October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Information Technology Services (ITS) is observing this year’s theme “Own It. Secure It. Protect It.” NCSAM encourages all computer users to practice online safety and security.

ITS has several events planned in observance of NCSAM including:

• Thursday, October 3, 3 p.m. (Johnson Center, Room G): Ben Scribner from the Department of Homeland Security will speak. He is the section chief for the Stakeholder Engagement Division in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
• Thursday, October 10 (Johnson Center, Kiosk C) and Wednesday, October 30 (Johnson Center, Kiosk D) from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.: The IT Security Office staff will be on site to answer questions and talk about online safety and security with the Mason community.The team will also have giveaways.
• Thursday, October 17, 3 p.m. (Johnson Center, Room E): Dr. Kathy Laskey from the Volgenau School of Engineering will speak. She is a professor of System Engineering and Operations Research as well as the Associate Director of Mason’s Center of Excellence in Command, Control, Communications, Computing, and Intelligence (C4I Center).

During NCSAM, all Mason employees are encouraged to complete their annual IT Security Awareness Training. Employees can find the training in their Mason Learning, Evaluation, and Performance System (MasonLEAPS) accounts. Log in via masonleaps.gmu.edu using your NetID and Patriot Pass Password. Select “IT Security Awareness Training” in the “Your Action Items” box to the right.