Higher Education Raises Cybersecurity Awareness

Institutions of higher education are leading the way in promoting cybersecurity awareness on campus and within their local communities. The education community is among the most active sectors participating in National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) held annually in October. The EDUCAUSE/Internet2 Computer and Network Security Task Force has developed a resource kit to make it easy for campuses to participate.

“Education is what colleges and universities do best,” commented Peter Siegel, vice provost for information and educational technology and CIO at the University of California at Davis. Siegel, who cochairs the Security Task Force, added, “The Security Task Force has actively encouraged college and university efforts to raise awareness of information technology security issues among students, campus employees, and senior executives and within the local community.” 

The Security Task Force supports campus efforts by promoting best practices, organizing and sharing resources, and developing new content where needed. An example is the annual student video contest that provides cash awards to college and university students who produce award-winning short videos that can be used in campus training programs designed for students. The 2007 contest also resulted in 30-second public service announcements to be used on campus radio or cable television stations. The videos are available for streaming or downloading for free for campuses that want to use them in their educational efforts. The task force has also produced an executive awareness video, featuring two campus presidents and their CIOs emphasizing the importance of and urgency for campus leadership to advance cybersecurity.

In addition to encouraging campus programs and special events, the Security Task Force has stimulated regional efforts designed to facilitate awareness programs within local communities, including businesses, local government, and area schools and institutions of higher learning. One example of a successful civic-minded endeavor is the second annual Rochester Security Summit, slated for October 3–4 in Rochester, New York. “The Summit is a tremendous opportunity for us to share our expertise regarding cybersecurity and collaborate with the Rochester community,” said David Lewis, vice provost and CIO of the University of Rochester. “It is extremely exciting for us to play a major role in this informative event and support this year’s NCSAM theme, ‘Protect Yourself Before You Connect Yourself.’”

Although awareness programs on campus occur throughout the year, October has been designated as National Cyber Security Awareness Month by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA), a public/private partnership between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and partners from industry and academia. A national campaign, NCSAM is focused on educating the American public, businesses, schools, and government agencies about ways to secure their part of cyberspace, their computers, and our nation's critical infrastructure. This year, DHS will join with the Federal Trade Commission and the NCSA to kick off NCSAM by hosting the National Cyber Security Awareness Summit on October 1 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C . Rodney Petersen, coordinator of the EDUCAUSE/Internet2 Security Task Force, will be a featured speaker at the event and will describe higher education’s efforts to improve cybersecurity.

About EDUCAUSE

EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology. The current membership comprises more than 2,200 colleges, universities, and educational organizations, including 250 corporations, with 17,000 active members. Learn more about EDUCAUSE at www.educause.edu.

About Internet2

Led by more than 200 U.S. universities working with industry and government, Internet2 develops and deploys advanced network applications and technologies for research and higher education, accelerating the creation of tomorrow's Internet. Internet2 recreates the partnerships among academia, industry, and government that helped foster today’s Internet in its infancy. For more information, visit www.internet2.edu.

About The National Cyber Security Alliance

A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) is a central clearinghouse for cyber security awareness and education for home users, small businesses, and the education community. A public-private partnership, NCSA sponsors include the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Trade Commission, and many private-sector corporations and organizations. For more information, and to review the top 8 cyber security practices, visit www.staysafeonline.org.