STACHE: UT's Secure Information Management Solution

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Stache is a secure information storage solution created by UT Austin’s Information Security Office. 😎 It doesn’t get any localer than that, y’all! All UT employees are automatically able to use Stache.utexas.edu to securely manage, store and share passwords and other sensitive information.

STEPS

  1. Use your UT EID and UT network password, along with your Duo Authentication method to log into UT’s Stache at http://www.stache.utexas.edu.

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  1. To create a new entry to store information, click on +Add a new entry.

  1. New entries are, by default, named Unnamed entry. The name can be changed at any time, and isn't unique. Name the entry something clear that makes sense to you. NOTE: This field is not encrypted, and can be viewed by appropriate Stache administrators in places such as activity logs. You should not save private information in this field.

  1. What appears next is the three unique sections of the entry where you enter details to be stored.
    It looks like this:

Check out each section below to understand which types of information go where and what kind of privacy they provide. If you use Stache only for yourself, you can use it however you prefer. Well, actually, even if you share Stache info with others, it’s still completely up to you how you use it. #truth!

  1. Each time you have a password, set of login credentials, account details or other sensitive information to store, you can create a new entry for each. You can also just use a single entry to store everything in one place - it just depends on how you prefer to organize your info!

    1. Just remember to update stache whenever you change your passwords or other sensitive information so that it remains current. And remember to hit that save button!

Now for the FUN part!
SHARING SECURE INFORMATION… SECURELY!

Similar to how UT Box Cloud Storage works, you can invite people into your Stache entries. And you assign them a role or category that determines how much power (aka vision) they have in your Stache. (So be careful how much you give someone!)

Stache goes into way more detail than we need here, so if you want to do a deep dive, knock yourself out with Stache’s Entries Page. Here’s the abridged version on roles:

  • Reader: Can only view an entry, or remove themselves from it.

  • Writer: Can view and edit an entry, or remove themselves from it.

  • Owner: They can do everything you can do, but they can’t remove themselves from it. Which… could be a great way to irritate someone who irritated you. Just kidding. Don’t do that, y’all.

Each folder must have an owner. If you’re a party of one in a disused folder… just get rid of the folder.

STEPS

Feeling Ambitious? Let’s Talk FOLDERS!
If you’re someone who likes their organizational systems, boy does Stache have some good times in store for you!

Much like UT Box, Stache allows you to create folders, aka a hierarchical information system. If, for example, you like to make separate Stache entries for each of your password protected accounts, and you want to split the entry types into groups or create an access point for someone who needs to get into some of those entries, just create one or more folders and add the relevant entries, then add your peoples (if applicable).

STEPS

  1. Head back to the starting point by clicking on All Entries. Hover your cursor over the All entries arrow and select Folders from the pop-up menu.

  1. Click on + Add a new folder, enter a New folder name, click Create.

  1. The next screen that pops up is asking for a description. The line that shows the name of the folder is where you’ll add the description. This will not change the name of the folder, and as soon as you begin editing the description, the Save and Cancel options will appear. Be sure to save the description.

There’s a lot more to managing rolls, access and capabilities related to folders. Check out Stache’s Adding Entries to Folders section for more detail. This should at least get you started!