Travel Security

Travel security protocols

Before travelling

1. Review travel protocols on the Health, Safety and Environment Travel Management page.
2. Secure your devices by following these best practices:
   • Avoid bringing unnecessary electronic or physical files or devices.
   • Assess carefully what data you need while travelling. Whenever possible, store data on MacEwan’s approved cloud services such as Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive.
   • If you must transfer data to a separate external storage device, encrypt it and keep it with you at all times while travelling.
   • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on any personal online services that support it, such as banking, social media and travel websites.
3. Review your online presence (social media and other profiles) to ensure you are aware of what information about you is publicly available.
4. When filling out travel applications or speaking with border patrol, share only the information required.

While travelling

1. Exercise caution when interacting with people.
   • Elicitation: Casual or seemingly harmless conversations may be used to subtly gather information about you, your work or your colleagues. Individuals may pose as researchers, students or professionals, but they could be working on behalf of governments or organizations.
   • Cultivation: Someone may attempt to build a relationship with you over time in order to extract information.
   • Sexual entrapment for blackmail: In some cases, individuals use intimate encounters to record compromising material for blackmail or public embarrassment.
2. Do not discuss sensitive aspects of your research in public places or with people you have just met. Be cautious about new connections with foreign nationals and refrain from accepting offers of personal companionship.
3. Keep details of your accommodation private.
4. Avoid using hotel or conference computers or public phones.
5. Access cloud data storage services only on personal and secure devices.
6. Avoid surrendering electronic devices at conferences.
7. Do not use public Wi-Fi (including at airports or hotels) to access banking or confidential information. Instead, use mobile data or data roaming when secure access is required.
8. Remember that cyber intrusions can occur through wireless networks or physical access (e.g., USB devices). Any device that plugs into your USB port may pose a risk.

Personalized cyber security support

Technology needs can vary by destination. An ITS representative can meet with you to help you understand your specific requirements and recommend strategies to help secure your data and maintain access to MacEwan’s digital services while you're away.

To request this service, email informationsecurity@macewan.ca.