The Importance of Cybersecurity Awareness
In an era where digital technologies permeate every aspect of our personal and professional lives, the need for robust cybersecurity practices has never been more pressing. Cybersecurity Awareness Month serves as a crucial reminder that everyone has a role to play in maintaining a safer online environment.
Simple Ways to Protect Yourself from Cyber Attacks
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) have outlined four primary ways for individuals and organizations to enhance their online safety:
1. Recognize and Report Phishing: Staying vigilant against unsolicited messages and avoiding sharing sensitive information with unknown sources is crucial.
2. Use Strong Passwords: Implementing long, random, and unique passwords that include a mix of character types is essential. Password managers are recommended to help create and store these complex credentials.
3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Activating MFA on all online accounts, especially for email, social media, and financial services, significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access.
4. Update Software Regularly: Ensuring all devices and applications are up-to-date with the latest security patches is a fundamental step in maintaining cybersecurity.
Looking for Training Opportunities?
If you are looking for training opportunities, check out these Cyber Security Training options with the MN State IT Center of Excellence:
Becoming Cyber Savvy - Free Beginner Online Safety Training
Become cyber-savvy and learn best practices to protect yourself online.
Takeaways:
1. How to identify personal risk
2. How to create safe and secure passwords
3. How to protect your personal systems
4. Explore real-life examples of phishing and scam emails
Register for Free Virtual Sessions on the 2nd Thursday of the Month: 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM (UTC)
If you would like to take the self-guided training:
Please visit: https://educate.stemfuse.com/
-Select Join a Class
-Enter access code 704999e4
Cyber Security For Employees (Fundamentals of Cybersecurity for Employees)
The majority of employees use the Internet at some point while at work or while working remotely, so it is important to business that everyone learns to practice cyber safety. As an employer, the ITCOE is here to help train cybersecurity safety.
The goal of this course is to present information in a clear and minimally technical manner so that you know exactly what to do, and what not to do, to keep yourself and your company safe.
Areas covered:
• Scams and Malware
• Passwords and Authentication
• Protecting Information (personal and company proprietary)
If your employees would like to take the free self-guided training:
Employee Training:
Please visit: https://educate.stemfuse.com/
-Select Join a Class
-Enter access code: 4528efe5
Advanced Cyber Security Training For I.T. Professionals (Fundamentals of Cyber Security for Small Business)
As an IT professional, you know that there are negative business repercussions if there is a successful security breach including any of these: business disruption, legal action and fines, reputation damage, and financial loss
The goal of this course is to present information in a clear and minimally technical manner so that you know exactly what to do, and what not to do, to keep yourself and your company safe.
Areas covered:
· Risk Assessment
· Security Policies and Procedures
· Employee Training and Awareness
· Network Security
· Data Encryption
· Access Control
· Regular Software Updates and Patch Management
· Backup and Recovery
· Mobile Device Management
· Incident Response
· Compliance
· Vendor Risk Management
If your IT Professional would like to take the free self-guided training:
Please visit: https://educate.stemfuse.com/
-Select Join a Class
-Enter access code: e732f712