650-16: Information Security and Confidentiality

Definitions

Access Control

The policies and procedures that regulate Authorized Users’ ability or means necessary to read, write, modify, or communicate data or information or otherwise use any Institutional Information.

Authorized User

Any UCSF faculty, staff, student, or other individual affiliated with UCSF who has been granted authorization to access or invoke Institutional Information for the purpose of performing their job duties or other functions directly related to their affiliation with UCSF. The authorization granted is for a specific level of access to the Institutional Information in accordance with University policy. An example of an Authorized User is someone who handles business transactions and performs data entry into a business application or someone who gathers information from an application or data source for the purposes of analysis and management reporting.

Confidentiality

The degree to which data or information is not available or disclosed to unauthorized persons or processes. The degree of confidentiality afforded to different types of information will vary in accordance with the requirements of federal and state laws, University policy, contract, or community practice.

Compromise

Unauthorized (actual or suspected) access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction of Institutional Information in violation of University policy.

Covered Entity (CE)

An entity that must comply with HIPAA. The term Covered Entity refers to health care providers, health plans, and health care clearing houses that perform a covered service and transmit data electronically.

Institutional Information

A term that broadly describes all data and information created, received and/or collected by UC. The UCSF Data Classification Standard (Addendum F) defines categories according to their unique protective requirements and provides guidance for identifying appropriate users or recipients. UCSF departments and units should determine in advance the extent to which information should be disclosed to specific users. Determinations should be made based on the nature of the content and the duties of department employees.

Minimum Security Standards For Institutional Information

The UCSF Minimum Security Standards for Electronic Information Resources are required to protect all UCSF Institutional Information and IT Resources. Development and maintenance of these standards is the responsibility of the Committee on IT Security (CITS). Roles as described in Addendum A, UCSF Roles and Responsibilities for Securing Electronic Information Resources are responsible for assuring that the standards are implemented within their sphere of influence. The standards shall be reviewed and updated by CITS as needed to respond to emerging technologies, threats, and organization changes. 

Security Incident

The attempted or successful unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction of Institutional Information in violation of University policies.

Security Threat

Any action by an individual or application that may result in a security incident and compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of data. Threats that could breach confidentially include, but are not limited to, unauthorized intrusions, malicious misuse, inadvertent compromise, malware, the loss or theft of a computing device that contains Institutional Information, or any incident in which a user either directly or through technology performs functions for which they are not authorized.

UCSF Users/Workforce Members

UCSF students, faculty, staff, and others affiliated with the University (including those in program, contract, or license relationships with the University) who need to access and are authorized to use Institutional Information and IT Resources for purposes in accordance with the Electronic Communications Policy, Section III.D, Allowable Uses.