In an increasingly interconnected world, universities face a constant challenge in safeguarding their network infrastructure from potential cyber threats and attacks. At the University of West Florida, we take the security of our network very seriously and continually strive to implement robust measures to protect our data, research, and the privacy of our users. As part of these efforts, we have made the decision to restrict incoming and outgoing network requests from specific countries known for their high-risk cybersecurity profiles. This proactive approach aims to bolster our defense against potential threats and to ensure the smooth functioning of our network for the entire academic community.
Country-Based Network Restrictions
The decision to block incoming and outgoing network requests from certain countries is not taken lightly, and it is based on a thorough assessment of various factors, including historical cybersecurity data, intelligence from security agencies, and the presence of malicious activities originating from these countries.
The countries subjected to these restrictions are:
People’s Republic of China
Cuba
Iran
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Russia
Syria
Venezuela
Each of these countries has shown varying degrees of cybersecurity risk, and the restriction measures are tailored accordingly to mitigate potential external threats.
FAQs
This implies that users connecting from sources potentially originating from the mentioned countries will be unable to reach UWF internet resources, including MyUWF, eLearning (Canvas), or any website that necessitates UWF credentials for access.
Only email and mail servers hosted in the restricted country would be impacted by the network restriction. Email providers such as Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft, which are hosted outside the restricted country, shouldn't be impacted. Therefore, emails sent to or received from these popular email providers should continue to function normally despite the network restriction. However, if the email servers involved in the communication are located within the restricted country, there might be an impact on the exchange of emails
While it’s possible that a private VPN could be used to bypass the restriction, it is crucial to check and understand the local laws and regulations of the country or institution you are in. Some countries may have strict regulations against VPN usage or circumventing network restrictions, and violation of these laws could lead to legal consequences. Prioritizing compliance with local laws helps ensure a safe and responsible use of technology while avoiding any potential legal issues or penalties.
No, Microsoft 365 integrated software will have the same country-based network restrictions. This includes, but is not limited to, Microsoft Office applications, cloud services, collaboration tools, and business intelligence software.
