You may use a smart phone (like an iPhone or Android phone), a PDA (personal digital assistant) or some other mobile device at work. While such devices cannot be secured in the same way as your desktop or laptop computer, you should still take some precautions.

Since smart phones and PDAs are susceptible to a few viruses and similar threats, you should make sure your software is always up-to-date.

If there is information that you wouldn't want others to find if you lost your smart phone or PDA, you should set a password that has to be entered before the device can be used.

Never leave a smartphone unattended, even for just a minute. Make it a habit to keep the phone close at all times.

Use passwords whenever possible to protect your privacy if your phone is lost.

Only connect to Duke via the Internet by using the Duke VPN client.

Use passwords on any important documents that you keep on your cell phone. Your grocery list doesn't need a password, but you don't want confidential information in the hands of a thief.

Keep only the documents you really need on your smartphone, and remove and archive older files you don't actively use anymore.

Never allow your cell phone software to automatically supply a password for you. If you do, it means that anyone with your phone can access your accounts.

If you have a Duke-owned smartphone, check with IT staff about configuring it for remotely wiping the data on it in the event that it is lost or stolen.