Using Personal Devices for HBS Business

Leveraging our own devices is something that is very common for all of us. Whether you're simply leveraging your mobile device to check email, or using a personal computer to accomplish part of your job, there are many ways our personal devices are tied into our work.

Since these devices aren't managed by HBS IT, it's important to remember that you are responsible for ensuring that they are configured in a way to protect not only Harvard systems and information, but your own as well. protects our devices and the information to which we have access.

Personal Device Requirements

Any device which will be used for HBS business or connect to HBS systems, data must adhere to the requirements listed in the Minimum Security Responsibilities: Computers and Mobile Devices​​​​​​​.

If you are not able (or do not wish) to follow these steps, you must not use the device to work with sensitive data. This includes syncing sensitive data that may be in your OneDrive account.

Personal Device Support & Associated Costs

HBS IT cannot provide software or support for personal devices. Please keep in mind that by leveraging your own devices, you are incurring a cost to yourself that HBS is not responsible for. This does not release you from your responsibility to protect Harvard data and systems. If you have questions about this, please contact informationsecurity@hbs.edu.

Department-specific Requirements?

Individual teams and departments may have additional requirements beyond what is listed here, including tools which are approved or required. Please consult with your manager.

Suggested Resources for Encryption

Leveraging tools built into your operating system may be the simplest path forward. To determine whether these are enabled on your device, or for how to enable them, we recommend performing a web search that includes the version of your device's OS.

  • Mac OS: Your Mac computer typically comes with a tool called FileVault.

  • Windows 10 and 11 Professional: These versions of Windows come with a tool called BitLocker.

Unfortunately, the Home versions of Windows do not come with encryption tools built in. If you need to work with sensitive information on a device which cannot be encrypted, there are numerous file/folder encryption tools which you may be able to leverage. (TSS cannot support the use of these tools).