CIO'S MESSAGE - September 24, 2019

Campus Computing Security Improvements and Cyber Security Awareness Month

Dear Colleagues,

Earlier this year, the CSU Trustees’ auditors performed an information security audit on our campus. Most of our campus practices and procedures were in compliance with CSU information security standards. However, the audit recommended that our campus strengthen information security in a few areas. Therefore, please be aware that the following actions will be taken during the fall semester.

Automatic Screen Lock
Automatic screen locks (screen savers) will be enabled after desktop computers are idle for 15 minutes (e.g., without keyboard or mouse movement). Disabling the screen lock will require entering your campus logon credentials. Shared desktop computers such as those used in classrooms and labs are exempt from automatic screen locks, as well as laptop computers used to give presentations for teaching and learning.

Encrypt Laptop Computers
All newly purchased university-owned laptop computers will be encrypted regardless of the type of data stored on them. Existing university-owned Windows or Macintosh laptop computers that currently access or store Level - 1 confidential data will be encrypted in coordination with your campus technical coordinator.

Vulnerability Scanning
Quarterly vulnerability scans will be performed on all university servers to ensure critical security updates and patches have been applied regularly.

Regularly Update Operating Systems and Applications on Our Computers
Vendor-provided security patches and updates will be automatically installed on university-owned desktop and laptop computers to protect against known vulnerabilities.

In addition, we would like to provide a friendly reminder that National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) is just around the corner. Held annually in October, NCSAM was launched in 2004 by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. Please be on the lookout for a series of cybersecurity tips that will be sent each week in October. 

Thank you for your support for creating and maintaining a safe technology environment on our campus. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact DoIT-ServiceManagement@csulb.edu.

Brian Jersky
Provost and Senior Vice President

Scott Apel
Vice President of Administration & Finance and CFO

Min Yao 
Vice President and Chief Information Officer