Security Services
Support for this service includes IT security infrastructure management and vulnerability management. Contact the Staff Service Centre.
IT Security Infrastructure Management
IT Security Infrastructure Management encompasses a combination of our firewall and VPN services, which we can provide to you in three different ways:
- Fully Supported: If you need a VPN and/or firewall, we can fully support these services including providing the hardware/software and managing it entirely. This option is completely hands off for the client.
- We Provide, You Manage: With this option, we will provide the VPN and/or firewall service, however you are responsible for managing it. That includes logging in, changes, adding users, etc.
- We Manage: With this option, you purchase and supply your own hardware/software, and delegate the management of it to IST. You are responsible for the payment and maintenance, however our staff provides the expertise to manage it on your behalf.
If you’re interested in learning more about our IT Security Infrastructure Management service, or discovering which management option would work best for you and your team, contact the Staff Service Centre.
Vulnerability Management
Through our Vulnerability Management service, our team of security professionals can assess your risk profile and provide recommendations. Our team will scan your environment to identify potential exposures that increase your risk of being attacked or harmed, and classify each exposure to better understand its characteristics. Our complete report will provide you with a set of recommended actions to help mitigate the risk within your infrastructure servers and websites, such as where best to spend your time making changes.
If you’re interested in learning more about your risk profile and the benefits that assessing it can provide, get started by visiting the Staff Service Centre.
Common Security Questions
IST regularly works with internal and external units to ensure we are compliant with best practices, standards and legislation in the security industry. For more information, visit the Chief Information Security Officer’s (CISO) website, or contact the CISO at ciso@ualberta.ca.
IST recommends using an antivirus product, but does not currently provide one for campus use. (We are in the process of establishing one). IST suggests individuals or units compare features of popular antivirus products and make a selection based on which one best suits your needs. If assistance is required when comparing features between different products, contact the Staff Service Centre. for assistance.
IST only filters malicious traffic that may put an individual, department or faculty at risk of cyber attacks. Traffic filtering is done in multiple places on the University network and is only conducted if there is a high degree of confidence that the traffic is malicious. IST does not filter traffic based on website category, content or URL. In rare cases, an IP address on the public Internet may be filtered as a precaution, but only after it’s been manually reviewed. This review is carried out by the IST Security team who determines the risk of blocking the site against the potential for unintended impacts to the University. If a website or service is not accessible and you require further assistance, please contact the Staff Service Centre..
Linux, Mac, Unix, Windows
Through GlobalSign Inc., IST provides faculty and staff accessibility to SSL certificates at no cost for educational use on University of Alberta owned computers. GlobalSign SSL certificates allow full authentication and 256-bit encryption. This level of security establishes a trusted digital infrastructure essential to high-value e-commerce transactions and ensures secure access to applications, communications, and resources. To initiate a certificate download, please contact the Staff Service Centre..
Employees
Technology Support