As travel season picks up – whether for personal trips, conferences, or official business – it’s important to follow a few key precautions to protect state systems and the people we serve.
Even brief tasks while you’re away, like checking email or reviewing a document, can introduce risk if you’re not using the right safeguards.
Always connect to the NCDIT VPN whenever you are off the state network. The VPN is required for remote work as it encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure environment, protecting your emails, files, login credentials, and other state data.
International travel also brings additional security requirements. Do not take state‑owned laptops, tablets, or mobile phones on international trips unless you have approval from the Enterprise Security and Risk Management Office. As an added measure of protection, beginning May 14, international logins to Microsoft 365, including state email, will be blocked unless you have an approved exception.
If you plan to travel outside the United States and plan to work or access state systems, you must get approval. Contact your agency’s IT security team for more information.
When traveling anywhere:
- Do not leave devices unattended.
- Use secure networks, and always use VPN, especially on public Wi‑Fi.
- Never connect unknown USB devices or accessories.
- Report any lost, stolen, or suspicious activity immediately.
By taking these simple steps, you play a critical role in keeping our statewide systems secure.