IT and Communications

When undertaking research or a project abroad, whatever the location, it is important to consider data security issues relevant to the host country. Additionally, foreign regulations on data protection can be stricter or have a different focus than U.S. regulations. Traveling with electronic devices also leaves you vulnerable to loss or theft.

A good starting point in determining your program’s needs would be to review Emory’s information security overview and the IT security standards and guidelines. Emory’s Office of Information Technology can assist new international projects in developing security solutions for individual project needs.

Before traveling abroad, please also review Emory’s information security travel tips.

Research Data Security

Emory's Research Security Office can advise on data security planning for your research while traveling. Recommendations include but are not limited to:

• Maintain a data management plan
• Avoid traveling with unnecessary data
• Securely destroy unneeded data
• De-identify data when possible
• Report hacked, lost, or stolen devices as soon as possible to Emory Security (security@emory.edu)

Review the full set of recommendations:

Research Data Security Recommendations

Contact the Research Security Office (researchsecurity@emory.edu) with any questions. 

Data security of paper files

Faculty and staff must maintain the confidentiality of information as required by university policies or applicable law, including the confidentiality of personnel, student, and patient medical records and proprietary information.

Internet regulations in host country

Many foreign countries have regulations for internet access and use that are different from those in the United States. You should familiarize yourself with your host country’s internet regulations when planning an international project.