A message from Information Technology Services:
The second week of January is informally observed as “National Clean off your Desk Day.” With the new year upon us, it’s the perfect time to clear up the area where you sit at and work.
But wait – what does a clean desk have to do with information security? Well, a lot.
Keeping desks clear of clutter is less about making the work area look tidy, and more about preventing the loss of sensitive information, or gaining access to a desktop because a carelessly left out paper note has a password written on it.
Common examples of paper-based sources of sensitive information include:
- Shipping labels that may include account numbers or tracking codes;
- Printed PowerPoint presentations that may include confidential information;
- Receipts, resumes, boarding passes and other documents that might contain personal information.
So, while you’re tidying up your desk on January 14, consider the three p’s of office organisation.
- Plan – start your day with just the documents that you think you’ll need. Leave everything else safely stored away;
- Protect – when you step away from your work area, check to see that any papers left out contain sensitive information. If so, place them out of sight while you’re away;
- Pick up – at the end of the day, put everything away and secure any sensitive documents.
Following this may help improve your productivity, your stress level, and will definitely reduce the risks, personal and institutional, of exposing sensitive information.
