Participate in Cyber Security Awareness Month

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month (Cyber Month) at SLC, an internationally recognized campaign designed to raise awareness about the importance of staying safe online. This month offers a valuable opportunity for the SLC community—especially employees—to learn how to protect their digital assets, make smart digital decisions, and safeguard the college's systems and information. 

What’s New and Exciting 

This Cyber Security Awareness Month, we’re rolling out several new and exciting features to enhance security and make it easier for staff to stay safe online: 

Regular Communications: Look out for weekly updates in the newsletter with cyber tips, updates, and important security reminders.
 
New Phishing Reporting Button: The 'Report Message' button in Microsoft Outlook will be moved to a more visible and convenient location. This change will make it easier for staff to quickly report any suspicious emails they encounter. You’ll notice the old button still appears during this transition.  

Short Cyber Awareness Courses: We’ll be offering bite-sized training sessions focused on key cyber security topics. These will help staff stay informed and ensure they’re applying best practices. 

Phishing & Education Emails: Regular phishing simulations and educational emails will be sent out to test staff’s ability to identify phishing attempts and provide helpful resources to improve their skills. 

New Security Policies: We’re introducing updated security policies designed to further protect SLC’s systems and data. Be sure to review and familiarize yourself with these changes. 

Automatic Computer Locking: To enhance security, computers will now automatically lock after 30 minutes of inactivity, ensuring unattended devices remain secure. 

Ongoing Training, Education, and Testing: We’re committed to continuous learning and will provide ongoing training, educational content, and periodic tests to keep everyone sharp when it comes to cyber security. 
 
What to Expect    

Each week in October, SLC will focus on key topics aimed at boosting awareness and promoting better cybersecurity habits: 

Week of October 3: Focus: Protecting Our Physical Assets 
Learn how to secure physical devices like laptops, phones, and other hardware. Safeguard these assets from theft, loss, or unauthorized access to protect both personal and SLC-related data. 

Week of October 10: Focus: Password Security 
Strong, unique passwords are critical for account security. This week, discover best practices for creating and managing secure passwords to keep your accounts protected from unauthorized access. 

Week of October 17: Focus: Phishing Awareness 

Phishing attacks are a common threat. Learn how to identify and avoid phishing emails, texts, and websites that try to trick you into revealing personal information or compromising SLC systems. 

Week of October 22: Focus: Safeguarding Against Social Engineering Threats 
Social engineering attacks exploit human trust to gain access to sensitive information. Understand how these techniques work and how to prevent falling victim to such scams. 

Week of October 29: Focus: Web Usage-Navigating the Internet Securely 
Safe web browsing practices are essential. Learn how to navigate the internet securely, use privacy settings, and recognize unsafe websites to protect your personal data and SLC systems. 

Why Participate? 

Participating in Cyber Security Awareness Month helps SLC employees learn more about cybersecurity and make informed digital decisions. The goal is to: 
Increase awareness about potential cyber threats and how to avoid them. 
Support good choices when interacting with digital tools, both personally and professionally. 
Teach simple steps to protect personal and college devices, actions, systems, and sensitive information. 

How to Get Involved at SLC 

Here’s how you can actively participate in Cyber Security Awareness Month at St. Lawrence College: 

Take Short Training Courses: Throughout October, SLC will offer brief, informative training courses on each weekly topic. These courses are designed to help employees quickly grasp essential cyber security concepts and apply them in their day-to-day activities. 

Participate in Short Quizzes: After completing the training courses, test your knowledge with short quizzes. These quizzes will reinforce what you’ve learned and help you identify any areas where you may need to improve. 

Educate: Attend the weekly workshops or information sessions, designed to dive deeper into the key topics of cybersecurity. 

Engage: Visit the SLC intranet page for daily cyber tips, educational videos, and infographics. These resources will help you stay informed, and you can share them with colleagues to spread awareness. 

Apply: Take what you’ve learned from the training and quizzes and use it to make informed decisions that safeguard your personal devices, as well as SLC’s systems and sensitive information. 

Be Part of the Conversation 
Visit the SLC intranet regularly throughout October to join the cyber security conversation. Let’s work together to build a safer and more resilient digital community at St. Lawrence College. 
For more information or if you have any questions, reach out to the SLC IT Helpdesk. 

By participating in Cyber Security Awareness Month, SLC employees can help create a secure work environment while supporting safe digital practices across the college. Let’s protect ourselves, our systems, and our information together!