Cybersecurity Month
October Cybersecurity Awareness Series: Strengthening Digital Resilience Across Higher Ed
The Big Ten Academic Alliance institutions have collaborated to organize interactive, informational and informative events for Cybersecurity Month!
Join us in October for a dynamic, month-long cybersecurity awareness series designed to engage, educate, and empower our higher education community. Each week features a unique event spotlighting critical aspects of digital security—from interactive competitions and expert panels to real-world cautionary tales and live ethical hacking demonstrations. Whether you're looking to test your cyber skills, learn from a panel of BTAA CISOs, hear chilling stories of cyber threats, or understand the human element of security, this series offers something for everyone.
Together, we’ll explore how to build a culture of awareness and resilience that supports the mission of teaching, learning, and research in today’s evolving digital landscape.
Join the Cybersecurity Gameshow
October 1, 2025
10:30 am PT / 12:30 pm CT / 1:30 pm ET
Today, good cyber skills are the new good life skills, and we're here to put your mind through the motions! Join us for a turbocharged game show in a friendly competition with other Big Ten colleges. Power up with essential info and practical techniques to safeguard your digital life.
BTAA CISO Panel: Securing the Mission: Building Awareness and Resilience in Higher Ed
October 9, 2025
11:00 am PT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET
Higher education institutions face security challenges that demand thoughtful, coordinated responses across many of our distributed environments. Addressing these challenges effectively requires not only structure and leadership but also a shared understanding of the complexity that underpins our work, all the while meeting the mission of teaching, learning, and research. Our panelists will cover topics related to risk within our organizations, how to build and deliver a strong security awareness program and culture, and where they see the security space evolving to further educate and promote security in the higher education space.
Panelists: Guy Albertini (Rutgers), José Domínguez (Oregon), Asmat Noori (Michigan), Andrew Weisskopf (Michigan State)
Scary Cyber Tales: Don't Let Your Data Go Bump in the Night
October 22, 2025
11:00 am PT / 1:00 pm CT / 2:00 pm ET
This event is a spine-chilling journey into the real-life dangers of the digital world. We'll share real-world stories of cyberattacks, data breaches, and online scams that will make you think twice about your digital security. Learn about the most common threats, from phishing and ransomware to malware and social engineering, and get practical tips on how to protect yourself. Join our team of cybersecurity experts for an hour of spooky tales and essential security lessons to ensure your digital life doesn't turn into a scary cyber tale!
Rachel Tobac: Exploiting Trust - The Human Element of Security
October 29, 2025
9:00 am PT / 11:00 am CT / 12:00 pm ET
It only takes 1 email, a 30 second call, or 1 social media DM for her to hack you and gain access to your money, data, and systems. Meet Rachel Tobac, who executes these social engineering attacks for a living and uses her real-life ethical hacking stories to keep organizations up to date on the methods criminals are using to trick people. She'll break down recent cyber attacks in the news, and how to defend against the latest hacking methods, even when criminals are using AI. Her tales from the field and live hacking demonstrations throughout the presentation are sure to keep you and your team "politely paranoid" to catch the next human hacker in the act.
Find Your Campus Cybersecurity Events
Check out some of the great cybersecurity events happening across the Big Ten! From interactive workshops to expert panels, campuses are hosting a variety of activities to promote digital safety and awareness. Please note that some events listed on each university’s event page may be restricted to their students, faculty, and staff.
