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Working securely: Device Security System Update

In order to keep our University community, staff, students and information secure, we need to have some controls over who (and what) is able to access our network.

Warwick is a large, complex organisation, so this is no simple task.

We’ve broken it down into 4 steps to:

  1. Identify how your computer device is managed.
  2. Define a minimum security specification all our devices need to meet.
  3. Enrol self-managed Windows 10 computer devices into our Device Security System to ensure they meet the minimum security system. Mac-users are not currently involved in this process.
  4. Apply a ‘conditional access’ policy to check whether the user is working on a managed or enrolled device, to access our network.

Please read through the details of each step below and follow the actions relevant to you. You may need to enrol your device into the device security system to ensure your computer meets the minimum security specification and can continue to access the University network:

Step 1. How is your computer device managed?

  • If you use a University-owned, ITS or Department-managed Windows 10 computer

Your computer device will already meet the minimum security specification.

Action: Remember to regularly connect to the campus VPN - information here

  • If you have WMG/WBS-managed Windows 10 device

Action: You can contact your departmental IT team to check if they have instructions for you.

  • If you have a University-owned, but self-managed Windows 10 computer

Not sure if your computer is managed or self-managed? You can check here.

Your device may not meet the minimum security specification – but we can help.

Action: You’ll need to read steps 3. & 4. below.

  • If you have a privately-owned, self-managed computer device

This is a computer you’ve bought yourself (or is family-owned) that you are using at home because of lockdown – it could be Windows or Mac.

Action: Your device may not meet the minimum security specification – but we can help with that too, via access to ‘Workspace.warwick’ - coming soon, with further info next week.

Step 2. understand the minimum security specification

  • Whatever kind of computer device you use, the University has now defined a minimum security specification to ensure your device, the information on it and accessed by it, remains secure. There’s a clear guide to the specification here.

Step 3. enrol your self-managed computer device

  • We’ve written about enrolling self-managed Windows 10 devices in to the Device Security Service (DSS) before – and you may have been emailed directly by ITS.

    Action: it’s vital you enrol any self-managed Windows 10 device to ensure your computer meets the minimum security specification and can access the University network.
  • Please follow these instructions. If you have any problems with the enrolment process, the ITS Helpdesk is on hand to help you through it.

Step 4. applying conditional access

  • Conditional access is a process applied as part of the Device Security Service. It will check the computer you use is secure, compliant and can function effectively on the Warwick network.

Action: if your device is not secure and compliant, you will not be able to access the University network. Contact the IT Services Helpdesk immediately to get assistance and work through any changes you need to make.

These four steps together allow us to secure our network traffic and protect the people and information who use it legitimately. It will also help to deter and deflect malicious or damaging cyber activity.

For advice or support on Windows, please contact IT Services helpdesk 
If your University-owned Windows device is running a version older than Windows 10, you should upgrade as soon as it is practical to do so.