October 2021 marks the 18th year of Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM). With the increasing threat of cyberattacks to universities around the world, information security is timelier than ever. The University of Florida participates in CSAM every year to increase student, faculty, and staff awareness of the latest phishing and identity scams, and other online threats. CSAM communications and outreach also helps UF’s Information Security Office to reinforce to campus community members that protecting themselves from malware and other cyberrisks also helps protect their university.

This year, UF’s CSAM campaign centered on a theme of “Secure the Swamp!” with images on digital monitors throughout campus to support participation. Each week in October, UFIT shared tips on social media focusing on three themes: phishing, securing your remote work environment, and mobile device security. The social media campaign led to the focus activity,  an online scavenger hunt.  Faculty, students, staff were able to test their cybersecurity knowledge by answering four questions on these topics. The online scavenger hunt lasted for a week and produced winners from across UF.  All winners received an exclusive “Secure the Swamp!” t-shirt.

Cyber Security Awareness Month activities are part of the continuous, proactive communications plan UFIT undertakes to help secure UF.  In addition to outreach events, social media and videos to engage with campus, UFIT also engages in a year-round simulated phishing program and created a mandatory annual information security training for faculty and employees.  Questions about any of the Information Security Office’s outreach activities may be sent to it-comm@ufl.edu.