Three Smart Tips to Start the Semester Securely
It’s back-to-school season at Yale and the perfect time to refocus on digital security.
Doing research or prepping lesson plans? Taking classes or using Yale's administrative systems? Our work, research and studies are integral to Yale’s mission.
But our data and systems are only as safe as the choices we make. Let’s start the semester strong with three simple and powerful security tips.
Tip 1: Know Your Risk (KYR)
Before you send, share, or store data, pause and ask: What am I working with, and how sensitive is it? Understanding the type of data you handle is the first step toward protecting it.
Some information, like public event flyers or general communications, carries low risk. But other types can be high risk and need stronger protection. Examples include student records, health data, financial details, or unpublished research.
How do you figure out what type of data you have? Check out our Data Classification Questionnaire. It helps you identify how sensitive your data is and what steps to take. It’s short, clear, and could save you (and others) from serious trouble down the road.
Tip 2: Use KYR with AI Tools
AI tools are everywhere now. They can be helpful for summarizing notes, organizing thoughts, or even drafting communications. But just like with email or file sharing, what you put into AI tools matters. A lot.
Here's the key rule: If the data is sensitive, don’t feed it to AI. No personal info, no student details, no proprietary research, and nothing confidential. Many AI tools store what you type, and that data can end up in future model training or be accessed by others.
Not sure where to draw the line? We tackled this exact issue in our recent campaign. Catch the full conversation in our recorded webinar, Know Your Risk: How to use AI the smart (and secure) way!
You'll learn the do’s and don’ts of safe AI use at Yale—and how KYR applies just as much to bots as it does to people.
Tip 3: Get Involved—Join Bee Cyber Fit
Want to stay up to date on the latest security tips, spot threats faster, and even win a prize or two along the way? Join our Bee Cyber Fit awareness series.
This year-round program delivers quick, practical advice directly to your inbox. Sign up for our quarterly newsletter, podcast and/or events. Our challenges and activities help make cybersecurity a habit, not a hassle.
Want more ways to build your cyber muscles?
"Bee sure" you know your risk and are working securely by taking Bee Cyber Fit: The Essentials to Working Securely training. It covers the most important cybersecurity practices for staying safe online, both at work and at home.
