By Jane Grønning Johansen, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photo: Lasse Møller Badstue, AAU Communication and Public Affairs

The security policy landscape is changing rapidly, and AAU must be prepared for a new reality. An increased cyber, espionage and sabotage threat against Danish universities means that the authorities have tightened security requirements. Therefore, the Executive Management has approved a revision of AAU's Safety and Security Policy.

The need for strengthened security awareness is also illustrated by the latest hacking and espionage incidents related to DTU, the CPR register, and MyDefence, among others.

The policy is intended to support a strong security culture at AAU and create a safe environment. As a new security measure, everyone – staff, students and guests – must visibly wear an access card (AAUcard) when on the university's three campuses. 

"We must protect AAU's assets and everyone who is present on the three campuses. But we also need to protect our research and ensure that valuable knowledge does not fall into the wrong hands. Therefore, it is important to create security behaviour that supports this," says University Director Søren Lind Christiansen and adds: 

"Visibly wearing an AAUcard is a simple measure, but it sends an important signal: Security is something we all contribute to. This helps strengthen the security culture at AAU."

Security behaviour is a shared responsibility

The requirement to visibly wear an AAUcard is followed by a new colour system that makes it easy to distinguish between the different user groups. Students have a green card, employees a blue one, and guests a red one.

Older cards are still valid and will be replaced with the new colour-coded access cards on an ongoing basis. 

According to Christian Braae Brynje, Chief Security Officer at AAU, visibly wearing an AAUcard makes it quick and easy to identify people with legitimate access to AAU’s campuses.

"At the same time, it supports the prevention of unauthorized presence and contributes to general awareness of security," says Christian Braae Brynje, Chief Security Officer. He adds that many people already wear their AAUcard visibly, while for others it will require a clear change in existing habits. 

Security behaviour is particularly important at a time when there is an increased cyber, espionage and sabotage threat to Danish universities, including AAU. But a strong security culture is also a shared responsibility. 

AAU has almost 5,000 access control points where an AAUcard must be used to gain access to a specific building, office or laboratory. The university will continue to be open to the public, but visibly wearing the AAUcard, in conjunction with access control points, ensures that areas that require restricted access remain protected. 

"Security is not about closing the university. It is about taking care of people, research and our shared values while maintaining AAU as an open and welcoming university. Ensuring that people without legitimate access do not gain access to protected areas, facilities, knowledge or data is a shared responsibility," says Christian Braae Brynje.

Read the Safety and Security Policy.

Contact AAU Security and Emergency Management

Do you have questions regarding the new security measure about wearing your AAUcard visibly in campus? 

Reach out to AAU Security and Emergency Management for advice and feedback on security via campus@adm.aau.dk 

Translation by LeeAnn Iovanni, AAU Communication and Public Affairs