Information Security

Safe Travels — Tips to Help Employees Away from Home

Whether traveling for business, vacation, or any other reason, employees can take a number of steps to protect themselves and others. The Computer Incident Response Team offers the following tips:

n Identify hotel exits. Count the doors between your room and the exit in case you have to evacuate in an emergency.

n Arrange a meeting place ahead of time with your family, if you become separated.

n Keep a flashlight handy for emergencies.

n Don’t open your hotel room door to anyone without an ID. Call the front desk to confirm the identity and reason for the person requesting entry.

n If you’re at the airport and looking for a taxi, use the cab concierge to find a taxi. There have been instances in foreign countries where cabs have held tourists hostage and forced them to pay more money to be dropped off at the correct location or release their luggage.

n Make a copy of your passport and store it separately from the original.

n Make a list of the U.S. embassy addresses and phone numbers for all the countries you’re visiting.

n Sign up for email travel warnings before you leave home. The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) provides routine information from the nearest U.S. embassy and enables the State Department to better assist you in case of an emergency.

n Always be fully aware of your surroundings.

— Corporate Information Security Office,
Chief Information Officer, 8-8-13