October was established as Cybersecurity Awareness Month in 2004 and is a collaborative effort between government agencies and private industry to help individuals protect themselves online, especially as threats to technology and confidential data become more commonplace. Drake is kicking off Cybersecurity Awareness Month with our first topic—security culture.

Whether you know it or not, you play a major role in Drake’s security culture. That may sound intimidating, but chances are you’re already doing your part. Security culture comprises the ideas, customs, and social behaviors of a group or organization that influence its security. Reporting a phishing email to ITS, discussing a news-making cyber attack with a coworker—that’s security culture at work!

To keep yourself and Drake safe, remember the following cybersecurity tips to enhance our security culture:

• Think before you click. If you aren’t sure about a suspicious email, link, or website, report it and don’t open it.
• Keep your information private. Use privacy settings on social media and other websites to control who sees your information. Additionally, be cautious who you share your information with. Remember, Drake will not ask you for your passwords, social security number, or other personal information.
• Strengthen your password. Use a variety of characters, avoid using personal information, use a different password for every app and website, and change your passwords regularly.
• Use multifactor authentication. MFA provides another layer of security to ensure it’s really you accessing your information.

Drake prioritizes your safety, and we ask you to do your part to strengthen our security culture.

Take the cybersecurity quiz! The first 150 people to complete the quiz will receive a coupon to use at the campus Starbucks, and all student participants will be entered into a random drawing for 1 of 10 Griff II t-shirts. Complete the quiz by October 31, 2023.

Watch for next week’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month topic in OnCampus. Learn more about cybersecurity, watch videos, and become a part of Drake’s security culture at drake.edu/its/csam.

For ITS assistance, submit a ticket at service.drake.edu/its, visit the lower level of Carnegie Hall, or call 515-271-3001.

— Chris Mielke, ITS