Topic of the Week
Welcome to our "Topic of the Week" section, where we spotlight key issues in security, privacy, audit, risk, and compliance. Each week, we look into a relevant topic, offering insights and strategies to help navigating the ever-evolving landscape of regulations and best practices.
What Is a Data Use Agreement and Why Do I Need One?
Here at the University of Maryland, we pride ourselves on being one of the top public research universities within the nation. With over 4,500 researchers across 12 different schools and colleges, our research spans a wide range of disciplines–from engineering and computer sciences to public health, social sciences, and the humanities. What comes to mind when you think about what is involved in research? The actual researchers, data to analyze, legal requirements… Did you think about a data use agreement?
"The world is your oyster; AI is just a tool": Awareness and understanding of AI psychosis
In one way or another, we all use tools that make our lives easier, more fun, or just a little cooler. Some sunglasses can record videos while you walk your dog, your music app builds playlists based on your mood, and you can even play golf without leaving your house using virtual reality.AI is part of all of this. It makes things easier, faster, and smoother, and that’s exactly why we need to be a little careful.
2026 Canvas Data Breach: What We Know
As of May 1, 2026, the world was made aware of a breach of Instructure - the company that owns and runs the Canvas learning management system. This breach directly affected the University of Maryland students, faculty, and staff due to the nature of use of Canvas. For students, Canvas is vital for completing classwork, tracking assignments and grades, and communicating with professors or other classmates. For faculty, Canvas is vital to running and maintaining the courses you teach. For staff, Canvas provides a platform for trainings and microcredentialing.
Less Data = Less Risk: Why Data Retention Matters
It is somehow already the first week of May, and summer is just around the corner. Hopefully your summer plans consist of a lighter workload, time spent in the water (or near the water, if that is what you prefer), a little bit of a tan (with SPF, of course), and some more free time to review the data you have been slowly accumulating over the course of your career at UMD. We can’t imagine how else you would want to spend a little bit of your free time! Seriously though, not everything needs to linger around forever.