Cybersecurity is a Shared Responsibility
Simple Habits that Protect You at Home and Work
Cybersecurity is a Shared Responsibility: Simple Habits that Protect You at Home and Work
Cybersecurity isn’t just a concern in the workplace but also something to stay mindful of in our day-to-day lives. The UCLA Health IT teams put protections in place but everyday choices (where we click, what we share, and how we secure our devices) play a big role in keeping personal and organizational data safe. Below we’ve highlighted some habits that are easy to incorporate at both home and work without much thought.
Security habits that make a big difference
- Lock before you walk. Any time you step away from your computer, at home or work, lock your screen. It only takes a moment for someone to access sensitive information.
- Keep your devices and apps updated. Allow available updates to install and restart your personal and IT-managed devices regularly. Updates often include security fixes that close gaps attackers look for.
- Think before you share information. Before you create an account, enter personal details, or hand an app your email/phone number, pause and ask: Do I need this? Is it from a trusted source? What am I giving up in exchange for convenience?
- Be careful with app permissions on your phone. Only grant permissions that make sense for what the app does (for example, a flashlight app shouldn’t need your contacts or location).
- Clean up data you no longer need. Every so often, delete old files, photos, downloads, and apps you don’t use anymore, and clear out sensitive data you no longer need (like saved forms or documents). Less stored data means less to lose if a device or account is compromised.
How these habits help at home and at work
At home, these habits protect your identity, finances, and personal accounts—especially when your phone is connected to banking, email, social media, smart home devices, and saved passwords. Keeping apps updated and limiting permissions helps reduce how much data is exposed if an app is compromised or overly intrusive.
At work, the same habits help protect coworkers, patients, and our organization. Locking your screen prevents unintended access in shared spaces. Thinking before you sign up for tools or grant permissions helps reduce the chance that data is unintentionally shared with third parties or exposed through a risky app.
If something feels off—an unexpected sign-in prompt, a strange text or email, or an app asking for unusual access—trust that instinct and stop. While at work, if something looks suspicious or feels off, please report it to your manager, Security, or IT Security immediately.