Use encryption to protect your data and devices.

That’s the message Information Technology Services (ITS) is delivering during the fourth and final week of Cyber Security Awareness Month.

Encryption is a systematic way of scrambling information on a device or hard drive to prevent unwanted access to that information in the event that a device is lost or stolen. In this digital era, it is vital to protect confidential documents that may contain personal and/or business-related information. In fact, a core component of Queen’s University’s privacy and data security strategy involves the encryption of data and computers (including mobile devices such as tablets and removable drives).

The IT Support Centre (ITSC) offers a free encryption service to help faculty and staff protect valuable computer hard drives and data. Contact the ITSC by calling 613-533-6666 during regular business hours or fill in the online help form.

ITS has also developed an encryption tutorials page that provides clear instructions for people who want encrypt their devices on their own.

Visit the ITS Encryption webpage to learn more about keeping valuable data safe.