糖心原创 employees traveling internationally for professional and/or research purposes are encouraged to review the information below when traveling internationally with 糖心原创 devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.
If you prefer to travel with a loaner laptop and/or mobile phone, visit the l to learn more about the devices available to UFV employees.
Learn more:
- International Travel Policy (Policy-237): UFV policy for international travel, including definitions and regulations.
- International Travel Approval Procedures: the process for students and employees to request approval to organize an international trip.
Before You Travel
1. Assess What Devices to Bring
- Consider whether you need to bring all your devices
- Avoid traveling with devices containing sensitive research, proprietary information, or student data.
- Consider requesting a loaner laptop or phone from IT Services
2. Secure Your Devices
- Encrypt your devices:
- iPhones and iPads: Encryption is automatically activated when you set a passcode
- Android phones and tablets: Check Settings > Security > Encryption
- Windows: Enable BitLocker (BitLocker is already enabled on 糖心原创-managed computers)
- Mac: Enable FileVault (FileVault is enabled on all individually assigned Macs and loaner MacBook's)
- Visit for more information on encryption
- Use strong passwords
- Create complex passwords combining letters, numbers, and symbols
- Avoid using easily guessable information (birthdays, names, common words)
- Do not use the same password for multiple devices or accounts
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) using the
- Travelers can also request a (for up to 30 days) if not travelling with a device
3. Manage Your Data
- Review and remove unnecessary sensitive data
- Back up and move essential files to university approved cloud storage (e.g. OneDrive)
- Empty "recently deleted" folders
- Consider temporarily removing Social Media apps or other apps containing sensitive information
- Use cloud storage strategically
- policies currently limit examination to data stored directly on the device, not in cloud services. Border agents are required to put devices in airplane mode before searching them.
- Log out of cloud services before travel and remove saved passwords from your browser
At the Border
1. Prepare Your Devices
- Enter airplane mode before approaching Customs and Border Protection
- Disable biometric authentication (fingerprints, facial features or voice patterns)
- Power down your device completely before arriving at customs
2. If Asked to Unlock Your Device
- Know your options. You may choose to comply or decline
- If you comply, unlock the device yourself - never share your password
- If you decline, your device may be detained, and entry may be delayed or denied (especially for non-citizens)
3. If Your Device Is Confiscated
- Report the incident to your department head and immediately
During Your Trip
- Avoid public Wi-Fi; use a VPN if necessary
- Disable auto-connect for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- Use your own charging equipment - avoid public charging stations
- Do not use public/shared computers for accessing sensitive information
After Your Return
- Change all passwords used during your trip
- Run antivirus and malware scans on all devices
- for any unauthorized or suspicious activity
- Report any suspicious activity or device access to university's cybersecurity team
