Travelling with IT equipment: security advice
Before you go
1.Ask yourself if you really need to bring your computer and or phone at all.
2.If yes to the above, please make sure the computer has all the latest security updates. Poorly updated laptops are much more exposed to risk! Also – never save documents only on your local hard drive or desktop. If something happens to your laptop those documents are forever gone.
3.If you are travelling to a high-risk country, we strongly recommend that you borrow a travel laptop from IT. Just let us know ca one week in advance and we will provide one for you. Travel laptops are of course available for all kinds of professional travel even if not to a high-risk area.
The travel computer is a fully functional but older model without the standard SIPRI software installed, so no Microsoft package, no Nextcloud etc. Use the browser to log in to your SIPRI email. If you have specific needs in terms of software or functionality, please let your IT team know when you request the computer.
4.We also have spare mobile phones available for temporary use – consider borrowing one of these either with your SIPRI subscription or with a cash-card bought on location, depending on where you are going. Please remember that roaming costs when travelling are expensive – revisit our page on phone usage before you leave here.
In addition we also have SIPRI phone subscriptions dedicated for travel. They are primarily intended for those travelling to (high risk) countries where bringing your regular Sipri mobile is not an option, to make sure that you always have a means of contacting SIPRI for necessary check-ins and/or in case of emergency. For now we have two subscription reserved for travel, so please make sure to check well in advance for availability.
When travelling
1.Never leave laptops or portable devices unattended.
2.De-active WIFI and Bluetooth when not in use.
3.If connecting to a network, make sure to connect securely. Never use unprotected WIFI hotspots and set all your devices to “ask” before joining new wireless networks so you don’t unknowingly connect to insecure or malicious ones. Use eduroam wherever that is available (ask SIPRI IT before leaving for an account if you do not have one).
4.Do not connect unknown devices to your laptop (usb-sticks; adapters; hubs; chargers et c) and never let anyone else use your equipment.
After you come home
1.Run a virus check if possible and report anything out of the ordinary to IT asap.
2.If you have borrowed a travel computer and/or phone, please return that to IT asap. No need to delete anything – we will do a complete reinstall of the system before handing out the equipment again.