One Step Ahead: National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026 at Penn
Another tip in a series provided by the Offices of Information Security, Information Systems & Computing and Audit, Compliance & Privacy
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), and the University of Pennsylvania’s Office of Information Security (OIS) is excited to offer a variety of events and resources to help students, faculty, and staff stay safe online.
Upcoming Events
- Employee Resource Fair, October 1, 2026, noon-1:30 p.m. Visit the OIS table at the David Pottruck Health and Fitness Center to meet information security professionals, learn about current cyber threats, and explore resources that can help protect your personal and University information.
- Free & Legal: Digger Movie Screening
Join OIS and fellow Penn students at Cinemark Theater at 40th and Walnut Streets for a free screening of Digger. Before the movie, OIS will provide a brief discussion on the DMCA, Penn’s Copyright Policy, and 2-Step Verification. - October 2, 2026, 5:30 p.m.
- SANS SEC598: AI and Security Automation for Red, Blue, and Purple Teams, October 19-24, 2026. Held at Quorum at University City Science Center, this six-day cybersecurity course provides hands-on experience using artificial intelligence and automation to strengthen threat detection, incident response, and defensive operations.
Information Security Reminders
As part of NCSAM, OIS reminds the University community to:
- Create a passphrase or password with at least 21 characters.
- Enable 2-Step Verification (MFA) on all accounts when possible.
- Regularly back up important files to protect against data loss and ransomware.
- Keep devices secure by installing software and operating system updates promptly.
- Be cautious of social engineering scams, phishing emails, unexpected text messages, and fraudulent phone calls that attempt to steal credentials or sensitive information.
By taking a few simple precautions, each member of the Penn community can help protect University systems, research, and personal information while contributing to a safer digital environment for all. More information on the events at: https://isc.upenn.edu/security/2026-NCSAM.
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For additional tips, see the One Step Ahead link on the Information Security website: https://isc.upenn.edu/security/news-alerts%23One-Step-Ahead.
