Encrypt laptops and USB sticks.

[kennysarmy]

How does everyone tackle the problem of staff carrying around on their laptops or USB sticks confidential student information?

 

Does your school consider school reports to be confidential?

 

What does your AUP for staff say on this matter?

 

Thanks.

[elsiegee40]

1. Following the BECTA guidelines that were released last month, the SMT has banned the mobile laptops from leaving the premises and also banned the use of memory sticks to take confidential material home to work on. This is in progress until we sort out encryption. The teachers have been told that disobeying will be regarded as a disciplinary offence.

 

2. Pupil reports are extremely confidential - for school and parent use only. Our reports are the first major casualty of the off site ban and must be completed on site by everyone now.

[Ric_]

Check out Becta Schools - Leadership and Management - Data protection - Data handling security guidance for schools

[kennysarmy]

...thanks Ric - I have read those documents you've linked to...

 

what I was wondering was how many schools are ACTUALLY doing anything about it and to what level and using what software...

 

cheers

[ninjabeaver]

I've read through it but nothing has started yet.

 

Software that is recommended in Norfolk is TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source On-The-Fly Disk Encryption Software for Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X and Linux . Free, but be nice and donate.

[FragglePete]

While working for the MoD all our laptops had to have some sort of encryption on. It's a shame not all departments followed suit judging by a number of headlines recently.

 

Anyway, the product we use was called Flagstone which was hardware on the fly encryption so it didnt slow the laptop down in anyway. Data was written on the hard drive encrypted with a pre-loaded encryption key. Each time the Laptop was switched on, a BIOS type prompt asked for the username and password; get this wrong 3 times and the key was deleted from the hard drive. Mainly aimed at the defence market, however I do know they did a range of products for the 'commercial' world.

 

Pete

[Midget]

Can I recommend TrueCrypt?

[LeMarchand]

I like Truecrypt, but have also been using FreeOFTE as they do a compatible "PDA" version, meaning that I can use the same SD card on my desktop and in my phone.

 

Does anyone have any experience of using "hidden volumes" on either? It's been a while, but I don't think I ever had any luck with FreeOFTE for PDA. I was also wondering if you could alter the "dummy" volume (as long as it didn't exceed its size limit) without damaging the "hidden" volume.