[Physstaff] Purchase of mobile devices

[Catherine Cheshire]

Dear All

Please note that it is no longer allowable for staff to purchase IT equipment through expenses.    Finance are now tightening up on this process and will no longer approve any such claims.

Please see statement below as advised by Information Services:

(1)    They rarely come with the same type of warranty.
(2)    Devices marketed at the home market are often not suitable for the business environment.
(3)    The University has a policy Policy on the Procurement of IT Commodity Devices<http://www.strath.ac.uk/media/ps/its/its-software/ITDeviceProcurement.pdf>    - this is part of our Information Security as devices aimed at the home market, being used in the work environment without correct configuration had been seen as a significant security risk.
(4)    And of course the big information security point relates to Encryption.  We also have a policy on that Protection of Information Held on Mobile Devices and Encryption Policy<http://www.strath.ac.uk/media/ps/its/its-software/Protection_of_Information_held_on_Mobile_Devices_and_Encryption_Policy_V3.5.pdf>.  A laptop aimed at the home market might not have a TPM chip.  This chip is essential if the laptop is to be encrypted.  Cheap home laptops may or may not have this chip.
(5)    Even if the laptop has TPM chip it will come with Windows Home Edition on it.  That does not allow the device to be encrypted.  The University is licensed for Windows Enterprise and it could be rebuilt on Windows Enterprise but there is a risk that someone purchasing on their own rather than via their IT staff won't realise that the PC must be rebuilt to enable encryption.

Catherine


Mrs Catherine Cheshire
University of Strathclyde
Physics Department
John Anderson Building
107 Rottenrow
Glasgow G4 0NG

Tel:  0141 548 3132
Email: cath.cheshire at strath.ac.uk<mailto:cath.cheshire at strath.ac.uk>

[cid:part3.05040902.02010809 at strath.ac.uk]

The University of Strathclyde is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, number SC015263.

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