RESEARCH SECURITY
Research security is a critical focus of Federal funding. Federal agencies are required to ensure that researchers supported by Federal money implement best practices in research security. Research security is aimed at securing the nation's research enterprise. Such efforts are essential to national defense, including economic stability. The Federal government aims to ensure the security of the research it supports, while balancing the need for international collaboration in science and engineering.
Why is Research Security Important?
Research security is one of the tenants of responsible and ethical conduct in research. It relates to full and transparent disclosure, good stewardship of public money spent on research, and ensuring the integrity of the research. Ensuring research security is addressed throughout the lifecycle of the research project ensures that resources can be leveraged, including the power of international collaborations. With open and transparent disclosures, research teams can achieve principled international collaboration. Additionally, if there are any security issues or sensitive information in use in the research, such risks can be mitigated.
How is Research Security Achieved?
- Reducing foreign influence risks through
- Foreign influence disclosures
- Not engaging in an malign foreign talent recruitment program (MFTRP)
- Ensuring transparent international collaborations
- Ensuring Export Controls are in place
- Technology Control Plans, if appropriate
- Foreign visitor vetting
- International travel security
- Ensuring best practices for cybersecurity of information (even fundamental research)
- Using UA IT environment, only (vs. e.g. Google drive or DropBox)
- Encrypting emails
- Being on the lookout for phishing, spoofing, and other cyber attacks.
For more information, see the links and additional webpages below.
Regulatory Background
The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 ("the Act") included specific guidance to NSF to implement research security policies. The Act was based on the National Security Presidential Memorandum-33, and subsequent conversations. Each Federal agency is implementing the Act. Further, the DOD and DOE are already doing risk-based security reviews of key personnel on grants awarded to universities, even for fundamental research.
Other Resources
- The Office of Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy at NSF provides valuable resources for learning more about research security
- Training on Research Security developed by NSF
- University of Akron Information Security Home
- University of Akron Export Control Home
- FBI Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
