As UBC continues to navigate its response to COVID–19, we are seeing a significant increase in the volume and sophistication of cyber attacks specifically targeting universities and healthcare research facilities.
To help protect our systems and information, the UBC Executive has mandated that increased cybersecurity controls must be implemented on all servers and computers that are accessing, processing or storing Medium Risk, High Risk, or Very High-Risk information, as defined in Information Security Standard #01 (hxxps://cio.ubc.ca/sites/cio.ubc.ca/files/documents/standards/IS%20Standards%201-21.pdf)*
Depending on your device and whether it is managed by UBC IT, you may be required to implement new cybersecurity controls. For some, these updates will take a few minutes and for others it may take longer to determine the optimal plan. Either way, it is important to act quickly in order to ensure UBC systems and information are properly protected.
Please visit the web page (below) that applies to you (CWL-login required):
I am using a computer that is centrally managed by UBC IT
hxxps://privacymatters.ubc.ca/secure/faculty-or-staff-devices-centrally-managed-ubc-it*
I am using a computer that is managed by Faculty, Department or Research IT
hxxps://privacymatters.ubc.ca/secure/faculty-or-staff-devices-managed-departmental-it-support*
I am using a computer that is owned by UBC but I manage myself
hxxps://privacymatters.ubc.ca/secure/faculty-and-staff-ubc-owned-self-managed-devices*
I am using a computer that is personally owned and self-managed
hxxps://privacymatters.ubc.ca/secure/faculty-and-staff-personally-owned-devices*
If you are unsure whether your device is managed centrally, or not, please contact your respective IT support team. Also, it is not necessary to deploy the new cybersecurity controls to devices that require physical access to campus at this time – they can be updated once regular operations resume.
For more information, visit: hxxps://privacymatters.ubc.ca/covid19_increased_security*
*We avoid the use of clickable links in UBC Broadcasts that pertain to cybersecurity-related information. Please copy and paste the address into your browser and replace the ‘hxxps’ with ‘https’ and you will be taken to the proper website.
On behalf of the Privacy and Information Security Management (PrISM) Executive Leadership Committee, thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Hubert Lai, Q.C.
University Counsel
Peter Smailes
Vice-President, Finance & Operations
Andrew Szeri
Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver
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