Working Securely: 3 Ways to Connect
Getting ready to work securely
As we prepare to start a new academic year in challenging circumstances – quite unlike any other start of term – we must ensure that our University community – our staff, students and confidential information all remain secure. We know from recent news reports that cyber criminals and malicious actors are trying to exploit this period of uncertainty, so we need to be very clear about our plans and actions.
What are we doing?
We need to have tighter controls over who (and what) is able to access our network. Warwick is a large, complex organisation, so this is no simple task. Our Device Security programme has defined a minimum security specification to protect our network going forward, so by the end of this term there will be just three options to access University data - three ways to connect to our systems securely:
- Using a University-owned and managed Windows 10 device (remembering to regularly connect to the campus VPN - information here). If you have WMG/WBS-managed Windows 10 device, you can check with your departmental IT team for any further instructions.
- Using a University-owned but self-managed device, which must be enrolled in the Device Security System (DSS) to ensure it meets the University’s minimum security requirements. We are enrolling Windows devices now, Macs will be next, then Linux devices.
- Using a privately-owned device via the Workspace virtual desktop - it's browser-based and will run on any platform - including Mac and Linux. In time we will have capacity for Workspace to be widely available to most users, as needed.
What does this mean for me?
This means if you are currently working on a self-managed device you will need to enrol it in the Device Security System to ensure your computer meets the minimum security specification and can continue to access the University systems. We have set a deadline for this process to be complete: by 12 December you must be using one of these three methods to successfully connect to the University systems.
How to take action
- Not sure if your computer is managed or self-managed? You can check here.
- Enrol your self-managed device following these instructions. If you have any problems with the enrolment process, the ITS Helpdesk is available to help you through it. After enrolment, we apply a process called conditional access to check the computer you use is secure, compliant and can function effectively on the Warwick network. If your device is not secure and compliant, you will not be able to access the University network. Contact the Helpdesk immediately to get help to work through any changes you need to make.
- Working on your own Windows or Mac computer at home because of lockdown? Follow these instructions to access Workspace
Why is this important?
We must protect our institution, our work and our reputation from cyber attacks - our expert colleagues in the WMG Cyber Security Centre and the National Cyber Security Centre agree - these are a very real threat. The steps we're taking together allow us to secure our network traffic and protect the people and information who use it legitimately. It will help to deter and deflect malicious or damaging cyber activity.