Are you one of the many USPS® employees granted the option to work remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, you might be enjoying a few newfound freedoms not available in the office. Cleaning out your inbox on the deck with a mug of fresh, home-brewed coffee every morning is certainly part of the upside of remote working.
Although remote working has made our schedules more flexible, there are still rules employees and contractors must follow to keep USPS devices and networks secure. One of those rules relates to working internationally.
Regardless of your reason — a foreign residence, visiting family, sightseeing, or relaxing on a tropical beach — working from an international location with any USPS-issued equipment or device without official approval and proper training is strictly forbidden. Taking USPS devices abroad poses serious security concerns as foreign adversaries, cybercriminals, and international terrorists can target and steal USPS devices.
Additionally, connecting a mobile device or laptop to foreign Wi-Fi without proper security controls puts the entire USPS network at risk. Careless practices while traveling can cause immense damage if the connection is unsecure.
So, when traveling internationally, remember to leave your USPS equipment at home.
For more helpful tips about cybersecurity best practices, visit the CyberSafe at USPS® websites on Blue (blue.usps.gov/cyber) and LiteBlue (liteblue.usps.gov/cyber).
— Corporate Information Security Office,
Chief Information Security Officer
and Digital Solutions, 4-22-21
