School of CS newsletter

Mandatory requirement for all staff

Have you completed your Data Protection training? Did you know this is a mandatory requirement for all staff members with access to University systems?

The requirement to complete the Data Protection training course in the last two years comes as new regulations come into force on 25 May 2018.

All staff are expected to undertake the mandatory Data Protection training every two years – this is a condition of access to University IT systems.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), accompanied by a new UK Data Protection Act, is all about person identifying information (PII) and the way that this is collected, stored and used. It requires organisations that use PII to be transparent in explaining each of these uses to people; to provide choices about these where appropriate to do so; to keep it securely; to only collect and retain the minimum amount of PII necessary to carry out their functions and to only retain it for as long as required.

This reinforces much of the current Data Protection Act but there are also specific elements and enhancements being brought in which means we have to do some things differently.

Access the course

You can access this training (Code TBF26) from your training catalogue in My Manchester: https://app.manchester.ac.uk/TBF26

Already completed the course?

If you have completed the course in the last two years, you don’t need to complete it again until your two years are up. You can check if you have completed it and when on My Manchester.

Further information:

• GDPR and what you need to do

Launch of a web-based chemical inventory system that can help all staff and students in their day-to-day work

The Directorate of Compliance and Risk is pleased to announce the launch of a web-based chemical inventory system that can help all staff and students in their day-to-day work. This new, easy-to-use resource saves both time and money, as well as assisting safer working.

The system is called LabCup and is available now using your University IT account username and password. LabCup is being rolled-out across the University in stages and you should contact your local Safety Advisor for further information about availability in your area.

How does it work? LabCup uses unique barcodes to track every chemical, meaning they can be located instantly. This will provide more sustainable working by avoiding duplication and automatically identifying expired chemicals, so they can be disposed of safely. Many useful features can be accessed from a smartphone or tablet, as well as your desktop PC. For example, the system has an image recognition feature that can capture information directly from product labels which can then be added to the database. The system also cleverly retrieves and stores safety data for a product directly from the manufacturer.

LabCup also has an integrated Risk Assessment module so that all hazard and risk information can be stored in one place. It can also display emergency information associated with the substance on the plans of your building. What’s more, if you have to prepare statutory compliance returns, the administrative headache is gone. Once fully implemented, reports can be generated in seconds directly from the inventory.

Does that mean everyone can use my chemicals? Although the inventory is University-wide, your lab will keep ownership of all chemicals. Other groups can only use them with your permission.

For sustainability, LabCup does allow the sharing of chemicals and other materials, which the University strongly encourages, but it is you who decides what to share and with whom.

Surely it’s not as easy as it sounds? Although the software is very user-friendly, training sessions will be provided for everyone who needs it, and additional support is available via the online forum and instructions in the inventory main page. Any queries or concerns should be addressed directly with your School Safety Advisers (SSAs).

NCSC (part of GCHQ) has sent an open invitation for 25 of our academics and students to visit the exhibition being held as part of its CYBERUK2018 conference in Manchester next month.

Loads of cyber sec. innovation and tech, firms and organisations offering funding and recruitment, and hands on cyber security puzzle and games

• Thursday 12th April 2018

• Approx. 10:00 – 12:30 (TBC)

• 25 places are available

• Attendees must be 18 years old or over

• Attendees must be British nationals

• Attendees will be required to complete a photo consent form and agree to the conference Code of Conduct. To gain entry on the event day, all attendees must:

• Complete a short application form (I'm getting these for you) and return them to the event administration (kedwards@brayleino.co.uk)

• On the day bring:  Photo ID, Signed photo consent and Code of Conduct forms (part of the application)

To get the ball rolling, please e-mail Matt Thomas to make sure we know you want to attend.

Any questions? Let Daniel Dresner know

The Alan Turing Institute invites proposals for research in economics and data science with awards of up to £150,000 available for projects lasting 6-24 months. As part of the scheme, there are unique opportunities to collaborate with The Alan Turing Institute, HSBC, and/or ONS. For more details please visit: https://www.turing.ac.uk/jobs/turing-hsbc-ons-economic-data-science-awards-2018/

Applications must be led by a researcher based either at the Alan Turing Institute, or at one of the Turing's partner universities such as Manchester..

* Can applicants submit more than one project proposal?

Yes. Each project proposal will need to include relevant letters of support.

* Which researchers are eligible to apply?

The PI can have any departmental affiliation: given the subject area, we anticipate research proposals to demonstrate engagement with either economics broadly construed (encompassing, for example, sociology, finance, or business studies, among others), and/or data science broadly construed (encompassing, for example, mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering, or physics, among others).

For initial enquriies please contact Su Smith (RSM), or the Turing Programme Manager Dr Mahlet (Milly) Zimeta if your question is more specific, who can also be contacted directly on 0203 862 3360.

Tyrrell Basson, Head of Technology, Infrastructure & Operations, IT Services

IT Modernisation Programme is seeking to transform the End User Computing services available across the University. This presentation will provide an overview of the objectives of the project, the principles driving our approach and provide a description of the transformational projects they are seeking to introduce, which will include

• Migrating from an on-premises Microsoft Exchange solution to the use of a standard cloud based Office 365 solution
• Upgrading all the Windows 7 devices to a single Windows 10 build, including two standard Linux builds and a single MacOS build
• Virtualising the desk-side portfolio of applications to support VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure)
• Design, Implement and (hybrid) manage a “follow-me” desk-side solution

The presentation will also discuss the high level timelines we are working to.

The event will take place in 2.220 University Place from 3 – 4.30pm on 25/4/2018.  Please register for this event.