In 2021, SNC, CISA, and NCSA will focus on the following areas in our promotions and outreach:

• Week of October 4 (Week 1): “Be Cyber Smart.”

• Week of October 11 (Week 2): “Phight the Phish!”

• Week of October 18 (Week 3): “Explore. Experience. Share.”

• Week of October 25 (Week 4): “Cybersecurity First”

Each week in October, we will share an email highlighting the topic for the week and provide details on SNC information security initiatives that will be rolled out during the month that will help improve information security at the college.

Thank you for all that you do to help keep yourself and SNC secure. Cybersecurity is a team effort so remember to “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.”

October 1: Kick-off

The St. Norbert College Information Security Program, the National Cyber Security Alliance, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) invite you to celebrate Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2021 this October as we raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and ensure that all individuals and organizations have the information and tools they need to be safer and more secure online. “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.”

Week of October 4 (Week 1): “Be Cyber Smart”

As our lives have become increasingly dependent on technology, virtually all personal and business data is kept on internet-connected platforms, which can become a gold mine for bad actors.The first full week of Cybersecurity Awareness Month will highlight best security practices and focus on general cyber hygiene to keep your information safe. Own your role in cybersecurity by starting with the basics. Creating strong passwords and using multi-factor authentication, backing up your data, and updating your software are great places to start. This is a great way to Do Your Part #BeCyberSmart!

The SNC Information Security Program provides the SNC community with resources to help you “Be Cyber Smart” at SNC. We are excited to announce that we will be implementing our own Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to protect your Google Workspace accounts. Beginning in the week of October 18, all SNC users ---students, faculty, and staff, will be required to sign-up for the Google 2-Step Verification solution. The ITS team will be sending out specific instructions in the coming days on how to sign-up for the Google 2-Step Verification. Using the Google 2-Step Verification we require the user to confirm their credentials and identity before accessing the Google Workspace.

Week of October 11 (Week 2): “Phight the Phish”

Phishing attacks and scams have thrived since the COVID pandemic began in 2020 and today, phishing attacks account for more than 80 percent of reported security incidents. Week 2 of Cybersecurity Awareness Month will stress the importance of being wary of emails, text messages or chat boxes that come from a stranger or someone you were not expecting. Think before you click on any suspicious emails, links or attachments and make sure to report any suspicious emails if you can!

The SNC Information Security Program provides the SNC community with resources to help you “Phight the Phish” at SNC. We are excited to announce that we will be launching the SNC Information Security Awareness Training Program that will provide you with relevant information security training in a bite-sized video format. Beginning in October and monthly thereafter, you will receive an email with a link to a 3-minute video training module that provides real-world scenario guidance on how to protect your information and SNC. The videos are funny and will reinforce good cybersecurity hygiene practices.

Week of October 18 (Week 3): “Explore. Experience. Share – (Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week)”

Week 3 of Cybersecurity Awareness Month will highlight the Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week led by the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE). This is a week-long campaign that inspires and promotes the exploration of cybersecurity careers. Whether it’s students, veterans, or those seeking a career change, the dynamic field of cybersecurity is rapidly growing and has something for everyone. Learn more about Cybersecurity Career Awareness week here.

The SNC Information Security Program encourages students to explore cybersecurity careers, as there are many exciting job opportunities in the world of information security and cybersecurity. At SNC, we are taking steps to improve the overall cybersecurity posture of the SNC community by implementing changes to better protect SNC devices and servers from cyber threats. For example, as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the SNC Information Security Program will push security updates to SNC devices and systems on a weekly basis whenever possible to ensure that software is patched on a regular basis. As a part of the SNC community, you may be asked to reboot your computer or application as part of this standardized process.

Week of October 25 (Week 4): “Cybersecurity First”

Week 4 is all about making security a priority. For colleges, this means building security into policies and processes. Make cybersecurity training a part of employee onboarding and equip staff with the tools they need to keep the organization safe. For individuals, keep cybersecurity at the forefront of your mind as you connect daily. Before purchasing a device or online product, do your research. When you set up a new device or app, consider your security and privacy settings and update default passwords. Cybersecurity should not be an afterthought.

The SNC Information Security Program provides the SNC community with the tools and resources to help you keep “Cybersecurity First” at SNC. For example, we are excited to announce that we will be implementing a new Elevated Privilege Management Program that will provide assistance to SNC information system users when they need to install software that is not part of the SNC corporate portal process. The new policy program will remove local administrative rights on SNC devices to prevent unauthorized software and applications from being connected to the SNC network. However, end users can request a policy exception on a case-by-case basis to be granted temporary permission to download the software or application onto an SNC device.