On October 26, 1998, security investigation procedures on the MVS South system will be significantly streamlined, and account sponsors will have more control over the process.

If you are an account sponsor or alternate sponsor, you should have received a memo from the NIH Computer Center regarding these changes. This information is also available via Web Sponsor at http://silk.nih.gov. It is important that we have accurate email addresses for all sponsors and their alternates because notification of security violations will be done through electronic mail.

Under the new process, if a set of registered initials has been deactivated due to an apparent security breach, electronic mail is sent to the account sponsor and the alternate sponsor. As before, the sponsor must investigate the incident.

Beginning on October 26, the account sponsor—once satisfied that no improper use of the account occurred—can then reactivate the initials through the Web Sponsor facility. No further communications with Computer Center staff will be necessary unless the investigation indicates that a security breach did in fact occur.

The Computer Center’s security investigators will, of course, be available to assist with any aspect of the investigation. They may be reached by calling TASC.