IT Security

The role of encryption in our IT security strategy

Nearly one hundred institutions of higher learning have reported having confidential information exposed in each of the last three years.  When personal information about individuals, such as faculty, staff, students, donors, parents, etc., the institution may be required by federal and state legislation to inform and provide credit protection for everyone who may be affected by the exposure at significant cost, in many cases exceeding millions of dollars.  Encryption plays a key role in our overall strategy for reducing this risk.  Read more.

What is encryption?

Encryption is a method of protecting data by converting it to a format that is unreadable by anyone except those with a special key. Read more.

Why is Princeton University encrypting its data?

Typical University staff and faculty access and store information which is either sensitive or confidential. Exposing this information to unauthorized sources is costly for both the University and for anyone whose identity may be stolen as a result of unauthorized access to such confidential information. Read more.

Encryption tools and techniques by platform

Many computing platforms and devices are used at the University. Encryption software may not be the same on all platforms. Read More.

What if I have to take my laptop out of the country?

Carrying or shipping a computer that has encryption software installed is regulated by the United States Departments of Commerce, Treasury and Homeland Security. For most destinations, the encryption software that we have purchased may be taken overseas as long as you have a document in your possession that indicates the product has been approved for export by the U.S. government. There are a few destinations that require you to take certain actions prior to your departure, such as obtaining an export or import license which can take a few months to complete.  Read more.

Encryption frequently asked questions

For frequently asked questions Click Here