October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month—an annual opportunity to strengthen our collective understanding of cybersecurity and reinforce the simple actions we can all take to stay safe online. This year's theme, “Don’t Make it Easy for Them," reminds us that cybercriminals often look for the easiest path to success. By adopting strong security habits, each of us can help make the bad actors’ job much more difficult! This theme encourages all of us to focus on everyday actions that improve security and reduce cyber risk both at the University and in our personal digital lives.
Cybersecurity is not just an Information Technology Services (ITS) responsibility. It is a shared responsibility that belongs to every member of our campus community. Whether you are a student, faculty member, staff member, or administrator, the choices you make each day, such as recognizing phishing emails, using multi-factor authentication, creating strong passwords, and keeping software up to date, help protect our institution's data, systems, and reputation.
Throughout October, ITS will be sharing cybersecurity tips, best practices, awareness resources, and practical guidance to help everyone become more cyber aware. We encourage you to read these communications and take advantage of the information provided.
As part of our ongoing commitment to protecting university information and meeting compliance requirements, all faculty and staff will be required to complete annual cybersecurity awareness training during the month of October. Additional details regarding training access and deadlines will be communicated soon.
Together, we can build a stronger security culture and help ensure a safe and secure digital environment for our entire campus community. Let's work together this Cybersecurity Awareness Month and remember: Don't Make it Easy for Them!