Risk Classifications

The University of Nebraska is committed to protecting the privacy of its students, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as protecting the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information important to the University's mission. With the adoption of Executive Memorandum No. 42, Policy on Risk Classification and Minimum Security Standards, data classifications have been established and are now in effect for University of Nebraska data and systems. All data can be classified as one of the following: High Risk, Medium Risk, Low Risk, or Research. This page is intended to be a summary or quick reference for those seeking guidance about Executive Memorandum No. 42 and storing and/or processing data.

High Risk Data

Institutional data that is highly confidential and covered by international, state, or federal privacy laws; data where the loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the data or system could have a SEVERE adverse impact on our mission, safety, finances, or reputation; or is subject to international, federal, or state privacy or breach reporting laws.

Data is considered high risk if:

The data is highly confidential, and protection of the data is required by law/regulation; or,
The University is required to self-report to the government and/or provide notice to the individual if the data is inappropriately accessed; or,
The loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the data or system could have a significant adverse impact on our mission, safety, finances, or reputation.

Medium Risk Data

Institutional data is data requiring high levels of protection due to the following circumstances:

Protection of the data is required by law/regulation; or,
Data received or collected is subject to contractual confidentiality provisions; or,
The data carries a security classification established by an authorized agency of the federal government; or,
The loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the data or system could have a negative impact on our mission, finances, or reputation.

Low Risk Data

Institutional data routinely used in conducting business not covered by international, state, or federal privacy and security laws. Generally, this is information that can be made available to the public without risk of harm to the University or any entities with an affiliation to the University.

Data and systems are classified as Low Risk if they are not considered to be Moderate or High Risk, and:

The data is intended for public disclosure; or
The loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the data or system would have no adverse impact on our mission, safety, finances, or reputation.

Research Data

Institutional research data that is highly confidential and covered by international, state, or federal privacy laws. Data where the loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the data or system could have a SEVERE adverse impact on our mission, safety, finances, or reputation, or is subject to international, federal, or state privacy or breach reporting laws.

Data Risk Classification Examples

Use the examples below to determine which risk classification is appropriate for a particular type of institutional data. As always, you can reach out to the ITS Security Team for assistance with classifying institutional data. When mixed institutional data falls into multiple risk categories, use the highest risk classification across all.

High Risk Data

Health Information, including Protected Health Information (PHI) or HIPAA data
Social Security Numbers
International Tax ID Number
Dependent verification documents
Credit card numbers
Financial account numbers (bank accounts)
Export controlled information
Driver's license numbers
Passport and visa numbers
Donor contact information and non-public gift information

Medium Risk Data

Unpublished research data (at data owner's discretion)
Student records and admission applications
Faculty/staff employment applications, personnel files, benefits, salary, birth date, personal contact information
Non-public University policies and policy manuals
Non-public contracts
University internal memos and email, non-public reports, budgets, plans, financial info
University and employee ID numbers
Project/Task/Award (PTA) numbers
Engineering, design, and operational information regarding University of Nebraska infrastructure
Audit records or Event Logs

Low Risk Data

Research data (at data owner's discretion)
NUIDs
Information authorized to be available on or through a University website without authentication
Policy and procedure manuals designated by the owner as public
Job postings
University contact information not designated by the individual as "private" in TrueYou
Information in the public domain
Publicly available campus maps

Research Data

DoD Research Data requiring CMMC level 3
Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI https://www.archives.gov/cui/registry/category-list)
ITAR Research Data
DFARS Research Data

Data Risk Classification Self Assessment

Coming Soon! A self-assessment tool to determine what Risk Level data operates in.

Please contact the ITS Security Team with any questions.

Resource Use by Data Risk Classification

This table indicates which classifications of institutional data are generally allowed to be stored and/or processed on commonly used IT resources at the University. Some resources for specific institutional data use cases and with the application of additional security controls may be granted exceptions for higher data classifications. Contact the ITS Security Team for more information about the exception process.

Resource	Low Risk Data	Medium Risk Data	High Risk Data(i)	Research Data
O365 GCC High Level 3	N/A	N/A	N/A	YES
ITS Data Center and ITS Managed	YES	YES	YES	NO
Distributed Data Center and ITS Managed	YES	YES	NO	NO
Non-Enterprise SaaS Providers	YES	YES(a)	NO	NO
ITS Managed PC/Device	YES	YES	NO	NO
Non-Managed PC/Device	YES	NO	NO	NO
Removable Media	YES	NO	NO	NO
Personal Device (PC/Device)	NO	NO	NO	NO
Box	YES	YES	YES(b)	NO
Docusign	YES	YES	YES	NO
OneDrive	YES	YES	MAYBE	NO
Canvas	YES	YES	NO	NO
SharePoint	YES	YES	NO	NO
NEBIS (Firefly/SAP)	YES	YES	YES	NO
NESIS (Peoplesoft SIS)	YES	YES	YES	NO

(a)When acquired thru Procurement Services and all recommendations in vendor security risk assessment followed.

(b)When in the "High Risk Data or Research Data" instance.

(i)HIPAA data transmission, processing, or storage requires a HIPAA BAA be in place with service provider.

Data Risk Classifications

High Risk Data

Medium Risk Data

Low Risk Data

Research Data

Data Risk Classification Examples

High Risk Data

Medium Risk Data

Low Risk Data

Research Data

Data Risk Classification Self Assessment

Resource Use by Data Risk Classification

COOKIE USAGE: