Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Existing tools help users reduce PII breachesPublished July 16, 2014
                    
                    By 1st Lt. Meredith Hein
                    
                    
                    24th Air Force Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas (AFNS) --**Members of 24th Air Force are refurbishing an old email tool to help Air Force users reduce breaches of personally identifiable information, or PII.
The Digital Signature Enforcement Tool, or DSET, which currently prompts users to provide a digital signature when an email contains an active hyperlink or attachment, is being reconfigured to scan emails and attachments for PII. DSET was first introduced to Microsoft Outlook in 2009 by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center. 
"DSET was originally designed to mitigate risk from socially-engineered email or phishing attacks. Now, it provides some protection of messages transmitting PII," said Alonzo Pugh, a cyberbusiness system analyst for 24th AF. "The tool provides awareness for users of risks before the email leaves the workstation, giving users the chance to correct the identified risk."
PII includes items such as an individual's social security number, driver's license information and financial information. Breaches occur when this information is inadvertently released. User awareness is one of the biggest issues associated with PII breaches, Pugh said.
"When users release PII that is not protected, that puts information at risk for being intercepted by adversaries,” he said. “These adversaries can then use that information to target users to gain access the network. Air Force network users must do their due diligence when sending an e-mail containing PII. They need to make sure the information is protected."
DSET capability should encourage users to be more involved in the process of preventing PII breaches, Pugh said. "The user is afforded the ability to take action in checking their emails to make sure they are not inadvertently releasing PII, and given the opportunity to protect it. DSET makes users more aware that they need to double check their emails and ensure that they are in accordance with policy; the responsibility for preventing breaches ultimately falls on them."
The tool itself is straightforward to use, Pugh said, and will give users simple prompts to follow in sending emails. In addition, there is a function allowing information which was falsely identified as PII to still be sent. 
"While our software solution will support the Air Force's efforts to reduce PII breaches, it is still important for personnel to be aware and vigilant with their handling of documents containing PII," said Col. Eric Oliver, the 24th Air Force director of cyber systems. 
The tool's new usage is still in its initial stage, focusing on social security numbers. Developers hope that DSET will ultimately be able to scan for a variety of PII to prevent future breaches. 
"It is imperative that we protect one another as we move each Air Force mission forward," said Maj. Gen. J. Kevin McLaughlin, the 24th Air Force commander. "Avoiding the release of PII is part of being a good wingman, but it is also part of protecting the network and accomplishing the Air Force mission."
In preparation for the release of DSET, you can access training for the new tool using the following link:https://afpki.lackland.af.mil/assets/files/OE-15-40-064_QRG-DSET_v0001.pdf 
Additional training on how to encrypt Microsoft Office documents can be accessed at: http://www.24af.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-140701-064.pdf 
Users have multiple tools at their disposal to protect PII if encrypting e-mail is not feasible, but if electronic transmission of sensitive PII is operationally required, users can leverage approved Department of Defense file exchange services at: https://safe.amrdec.army.mil/safe/PII 



24th Air Force 



Digital Signature Enforcement Tool 



personally identifiable information Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil