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What is a Security Incident? 

An information security incident is any known or suspected event or circumstance that results in the unauthorized release or exposure of sensitive information beyond the University's sphere of control.

Anyone with knowledge or a reasonable suspicion of an incident is instructed to make an immediate report to their management, local technical support staff, and NUIT's Network Operations Center at (847) 467-NNOC (6662). You can also e-mail security@northwestern.edu.

What Does a Security Incident Look Like?

  • The theft or physical loss of computer equipment known to hold files containing SSNs or other sensitive data
  • An unencrypted list of alumni contributors emailed to an unauthorized recipient
  • A server known to hold sensitive data is accessed or otherwise compromised by an unauthorized party
  • Printed copies of student loan applications are discovered in a publicly accessible dumpster
  • A firewall is accessed by an unauthorized entity
  • A network outage is attributed to the activities of an unauthorized entity
  • An outside entity is subjected to a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack originating from within the University network
Support Contact:

NUIT Information and Systems Security/Compliance

security@northwestern.edu

Last Updated: 08 December 2008

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