Best Practices

First, if you have not changed your UBIT password in the past year, this is a good time to do that by following the requirements for a strong password.

Once you change your UBIT password you will have to update the password on any devices you use to connect to UB WiFi or UBmail.

Private Data Policy

It is the policy of the University at Buffalo to minimize access to and use of regulated private data in any form and to maximize the protection of these private data.

Regulated private data include:

1. Bank credit/debit card numbers
2. Social Security Numbers
3. State-issued drivers’ license numbers and state-issued non-drivers’ identification numbers
4. Passwords and other computer access protection data
5. Protected health information

University at Buffalo Standards for Securing Regulated Private Data establishes the requirements for protecting these data in any form and on any device, including the hard drives of digital printers and copiers. Collection, storage and/or transmission of regulated private data must be approved. Unapproved collection, storage, and/or transmission of regulated private data are not permissible.
If you are collecting or ever need to collect any regulated private data please inform IT immediately.

• Data Classification Standard
• UB Protection of Regulated Private Data Policy

Keeping You and Your Devices Safe at UB

• Review the free online training course titled Information Security: Everyone's Responsibility, which contains valuable IT security information.

• Use email and the internet safely. Ignore unsolicited emails, and be wary of attachments, links, and forms in emails that come from people you don't know. Forward it to SPHHP IT if you are ever in doubt before opening it. Avoid (often free) downloads from freeware or shareware sites.

• Work with the IT department—Make sure that you install all of the patches and updates that SPHHP IT recommends.
• Use strong passwords—Passwords provide the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your computer, and a good password is often underestimated.
• Use network file shares instead of local file shares—We provide the UBfs (H:) and PHHPPublic (K:) drives for this, so take advantage of it (along with UBbox and SharePoint)
• View the UB Safe Computing page to learn about avoiding email scams, protecting your devices and where to get to help if you've been hacked..
• Lock your computer when you leave your desk—If you're going to be away from your desk for a while, make sure your computer is locked. To lock your computer:
  • On your keyboard, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE at the same time.
  • Click Lock this computer (Click Lock in Windows 10).
  • To unlock your computer, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE and enter your password.
  • Also, always remember to lock your office door when leaving.
• Use password protection on your screensaver in Windows 7
  • Right click an empty space on your desktop.
  • Click Personalize, and then click the Screen Saver section.
  • Change wait time to 10 minutes or less.
  • Select (check) On resume, display logon screen.
  • Click Apply.
• Lastly, with the rollout of the new SPHHP website, the location has changed for the IT Support Request Form—to make an IT request, scroll to the bottom (blue) section of any page on our site and click on “Request IT Support” link. It is located under the "Resources" title. This is the best way to contact us and ensures you will receive a timely response.