Recently, during our meetings with all the departments about the need for an inventory of systems of record that store or create Personally Identifiable Information, or PII, many were surprised to learn that even something as simple as a name is considered PII.

If you are anything like me then you may be wondering, what the heck is quantum computing? Let's take a step back and explain this in simple terms. Think of traditional computers like really fast and efficient librarians. They organize and retrieve information using bits, which are like tiny light switches that can be either off (0) or on (1).

All UMD undergraduate and graduate students now have access to Canva’s premium visual design tools at no cost to students! Canva’s online graphic design tools can help to create beautiful presentations for class, snazzy social media graphics to market a club or organization, a great-looking resume for that coveted job, and more.Discounted yearly licenses are also available for UMD use for faculty and staff.

A data inventory is used to help all areas of the university manage impacts and risks associated with their work activities involving personal data. This collaborative process is essential to our Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Compliance programs, and it supports our office’s goal of building awareness about the university’s Privacy Principles and Security Standards.A data inventory helps all areas of the university:

The world we live in has become heavily driven by technology and with this shift, data is being constantly created, transferred, and consumed. Processes that may have once been done in person or through paper are now done virtually with the click of a button. Things like taxes, onboarding for a job, applications, etc. are primarily done virtually now. With these processes becoming predominantly virtual, you more than likely are storing these files on your computer. It is pertinent that you track where you store your information and what information you are storing.

Have you ever noticed that after searching for a piece of furniture on a particular website, you suddenly find yourself bombarded with ads for console tables? It can feel a bit like you’re being watched, right? Well, you’re not far off; this is thanks to cookies placed on your computer by websites. So, let’s take a look at this beautiful tin of internet cookies!