Data Security

Space@Penn Collection Access Prerequisites
Before you use the Space@Penn data in the Warehouse, you should be familiar with the operations of the Peregrine Systems' FacilityCenter System and the Space@Penn web update process. For further information about FacilityCenter, contact the IT Director, Facilities Services. You must also submit a a Data Warehouse access request eForm for the Space@Penn collection.

Releasing Data Outside the University
The only two offices that may disclose building or room level data outside the University are the Division of Facilities and Real Estate Services and Institutional Research & Analysis. If you do not work for those offices and you receive a request for data to be sent outside the University, refer the requester to the Division of Facilities Services.

Keep a Log
You might want to keep a log of the reports you create, even if you are giving it to someone within the University. The log might include:

• Who requested the data.
  
• When they made the request.
  
• What data they requested.
  
• Why they requested the data/how they planned to use it.
  
• What query and/or report you used.

Releasing Data Within the University
Within the University, building, room and occupancy data may be disclosed only if it is needed to do the business of the University, and only to those who need to know the information in order to do their jobs. If you are not sure whether to fulfill a request for these data, call the Division of Facilities Services.

Questions you should ask to help decide whether to fulfill a request for building, room or occupancy data:

• Who wants the information?
  
• Why do they want the information?
  
• For what purpose will the information be used?
  
• If they pass the information on to someone else, for what purpose will that person use it? Note: Usually, the data should be for the requester's use only.
• How will they secure the information once they have it?
  
• How will they dispose of the information when they are done with it? For example, hard copy reports should be shredded.

Desktop Security
Query Results. If you save your query results in Excel, pdf, or any other local file type, you must see to it that any sensitive data stored on your personal computer is safeguarded through physical security, access control software, or encryption.

• Examples of physical security are locked offices and locked keyboards.
  
• Examples of access control software are a screen saver with password protection (which your computer has been set up to initiate at startup) or specialized desktop security software.
  
• If you encrypt your query results, you will need to decrypt them before accessing them with Business Objects.

Warehouse Access
When a computer is left signed to an account, it is easy for someone to gain unauthorized access. Either sign off from your account before you leave your computer or restrict access by some other means (physical security or access control software).

For more information on security and privacy, contact the Office of Information Security.