About Our Mission

Information Security at SMU

The Office of Information Technology is committed to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Southern Methodist University’s information and technology resources. This mission supports the University’s goals of teaching, research, and service by safeguarding the data and systems that enable academic and administrative work.

Our Security Principles 

SMU’s information security program is guided by three foundational principles:

• Confidentiality limits access to information to authorized individuals and systems.
• Integrity protects information from unauthorized modification or destruction.
• Availability ensures that information and systems are accessible when needed to conduct University business.

What the OIT Security Team Does

The OIT Security team works in partnership with campus stakeholders to help protect SMU’s information assets. Our responsibilities include:

• Establishing and maintaining security policies, standards, and guidelines
• Supporting compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and contractual obligations
• Reducing institutional risk through security reviews, assessments, and monitoring
• Providing guidance to departments, faculty, staff, and students on protecting University data

Shared Responsibility

Information security at SMU is a shared responsibility. While the OIT Security team provides leadership, standards, and guidance, protecting University data requires collaboration across academic and administrative units.

By working together, we help ensure that SMU’s information resources remain secure, reliable, and available in support of the University community.

Explore these pages to learn more about our information security program, policies, standards, and available resources.