As the nation celebrates its 20th Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Cybersecurity Programs Office is participating with several events and initiatives on campus. Check out the following to see what’s happened so far and upcoming events to participate in.
Cool Science Carnival Day
Cybersecurity Awareness Month kicked off with this year’s Cool Science Carnival Day on Sept. 30, with the Cybersecurity Programs Office providing Virtual Reality (VR) stations and activity tables for kids and community members. Attendees could try out the immersive VR experience, which allowed them to walk through various cyber career areas in a virtual world, engage with people in cyber jobs and solve cyber riddles. The table activities included making “binary bracelets” by spelling out your name in binary code with colored beads, a carnival prize wheel and the opportunity to learn about and decipher a Caesar cipher.
Cool Science Cybersecurity Awareness Parents’ & Kids’ Night
As part of a community effort to raise awareness regarding cybersecurity, UCCS staff and faculty invited K-8 parents and their children for an educational evening during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month on Wednesday, Oct. 4. There were educational sessions and hands-on activities for parents and students alike on cybersecurity, threats to personal security, and what to look for in the online world to stay safe.
UCCS Cyber Across the Campus Day
On Friday, Oct. 6, there will be several events to grow cybersecurity and personal security awareness for students, staff and faculty.
From 9 – 11 a.m. at El Pomar Plaza, representatives from Cyber organizations including Deloitte, the Women in Cyber (WiCyS) Club, the Mountain Lions Cyber Club and both UCCS and CU staff will be there to answer questions about cybersecurity on campus and working in the cybersecurity industry. Also, The University of Colorado will bring a Plinko game so participants can answer quiz questions and win CU Swag!
From 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., the UCCSlead Cybersecurity Leadership Seminar takes place in Berger Hall. Each table will be led by a Deloitte employee who works in cybersecurity, there will be Deloitte swag, and the keynote speaker, Mike Finn, an Executive Leader in IT and Cyber Operations at Deloitte, will both educate and entertain with his insights from years in the cybersecurity industry. All participants get lunch, a leadership certificate, and a graduation cord! Please register in advance and learn more here.
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Panel: Cautionary Tales in Cybersecurity
On Monday, Oct. 16 from 5 – 6:30 p.m., join experts in cybersecurity from both from both the UCCS staff and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) for some great cyber stories! The panelists will tie back recent cybersecurity breaches to the importance of vigilance in your own cybersecurity posture and provide tips and tricks on how to better secure your personal presence online. Please register in advance and learn more here.
About Cybersecurity at UCCS
UCCS is a recognized cybersecurity education leader in the region, awarding hundreds of degrees each year in cybersecurity fields at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. UCCS cybersecurity programs train security professionals who work to ensure the nation’s security, support faculty research and strategic cybersecurity partnerships with industry, government, military and academic institutions, including the U.S. Space Force and the National Cybersecurity Center. Due to generous Colorado state funding of cybersecurity education, UCCS students are eligible for significant financial aid towards security degree scholarships. Learn more about Cybersecurity Programs at UCCS.