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CCRI e-mail dos and don'ts

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Veronica McMahon
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Command Cyber Readiness Inspection is approaching May 17, and several articles will be written in the next few months to ensure Team Tyndall understands how they can play a part in the success of the CCRI.

Performed by the Defense Information Systems Agency, the CCRI inspection team will look into several areas to assess Tyndall's ability to maintain the integrity of the global information grid. Following the proper e-mail rules can keep the GIG more secure.

The internet and Outlook e-mail are used constantly on Tyndall Air Force Base, and it is mission-essential for many of us to have these assets up and working. Yet there are still some do's and don'ts which may be apparent to some but not to others. Awareness of these is key to keeping the systems operable.

"Our e-mail at Tyndall is for official use only," said Lt. Col. Clorinda Trujillo, 325th Communications Squadron Commander. "You can use this tool to help accomplish your day-to-day mission. However, it is not supposed to be used for commercial, personal, or financial gain."

Such instances as scheduling meetings, sending reports, requesting information and other mission-essential e-mail traffic is what should be sent from our base computers, said Colonel Trujillo. It is not appropriate to forward chain mail, junk mail, or any e-mails with personal interests in mind.

There are people out there who can easily steal your identity so it is important to take the time to at least sign e-mails.

"Today, it has become almost too easy for anyone to appear to be someone they are not when sending e-mail," said Colonel Trujillo. "Signing and encrypting emails takes a little more time, but when you receive a signed e-mail, you can trust that the person who sent it is who they say they are."

Individuals should also be aware of which links they are clicking on in e-mails, for sometimes the link can bring you to a false website.

The internet is also for 'official use only' to help accomplish the mission. Online shopping, surfing the web and paying personal bills are not part of our mission and should be done on an individual's own time on their own computers.

The next article will explain and describe the different vulnerabilities associated with Tyndall's network and what users can do to prevent them on their end.