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Portfolio Security

Nov 28th, 2006 by smachuga

In recent years, Wesleyan has added a number of portfolio applications that contain personal data. These applications include: Benefits Open Enrollment, Performance Evaluations, MERA Summary, SRA Contribution and many more.

In response to requests from users, we have added an additional security feature to the Employee EP which allows users to Lock/Unlock portfolio applications. The Lock/Unlock Applications tool can be found in the Tools & Links Section of your portfolio. When a user locks an application, it remains inaccessible until unlocked with the user’s email password.

Clicking on Lock/Unlock Applications will present a list of applications with check boxes. To lock each application, simply choose the checkbox. Once you have made your selections, click the Lock Selected Applications button at the bottom of the page. Your applications are secure!

The locked applications will not be clickable in the portfolio. You need to unlock them before accessing them.

Unlocking is just as simple.

To unlock one application, click the lock icon and enter your email password.
To unlock multiple applications, click the Unlock Applications link at the top of the screen. Choose the applications to be unlocked and enter your email password.

Lock/Unlock Applications is a great portfolio tool. However, it does not take the place of a locking screen saver that will protect all the applications and data you have on your computer. If you need help further help, please do not hesitate to contact your desktop support person: http://www.wesleyan.edu/its/desktopsupport/

Posted in Technology of the Month

2 Responses to “Portfolio Security”

on 29 Nov 2006 at 4:52 pm1Kevin Wiliarty

This TOM entry is bound to leave some people wondering about the extent to which personal information might be vulnerable if applications are not locked. Is there a grave security threat? Who might get access and how? Is it only a problem on shared computers? Is it just a matter of remembering to log out of portfolio when we are done? Or do we recommend that individuals lock applications at all times? Only specific ones? Is locking applications redundant if one has a locking screen saver?
on 02 Dec 2006 at 9:17 am2ravishan

We added this based on concerns from our users and left it up to the individual to decide how best to use it.

There are many instances where this can come in handy:
- A user leaves the office and the computer is not locked and has a browser logged into EP. An intruder can now access personal data. The ultimate security here is to password lock the computer, but this may not be practical in certain cases.
- A user opens EP on some other computer - either to show something in their EP to another person, or in a presentation setting . Again, remembering to close the browser is the ultimate security, but in cases where a user forgets to do it, this will help.
- There are many applications in employee EP with personal information which are not used on a regular basis. These apps are there so a user can have access to the information on demand. These are the ones which lend themselves to being locked.
- Wherever appropriate, we also add the extra security of challenge questions that users are required to set up. One can possibly argue that locking is not required for these applications.

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Portfolio Security

2 Responses to “Portfolio Security”

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