For good or bad, UTMB is quite generous with its remote access policy. Whether you’re at a conference and you want to keep up with what’s going on, at home and you just want to pop in to check your email, or, heaven forbid, you’re on vacation and you want to get a little work done.  The UTMB network is just a few mouse clicks away.

It’s quite amazing that from almost anywhere in the world you can access your desktop and have all the UTMB information resources available to you as if you were sitting in front of your computer at work.  Granted, sometimes it can be a little tedious, especially if you’re on a slow connection or you’re trying to do something from your iPhone or Blackberry.  I personally find it refreshing to know that I can address issues on the fly no matter where I am.

While some say that this technology is “absolutely amazing," others say “now I never get away from work." No matter what side you take in the remote access controversy, if you use it, there are certain things that you must take into consideration. 

If you’re accessing UTMB  information resources using a personally-owned computer, make sure the security patches are up-to-date, anti-virus protection has been installed with auto updates turned on and, if you’re using Windows XP or newer operating system, consider turning the built-in firewall on.

Don’t download UTMB proprietary or confidential information to your personally-owned computer without explicit permission from the data owner or your department head.

Accessing UTMB’s network or any type of sensitive information, to include your personal files, from public or shared computers is not recommended.  But if you must, protect yourself and UTMB by following these three simple steps.

Erase Your Tracks

When you use an Internet browser, it keeps records of where you went. When you finish surfing with Microsoft Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options. On the General tab, click Delete Files and Delete Cookies. Then click Clear History.

Protect Your Passwords

Browsers can also track passwords. Before going on the Web, if you're using Internet Explorer, click Tools > Internet Options. On the Content tab, click AutoComplete. Clear the checked boxes.

When you finish surfing, again click Tools > Internet Options. Go to the Content tab and click AutoComplete. Click Clear Forms and Clear Passwords.

Use Common Sense

Approach public computers with care; avoid doing any sensitive business on them, to include personal banking or credit card transactions.  If you use them to access UTMB’s webmail be sure to choose the “This is a public or shared computer” option.  You never know, Joe Hacker may be watching.

Remember, Information SecU-R-ITy