October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
Launched in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance, NCSAM is an annual campaign held every October to promote online safety. Each year, it highlights common threats — like phishing attacks and ransomware—and shares best practices, including creating strong passwords, using multi-factor authentication, and keeping software up to date.
This year, the Office of Information Security (OIS) and UW Medicine Information Security will focus on four key themes: Cyber Hygiene, Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), Data Classification, and Ransomware Resilience.
Join us throughout the month for in-person and online events, where you’ll have opportunities to win prizes! Help us spread the word by sharing our training and awareness materials with friends, classmates, and colleagues.
New materials will be posted each week, so stay tuned!
Visit UW Medicine Information Security NCSAM page
Events
Join us throughout October to celebrate NCSAM with in-person and online presentations. All members of the UW community are welcome.
- Links to recordings for online sessions will be provided as they are available.
- Click the event name for the recording link. (UW NetID will be required to view.)
- Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2024
- Time: 11:00 – Noon AM (Pacific Time)
- Location: Register here
- Description: Join the NCA for the Cybersecurity Awareness Month kickoff webinar to learn how we can Secure Our World.
- Link to recording: Security Incident and Data Breach Management
- Date: Thursday, October 10, 2024
- Time: 1:00-2:00 PM (PT)
- Location: Register here
- Description: The current cybersecurity threat landscape is driving changes in the way the University manages information security and privacy incidents. OIS staff will describe recent shifts in priorities towards a more holistic incident management process.
- Link to recording (UW NetID login required): AI and Privacy.mp4
- Date: Monday, October 14, 2024
- Time: 1:00-2:00 PM (PT)
- Location: Register here
- Description: Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is redefining higher education, research, and the world as we know it. UW-IT’s Lead Architect Jared Reimer, Senior Privacy Analyst Abe Bender, and Senior Computing Specialist Colin McCarthy will discuss security and privacy considerations for the responsible use of the technology as UW transforms into a globally-recognized AI-powered university.
- Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024
- Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Location: HUB Room 145; Register here
- Description: Stop by to talk to Office of Information Security staff about common phishing tactics and scams and other cyber security risks and threats. Learn steps you can take to secure your accounts, data, and devices, such as encrypting laptops and devices and best practices for home networking. We’ll have snacks as well as OIS-branded security blankets and tumblers.
- Date: Monday, October 21, 2024
- Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM (PT)
- Location: Register here
- Description: Information Security Analyst Melissa Albin (Office of Information Security) will discuss protecting login credentials, recognizing and reporting phishing, spear phishing, and scams, securing devices and connections, managing passwords, tips for travel and working from home, permissions for collaborative tools, and backing up data & devices and disposing of them securely.
- Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
- Time: 3:30-5:00 PM (PT)
- Location: Odegaard 220; Register here
- Description: Chester Wisniewski, Global Field CTO at Sophos, will join us to talk about trends in ransomware targeting universities.
Based in Vancouver, Chester regularly speaks at information security industry events. He’s widely recognized as one of the industry’s top security researchers and is regularly consulted by press, appearing on BBC News, ABC, NBC, Bloomberg, Washington Post, CBC, NPR, and more.
- Link to recording (UW NetID login required): Data Classification: Why It Matters More than Ever
- Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024
- Time: 3:00-4:00 PM (PT)
- Location: Register here
- Description: AI’s reliance on access to data highlights the essential role of data classification to manage security and privacy risks. We invite UW personnel to come learn about data classification, our efforts at UW, and what you can do now to help keep UW data secure.
- Date: Monday, October 28, 2024
- Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (PT)
- Location: Register here
- Description: Higher Education organizations have been a popular target for adversaries. Join CrowdStrike Executive Strategist, Matt Singleton, for an interactive session on recent adversary activity and impact. While many organizations have experienced catastrophic attacks, there is hope! We’ll dive into why Higher Ed is such an attractive target, the adversaries most interested in Higher Ed, their tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) and what options resource-starved organizations can do to better protect their constituents, staff and communities.
- Date: Monday, October 28, 2024
- Time: 4:00-5:00 PM (PT)
- Location: Register here
- Description: Information Security Analyst Melissa Albin (Office of Information Security) will discuss protecting login credentials, recognizing and reporting phishing, spear phishing, and scams, securing devices and connections, managing passwords, tips for travel and working from home, permissions for collaborative tools, and backing up data & devices and disposing of them securely.
- Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
- Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM (PT)
- Location: Register here
- Description: Information Security Analyst Melissa Albin (Office of Information Security) will discuss protecting login credentials, recognizing and reporting phishing, spear phishing, and scams, securing devices and connections, managing passwords, tips for travel and working from home, permissions for collaborative tools, and backing up data & devices and disposing of them securely.
Themes
Each week we will focus on a theme, so check back on Mondays for new materials:
- Cyber Hygiene | October 7
Learn best practices to keep personal and UW data secure
- Artificial Intelligence | October 14
Engage in ongoing converstions about the future and safety of AI on campus
- Data Classification | October 21
Explore ways to identify risk and securely store UW data
- Ransomware Resilience | October 28
Prevent ransomware attacks and ensure your data and systems are prepared to withstand an attack
Graphics
Infographics
- Cyber Hygiene Tips [.pdf]
- Ransomware in Higher Education [.pdf]
- Phishing Scams [.pdf]
- Malware [.pdf]
NCSAM Postcard
- 2024 Postcard [.pdf]
Zoom and Teams Backgrounds
- Patterned Background [.png]
- Cyber Hygiene Background [.png]
Additional Resources
UW Medicine Information Security: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (UW NetID login required)
National Cybersecurity Alliance: Stay Safe Online
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): Secure Our World
IT Connect: Glossary of InfoSec Terms
Social Media
Follow UW-IT on social media for more cyber security tips and best practices!