Small Steps Make A Big Difference
Welcome to Northeastern’s celebration of Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Each October is dedicated to educating and informing Northeastern about the various threats that exist in the digital world, such as cyberattacks, phishing, malware, and more. You’re invited to participate with the Office of Information Security at various events and increase your cybersecurity knowledge to help keep Northeastern secure.
Week 1: Cybersecurity Awareness Month Kickoff
Working in a secure manner doesn’t only apply to campus. Northeastern is a global university with individuals working from all different kinds of devices and locations. The resources below help keep your Northeastern account and systems secure, so you can work in a safe environment no matter where you are.
Important Dates
- October 2: Join the National Cybersecurity Alliance for the Cybersecurity Awareness Month kickoff webinar to learn how public and private sectors can work toward building a safer connected world.
- Coming soon: Required annual Security Training will be sent by email (faculty and staff only).
Resources
- Visit the OIS Resources page for tips on practicing good cyber hygiene.
Week 2: Recognize and Report Phishing
Phishing occurs when someone uses harmful links, emails, or attachments to trick you into disclosing sensitive information or infecting your devices. Use the resources below to learn how Northeastern works to prevent such scams, and how you can recognize and report fraudulent email.
Important Dates
- October 10: Register for the webinar Staying Ahead of Phishing Attacks and join in on the conversation for an overview of common phishing attacks and email security.
Resources
- Review Northeastern’s Phish Bowl for recent phishing attempts.
- Read the knowledge base article How do I report phishing email?
- FAQ: Reporting Scams and Identity Theft
Week 3: Preserve Privacy
Maintaining data privacy requires proactive steps toward ensuring personal and institutional data, files, meetings, and digital tools are secure. Explore this week’s strategies to help preserve privacy for both you and the Northeastern community.
Important Dates
- · October 17: NUPD Preparedness Day
Resources
Week 4: Protect Data
Each member of the Northeastern community has a responsibility to ensure that university data is protected and used according to its purpose. This week, take a moment to learn how to keep your data secure.
Important Dates
- October 23: Data Destruction Day (Boston)
Resources
- Review Northeastern’s Data Classification and Document Management Guidelines.
- Read Three Clean Desk Habits to Implement Today.
Test your cybersecurity knowledge!
Thanks for participating in Cybersecurity Awareness Month! Let's see how much you know about keeping your data safe and secure.