Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Learn about physical security for your chance to win prizes!

Can you beat this week’s Cybersecurity game? See if you can spot all of the security risks on this employee’s desk. Ten people who complete the game will be randomly selected to win a swag box! Submit contest answers to ia-edawareness@umich.edu.

Physical Security is just as important as technical security

The main objective of physical security is to protect the assets and facilities of the organization. As a result, the foremost responsibility of physical security is to safeguard employees since they are the most important asset to the company. Their safety is the first priority followed by securing the facilities. 

Types of physical security

• Tailgating: One person following closely behind another in a building to gain entry
• Dumpster diving: Searching through trash or recycling containers to gain information 
• Shoulder surfing: Looking over the shoulder of someone to gain information 
• Clean desk: Items left on a desk that present a risk

 Tips

• Never allow someone to piggyback off your credentials for any level of access
• Be aware of your surroundings while texting or talking
• Shred papers or place in locked recycle bins instead of throwing them away
• Position monitors and screen devices or use screen covers to protect your information
• Employees should keep their areas organized and free of papers to avoid theft or inadvertent disclosure of sensitive information 

Learn more 

Take two minutes to view the Cyber Safety poster. Print, display and share the posters with your colleagues! 

Additional information can be found on Safe Computing at:

https://safecomputing.umich.edu/protect-the-u/protect-your-unit/physical-security

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Each week, Michigan Medicine’s Information Assurance team will highlight a different aspect of Cybersecurity. The IA team will be organizing a variety of games and activities with a chance to win some great prizes! Visit National Cybersecurity Awareness Month for more information.