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One Step Ahead: Think Security Before You Travel

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Another tip in a series provided by the Offices of Information Security, Information Systems & Computing and Audit, Compliance & Privacy

The increased availability of COVID-19 vaccines may have you thinking about domestic or international travel. At some point in the future, travel for University business will also gradually resume. 

Before you travel, be sure to protect yourself:

  • Read about any COVID-19 restrictions in the area you plan to visit, and consider purchasing travel health insurance.
  • Visit the U.S. State Department travel advisory webpages for international restrictions in areas you plan to visit. 
  • Keep a copy of the address and phone number of your nation’s embassy or consulate with you during international travel.

If you think you may perform work for Penn during your travels, protecting your electronic interactions is also critical:

  • Install antivirus software on your computer and keep it up to date. Penn provides Symantec antivirus software for eligible faculty, staff, and students at no cost.
  • Confirm that your Two-Step Verification settings are ready for your travel. Make sure to print out one-time-use codes as a backup verification method for accessing your Penn data.
  • Discuss additional requirements or applications involved in accessing University systems from new or unfamiliar remote locations with your School/Center IT support staff.
  • Remember that your electronic devices and data may be subject to search, impound, or confiscation during travel. When you travel, make sure your Penn documents are always backed up to a secure, Penn-supported cloud location, such as Penn+Box or Microsoft OneDrive.

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