Information Security and Research Data

1. Information Security and Research Data 王大為 中研院資訊所

2. Important messages • Information Security is worth the effort in the long run • Data classification is important • “Sensitive” data should be handled with caution • It is a process, from data creation to deletion • Trust is the key word

3. Use your common sense to deal with information security problem • Why do you need information security • What are the valuables • How to do it

4. Daily security decision • Don’t talk to strangers • Don’t walk alone in a dark alley • Don’t hand your ATM card to anyone • Do lock your door • Put valuable to a safety box • Buy insurance • Don’t put all eggs in one basket

5. Why and What • Information security goals, to maintain data • Availability • Integrity • Confidentiality • What are the valuable information assets? • What are the threats? • How much will security incidents cost you? • What’s the odd an incident occurs?

6. High cost, very low probability: insurance • Earthquake insurance • High cost, high probability: do something to reduce the cost and/or the probability • Low cost, high probability: do a cost-benefit analysis • Low cost, lost probability: what’s the problem?

7. How • How do you secure your home or office? • How do you construct a building? • How do you know your lift is safe? • How do you fight against bacteria/virus? • 。。。。 • Working with the experts

8. Technical Jargons • If there is no common sense explanation, then either the person does not know it well enough or the technology is not mature. • Second opinions

9. Important cliché • Information security is a process not a product • 70% of the incidents caused by insiders, if not 80% • You won’t get a medal for a good security job, and you don’t want to be famous • Security is about balance not optimization • Cost-benefit, risk-convenience …

10. Research Data • What are the valuable information assets? • What are the threats? • Data lost, deleted by accident, leaked • How much will security incidents cost you? • 3 month? A ph.d.? Trust? • What’s the odd an incident occurs? • Depends on how you deal with it

11. Availability, Confidentiality • Hard disk crashed! • Solution: make a lot of copies. • New problem: confidentiality? • Confidentiality of what? • Personally identifiable information • De-identification ( explained in the afternoon)

12. Store PID information in a secure place • Locked • Encrypted • No internet connection • Restricted access • … • De-identified data • Document how it is de-identified and make the document available

13. Why make documents public? • It is about trust • Why people give their time, tissue and information for research? • For the public good? • For the money? • Social Norm Theory • Trust is the key • Without trust!?!

14. The destruction of data • Why keep it if it is no longer needed? • Especially there is a risk to keep it • You made a promise in the inform consent form to destroy the data • Document the process • Document the destruction details

15. People • Not many evil people, but careless people everywhere! • A designated data custodian of PID • Make it a profession with authority • Institutions should consider create such a position • Education data users • Password rule

16. Conclusion • Researches are propelled by general public devoting their time, info, tissues… • Trust is abstract yet valuable • You make promises in the informed consent form • People, process, technology • Use your common sense and work with professionals