As more researchers take advantage of the University of Missouri's secure environment for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) implemented in December 2022, the IT Research Support Solutions (ITRSS) security team continues to follow and monitor best practices.
CUI is a category of sensitive but unclassified information used and managed by the U.S. government. The university’s centralized CUI environment, known as Arculus, is designed to keep research data safe and secure in accordance with U.S. laws, regulations and policies. By 2025, use of a cybersecurity tool like Arculus will be federally mandated for all universities seeking funding for research involving CUI.
The ITRSS security team works side by side with MU researchers to ensure they know this federally regulated resource is available to them. Those who use Arculus will find new opportunities to collaborate with peers working in similarly secured environments and spend less time on paperwork. Arculus also opens the door for more research collaborations with the U.S. government, its contractors and other controlled entities.
Matthew Keeler, associate director of ITRSS, said that this resource makes MU eligible for grants for which researchers traditionally wouldn’t have access.
“Having the resource and the team that manages it makes it easier for researchers to jump in while making MU a more appealing place for grant agencies to fund,” he said.
For example, MU investigators are participating in a hypersonic flight research project involving other universities, NASA, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corp. and the U.S. Department of Defense. Arculus provides projects like this with the necessary protections without the burden being placed on individual researchers.
Becky Fowler, chief information security officer for the UM System, said the secured environment upholds MU’s commitment to supporting the principles of academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas.
“Arculus gives us a competitive advantage over universities without secure CUI environments,” Fowler said. “The other advantage is that it provides a dedicated and secure research space without imposing additional security measures on students.”
ITRSS is partially a result of a $7 million investment toward enhancing research technology and associated support services systemwide. The investment is part of MizzouForward, a comprehensive strategy to invest in and enhance MU’s research and education missions.