Information Technology Services has launched UTsend, a secure and user-friendly file transfer service designed to support more than 16,500 Faculty, 9,800 staff and 165 librarians in sharing confidential information with internal and external collaborators.
The new application provides a secure alternative to email for sending and receiving sensitive data, while also supporting large file transfers – up to 29 GB – with files hosted for 14 days.
“This solution helps to empower digital trust by providing a secure platform available to users across U of T,” says Swetlana Signarowski, executive director at Enterprise Applications & Solutions Integration (EASI), and project sponsor. “All files sent through the service are encrypted, authenticated and virus-scanned to ensure maximum security.”
The launch of the application aligns with the IT@UofT Strategic Plan, focusing on U of T’s multi-year information security strategy and providing a consistent, accessible user experience.
“While email is perfectly fine for general communications, UTsend provides users with a secure solution for sending sensitive information or content that’s simply too large to send over email,” says Gary Raposo, associate director, AMS/SAP at EASI, and project lead. “We’ve also followed U of T’s Data Classification Standard to ensure alignment with U of T’s information security strategy.”
Built through collaboration
The project was developed through close collaboration between EASI, the Division of People Strategy, Equity & Culture (PSEC), and Information Security.
These teams partnered to explore secure options for sharing sensitive information, including Social Insurance Numbers.
“To ensure we provide an optimal and secure solution, we consulted with Information Security, and tested a proof of concept with PSEC,” says Raposo. “Following a successful soft launch, we’re excited to roll out this application to the broader U of T community.”
Tested, trusted and ready to go
PSEC’s involvement was key to initiating the project and validating the service’s usability.
“It’s been amazing to contribute to a solution that the entire university can use for sharing sensitive data securely – for new hires and internal employees,” says Carlie Baylis, HR digital workforce and analytics projects consultant at PSEC. “This project has been a win-win for not only sharing confidential data but also transferring large files and datasets – it helps to speed up processes in a secure way.”
Getting started and looking ahead
UTsend is now available to Faculty, librarians and staff. Users will need their UTORid, password and UTORMFA credentials to access the service.
“We’re excited to offer this solution to the university community. It’s an intuitive application that will enhance collaboration, increase productivity and security,” says Signarowski. “In all of our projects, we aim to provide equitable access for all divisional and business partners, and this solution will serve U of T’s secure file transfer needs well into the future.”
If you have questions about the service, visit the UniversITy Service Catalogue.
