What should you do if you leave your computer to go to another area?

Logging off or locking the computer and removing your PIV card before leaving is important for maintaining the security of sensitive data. When you leave your computer unattended, it poses a risk for unauthorized access to confidential information, especially in a setting like the Veterans Health Administration, where patient data and other sensitive information are handled. By securing your workstation in this manner, you are ensuring that only authorized users can access the system, which is a critical component of protecting privacy and maintaining data integrity.

Leaving the computer on and unattended or in sleep mode does not provide adequate security, as it may still allow anyone nearby to access the information on the screen or within the system. Relying on a colleague to watch the computer does not guarantee security, as the colleague may not be aware of the need to monitor access diligently. Thus, the best practice is to log off or lock the computer and securely manage your access cards when leaving the workspace.