Announcing Secure Share File Exchange Service	Print Issue
March 31, 2009, Volume 55, No. 27

Information Systems and Computing (ISC) is pleased to announce Secure Share, a new file exchange service that is now available to Penn faculty and staff. ISC developed this secure, web-based application in response to the increasing need to securely exchange documents that contain sensitive information.  Secure Share is another component of Penn’s security strategy, providing a campus-wide mechanism to ensure the safety and privacy of University data.  Though there should be a very limited need to exchange sensitive or confidential information electronically, when members of the Penn community are required to do so, Secure Share provides a safe and easy-to-use mechanism.

What is Secure Share?

Secure Share is a web-based application where authorized users may upload and download files to exchange documents securely, and the application ensures that files reach only the intended recipients. Files are encrypted when they are uploaded, downloaded, and while being stored, and e-mail notifications are sent to designated recipients when files are available for retrieval. Files are automatically deleted after they are retrieved by a designated recipient; files that are not retrieved within 30 days are deleted from the system. Secure Share should not be used as a document storage mechanism, but rather as a safe alternative to file exchange methods such as e-mail, FTP, and portable devices for sharing documents with sensitive information across campus.

Benefits of Secure Share

Some of the key benefits of using Secure Share are:

• Reduces the University's exposure to data compromise issues such as identity theft

• Protects confidential data in documents, such as Social Security Numbers, financial information, health information, student grades, etc.

• Available to faculty and staff University-wide; eliminates the need for individual departments or Schools to develop in-house secure file exchange systems

• Helps ensure that those who request confidential data are properly authorized to receive it

• Data protected by encryption when uploaded, downloaded, and while stored on Secure Share

• Secure and easy-to-use application

Access and availability

Secure Share is available to all Penn faculty and staff with a valid PennKey and PennKey Password at https://medley.isc-seo.upenn.edu/secureShare/jsp/fast.do.  

Sending files

When sending files via the application, users can:

• Upload any type of file

• Use the built-in directory to designate recipients

• Add multiple recipients to receive an uploaded file

• Upload multiple files and choose to send a single message that alerts recipients

• Optionally elect to send an e-mail to notify recipients that a file or files are ready for retrieval on Secure Share, with a direct link to the application

Note that an uploaded file cannot exceed 30 MB in size.

Retrieving files

When a file is ready for retrieval, an e-mail is sent to the designated recipients.  Please note the following regarding file retrieval:

• Uploaded files will remain available to recipients for 30 days

• Once a file has been downloaded by a recipient, it is only available on Secure Share to that recipient for the remainder of that day

• Once a file has been downloaded by all recipients, it will be deleted from Secure Share

• Recipients should contact the sender directly if they have problems retrieving a file

More information about Secure Share

For more information, visit the Secure Share web site at www.upenn.edu/computing/security/secure-share/.  Questions about Secure Share can be addressed to secure-share@lists.upenn.edu.

—Robin H. Beck, Vice President of Information Systems and Computing