Activities and Events in October to Promote Online Safety and Security

University of Maryland University College (UMUC) is planning events and activities to promote online safety and security during National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October. For the second consecutive year, UMUC will join the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to promote its Stop.Think.Connect.™ campaign.

Stop.Think.Connect. was created to foster an understanding that "cyber security is a shared responsibility, and everyone can take a few simple steps to make the Internet more secure," according to DHS.

National Cyber Security Awareness Month will focus on five themes:

• October 1–2 – General Cyber Security Awareness: 5 Years of Stop.Think.Connect.
• October 5–9 – Creating a Culture of Cyber Security at Work
• October 12–16 – Connected Communities: Staying Protected While Always Connected
• October 19–23 – Your Evolving Digital Life
• October 26–30 – Building the Next Generation of Cyber Professionals

UMUC's Center for Security Studies will host Cyber Connections: Linking Academics, Skills, and Professional Expertise, on October 21 from 1 to 4:30 p.m., at the Academic Center at Largo. The event, which will also be available online, will feature a keynote address from Curtis W. Dukes, director, Information Assurance Directorate at the National Security Agency.

Event highlights include a panel discussion on the latest industry trends, featuring Gerald N. "Chip" Willard, senior technical leader at the National Security Agency's Central Security Service Threat Operations Center; Devon Bryan, vice president of Global Chief Information Security Services at ADP; Stephen Gantz, chief security and privacy officer at Cognosante; and Richard Smith, information and security officer at Freddie Mac, and who formerly served on the Commission for Cybersecurity for the 44th Presidency.

UMUC will also be promoting cyber security awareness and the DHS campaign on its social media channels using #stopthinkconnect and #NCSAM.

For a list of events and more information about UMUC activities during National Cyber Security Awareness Month, visit www.umuc.edu/cybermonth.

About University of Maryland University College

UMUC was recently named 2015 Global Educator of the Year by the World Affairs Council of Washington, D.C., for its role as a leader in innovative education models. It is also currently ranked as the #1 "Best for Vets" college by Military Times and has received the prestigious 2015 President's Award from the Open Education Consortium for its plan to replace publisher textbooks with embedded digital resources in all classes by fall 2016. In addition, UMUC's cyber competition teams have won 10 titles in the past four years, including the 2014 Global CyberLympics in Barcelona, Spain, and the first-ever Cyber DiploHack, sponsored by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.

A pioneer in distance education since 1947, UMUC today is harnessing the power of learning science and technology to deliver high-quality education that is accessible and affordable.

UMUC offers open access with a global footprint and a specific mission—to meet the learning needs of adult students whose responsibilities may include jobs, family, and military service.

Media Contact Bob Ludwig 301-985-7253 robert.ludwig@umuc.edu