Encryption FAQs

What does encryption mean?

Encryption is software that makes information stored electronically unusable, unreadable, or indecipherable to unauthorized individuals

How can I check if my laptop is properly encrypted?

Look for the Lock and Blue Shield icons in the lower left corner of your screen. These icons tell you that the both the encryption (Lock) and anti-virus software (Blue Shield) are installed.

How do I encrypt my laptop?

All NYULMC owned laptops are encrypted with Checkpoint. If you do not see the Lock and Blue Shield icons on your NYULMC issued laptop, please contact the Help Desk at 212-263-6868. An IT representative will make an appointment with you to check your laptop and install the required encryption software.

NYULMC desktops do not require encryption software because they operate within our firewall. If you use a Desktop, you will not see the Lock and Blue Shield icons in the lower left corner of your screen. Please do not call the MCIT Help Desk about encrypting your desktop.

MCIT does not support your personal laptop or desktop computer. If you access NYULMC business information, including patient information, from your home/personal computer, you must do so by using the OnSiteHealth portal and you must have up-to-date, commercial grade anti-virus software installed. You are not permitted to store locally on your personal laptop/desktop computer any NYULMC data, including patient information.

How do I encrypt my PDA (iPhone, BlackBerry, Smartphone)?

If your PDA was issued to you by NYULMC, you do not need to do anything. It has been remotely encrypted for you by MCIT using encryption solutions offered by the vendors of these PDAs, such as GoodLink and ActiveSync.

If you purchased your own PDA, please contact the MCIT Help Desk at 1-212-263-6868. An IT representative will make an appointment with you to encrypt your personal PDA. You should not use the text messaging feature on you PDA to communicate with others about any NYULMC business data, particularly patient information. Text messages cannot be encrypted.

All PDAs must be password protected, regardless of whether they were issued to you by NYULMC or self-purchased.

How do I encrypt my USB drive?

You should not store patient information, or any other NYULMC business data, on a USB drive. You should place the information you need in a network folder and access it through the OnSite Health portal.

If you have no alternative, and you need a portable device, you must use an encrypted USB drive. You can self-encrypt your USB drive using TrueCrypt. Please contact the Help Desk at 212-263-6868 for assistance using the TrueCrypt software.

You can purchase your own, commercially available, encrypted USB drive. You will receive technical support from the vendor of the USB drive you purchase.

I need to send an email containing patient information to someone outside of the NYU network (someone who does not have an NYU email address). What do I do?

You must use Secure Messaging. This software encrypts the email you send which means that the person who receives it must enter a password to open the email. If you have forgotten your NYULMC email account password, please contact the NYULMC Help Desk at 212-263-6868 for assistance. To download a Secure Messaging user guide, click here. For questions or technical support: nyusecuresupport@nyumc.org.