1.0 Responsible Units
UAH functional units operating or utilizing IT resources are responsible for managing and maintaining the
security of the data, IT resources, and protected information. Functional units are responsible for
implementing appropriate managerial, operational, physical, and technical controls for access to, use of,
transmission of, and disposal of data in compliance with this policy. This requirement is especially
important for those IT resources that support or host critical business functions or protected information.
Protected information will not be disclosed except as provided by university policy and procedures, or as
required by law or court order.
1.1 Data Classification
It shall be the responsibility of the data owner to classify the data, with input from appropriate university
administrative units and the Office of Counsel. However, all individuals accessing data are responsible for
the protection of the data at the level determined by the data owner, or as mandated by law. Therefore, the
data owner is responsible for communicating the level of classification to individuals granted access. Any
data not yet classified by the data owner shall be deemed confidential. Access to data items may be further
restricted by law, beyond the classification systems of UAH.
All electronic data of UAH shall be classified as public, private, sensitive or confidential, or research
according to the following categories:
- Public Data - Public data are defined as data that any person or entity either internal
or external to the university can access. The disclosure, use, or destruction of public data should have
no adverse effects on the university nor carry any liability (examples of public data include readily
available news and information posted on the university's website).
- Private Data - Private data are defined as any data that derive value from not being
publicly disclosed. The value of private data to the university and/or the custodian of such data would
be destroyed or diminished if such data were improperly disclosed to others. Private data may be copied
and distributed within the university only to authorized users. Private data disclosed to authorized,
external users must be done in accordance with a Non-Disclosure Agreement (examples of private data
include employment data).
- Sensitive or Confidential data - Sensitive or Confidential data are data that by law
are not to be publicly disclosed. This designation is used for highly sensitive information whose access
is restricted to authorized employees. Student data restrictions are outlined in the UAH Student Records
Policy (/images/administrative/policies/03.01.01-VP_Student_Affairs_Student_Records_Policy.pdf).
The recipients of confidential data have an obligation not to reveal the contents to any individual
unless that person has a valid need and authorized permission from the appropriate authority to
access the data. The person revealing such confidential data must have specific authority to do so.
Sensitive or confidential data must not be copied without authorization from the identified
custodian (examples of confidential data include data that are regulated by federal regulations such
as Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA), Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), Payment Card
Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), International Traffic in Arms Regulations (IT AR), Export
Administration Regulations (EAR)).
- Research Data- Research data are defined as: "the recorded factual material commonly
accepted in the scientific community as necessary to validate research findings." (OMB Circular 110).
Research data cover a broad range of types of information and privacy will vary widely depending on
compliance with the particular funding agency such as National Institutes of Health (NIH) or National
Science Foundation (NSF).
Although some protected information, private data, and confidential data the university maintains may
ultimately be determined to be "public records" subject to public disclosure, such status as public
records shall not determine how the university classifies and protects data until such a
determination is made. Often public records are intermingled with confidential data and protected
information, so that all the information and data should be protected as confidential until it is
necessary to segregate any public records.
All data determined to be public data by the data owner and released to the public is considered
public data, not research data.
1.2 Storage of Data on Non-UAH Owned Systems
Data classified as private or confidential shall not be stored on non-UAH owned IT resources without
approval of the data owner(s). IT resources storing this data shall be configured to secure the data
properly. For further requirements see the "Security of IT Resources" policy.
1.3 Non-approved Locations for Data Storage
Storage systems that have not been approved by UAH Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), or direct
reports, shall not be utilized to store data classified as private or confidential. This includes
cloud-based services such as Dropbox. See the "Cloud Service and Information Technology Procurement" policy
for approval process.
1.4 Data Access Restrictions
All data access must be authorized under the principle of least privilege, and based on minimal need. The
application of this principle limits the damage that can result from accident, error, or unauthorized use.
All permissions to access confidential data must be approved by the data owner or their designee, and
written or electronic record of all permissions must be maintained. For private or sensitive or confidential
data, the approving authority for the data shall audit data access at least annually.
During data access audits, data owners will be provided a list of users with access and their access rights.
The data owner must respond with appropriate changes, updates, terminations or concurrence, within 20
business days. Failure to do so will result in notification to the vice president responsible for the data
owner's unit and the access rights being audited may be revoked. A Written response to the data access audit
is required, even if there are no changes to the access list and/or the rights detailed in the list.
Private or confidential data shall not be provided to external parties or users without approval from the
data owner. In cases where the data owner is not available, approval may be obtained by the Director or
Department Head of the unit in which the data are maintained, or by an official request from a senior
executive officer of the university.
When an individual who has been granted access changes responsibilities, all of their access rights should be
reevaluated and any access to protected data outside of the scope of their new position or status should be
revoked.
1.5 Data Backup
Data that are critical to the mission of the university shall be located, or backed up, on centralized
servers or other campus-wide approved backup solutions, unless otherwise authorized by the data owner of
that data, or Chief Information Officer (CIO).
1.6 Data in Transit
Data that is transmitted without encryption has increased possibility of eavesdropping attacks, where an
attacker may intercept the data being transmitted. Whenever possible, private and confidential data shall
only be transferred through encrypted channels. This may include secure socket layer (SSL), secure shell
(SSH), virtual private networks (VPN) or other encrypted sessions. Encryption is the process of converting
the information into a form that is unintelligible except when converted back to original form utilizing a
cryptographic key.
1.7 Data Encryption
IT Resources that store data classified as private or confidential shall utilize strong encryption mechanisms
to maintain confidentiality of the data and greatly reduce the risk of theft or loss of IT Resources.
Examples of strong encryption include RSA (2048 bits and higher), AES (128 bits and higher), ECC (224 bits
and higher), TDES/TDEA (triple-length keys), DSA/D-H (2048/224 bits and higher). For more information about
Strong encryption, see NIST Special Publication 800-57 Part 1 .
1.8 Destruction of Data
Once the data or IT resource is no longer needed or is being repurposed, the data shall be destroyed in a
manner that guarantees that the data are not recoverable. Destruction can be done through wipe utilities or
physical destruction of the storage device.
1.9 Approved Data Storage Facilities for Servers Storing Private or Sensitive or Confidential Data
OIT is responsible for operating IT facilities that maximize physical security, provide reasonable
protections for IT systems from natural disasters, and minimize cybersecurity risks for UAH data and IT
Resources.
OIT is also responsible for provisioning an evolving set of information technology infrastructure and
services that meet the common, evolving needs of all units. This may include contracting for services via
cloud and off-site service providers that offer desirable and secure common services of value to the UAH
community.
All units of UAH will deploy and use IT resources in ways that mitigate cybersecurity risks, providing
physical security for IT systems, and minimize unacceptable risks to IT resources and data from natural
disasters.
The primary means of reducing and mitigating cyber risks at UAH is for units to use the secure facilities,
common information technology infrastructure, and services provided by OIT to the greatest extent
practicable for achieving their work.
To the extent that the primary means of cyber risk mitigation is not practicable for achieving a unit's work,
the unit shall formally document their role, responsibilities, and ongoing mitigation of cyber risks to UAH.
The OIT cybersecurity team can assist with documentation for units supported by OIT.
Documentation should include approval from unit head, brief description of IT resource, purpose, timeframe
needed, and justification for exception. Documentation should be provided to UAH CIO, or direct reports, to
maintain record. Documentation shall be updated at least annually. If updated documentation is not
submitted, or is found to be unsuitable, network access to the facility may be revoked
2.0 Compliance with Policy
OIT personnel may take immediate action to abate identified issues impacting network or system operations.
Violations that constitute a breach of the Student Conduct Code, the Faculty Handbook, the Staff Handbook,
or University policy, will be referred to appropriate university authorities.