person's use of computing resources. Examples of such programs are ones that attempt to obtain another user's password, acquire another user's files, circumvent system security measures, or crash the computer system.
Education
Creating a heightened awareness of the importance of information technology security is an important component in establishing an environment in which each individual feels responsible and empowered to act in their own and the community’s best interests. All departments will provide opportunities for individuals to learn about their roles in creating a secure IT environment.
Procedures
None
Definitions
Security – the state of being free from unacceptable risk. Thus information security focuses on reducing the risk of computing systems, communications systems, and information being misused, destroyed, modified or disclosed inappropriately either by intent or accident.
Standalone – a computer that is not connected to a network.
Networked Resources – refer to forms of data, information and hardware devices that can be accessed by a group of users through the use of a shared connection.
Data Steward - Data stewards are administrators with direct operational responsibility for one or more types of institutional data and have been designated by the data trustees. They determine data access in the administrative unit.
Data Classification Levels - See the college’s Data Classification Policy for classification level definitions, as well as specific roles and responsibilities.
Data Integrity - The accuracy and consistency of stored data, indicated by an absence of any variance in data between two updates of a data record.
Data Trustees – cabinet members or their senior level designees who have policy-making and planning responsibilities for data. They designate data stewards and assign data management roles for their units and set priorities for external reporting for their academic or administrative units.
Least Privilege – user access is limited to resources needed to perform work for the college.
Intrusion prevention - process of performing intrusion detection and attempting to stop detected possible incidents
Intrusion detection – process of monitoring computer system or networks for unusual events and analyzing them to determine if an incident has occurred.
Encryption – the use of an algorithm to transform data into a form where the content is masked and can only be viewed by those having a key or other confidential means to reveal the data.