NDSU has taken extensive steps to protect personal data stored on the university's network and servers. And one of those steps is to ensure that a plan is in place if security fails.
The Identity Theft Prevention Program Plan, which was recently signed by President Chapman, provides a comprehensive plan in case personal information on NDSU's network is compromised.
"We do everything in our power to protect personal information, but even the best security systems can fail. The Identity Theft Prevention Program Plan is really a game plan that allows us to respond to security breaches in a rapid, systematic way," Theresa Semmens, information technology chief security officer, said.
The plan provides procedures for dealing with security concerns, including a process for employees to follow if they discover a "red flag" to indicate a security breach. These warning signs can include the appearance of forged documents, unusual financial activity or even inconsistent information in an individual's records.
The plan was a joint project of the Finance and Administration Division, the NDSU General Counsel and the Information Technology Division.
The Identity Theft Prevention Program Plan and a variety of useful information regarding identity theft are available on the General Counsel's Web site at www.ndsu.nodak.edu/general_counsel/identitytheft.shtml.
May 6, 2009