Thumb drives still banned

Published Feb. 26, 2010
3rd Wing Public Affairs

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Although new guidelines from the U.S. Strategic Command allow service members to use thumb drives and other sources of flash media, these rules do not change current Air Force and Elmendorf restrictions on their use.

"The new policy requires a restrictive process be put in place to authorize thumb drive use for mission essential purposes only, and only as a last resort. The Air Force cyber leadership is currently developing a set of procedures. Those procedures will almost certainly task PACAF headquarters and our wing to develop our own approval and tracking process. Until those steps are completed, thumb drives and flash media remain unauthorized on the Elmendorf network," said Lt. Col. Scott Jackson, 3rd Communications Squadron commander.

"I would like to emphasis that the communications squadron only exists to enhance the mission of Elmendorf network users and my team is anxious for the green light to allow this valuable capability while following the necessary steps to protecting our networks," he said.