Keeping data secure

UF is among the first in the nation to build and launch a computing environment that meets new and more stringent federal standards for protecting sensitive data, such as patient information. Federal agencies increasingly require contractors and grant recipients such as UF to adhere to standards set by the National Institutes of Standards and Technology. With its new computing environment, called Research Shield, UF will be in a stronger position to compete for certain grants compared with most institutions, which lack the types of IT and security controls required by the Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002. Research Shield aims to make conducting research in a secure manner more efficient, as users can combine data sources and collaborate in new ways. To learn more about Research Shield or to schedule an informational presentation, visit shield.ufl.edu. — Elizabeth Hillaker Downs