Cyber Security Awareness Reminder

Cyberattacks are becoming more and more frequent. As you may have heard, the City of St. Paul suffered a cyberattack this summer and declared a state of emergency while they assessed and secured their systems. In March 2024, Minnesota State Moorhead suffered a cyberattack which required a rebuild of most of our systems. System breaches are often the result of an ill-advised click of a link in an email.

The IT teams at both Moorhead and the MNSCU System Office have incredible confidence in our security teams, multi-factor authentication protocols, and infrastructure systems. However, we should all remain consistent and vigilant in our efforts to stay secure.

Here are a few reminders related to cyber security, data security, and software purchasing that help to keep us secure:

  1. Watch for Phishing Emails
    • Be cautious of unexpected emails asking for personal information or login credentials.
    • Don’t click suspicious links or download attachments from unknown sources.
    • Report suspicious messages to IT/security
  2. Complete an IT risk assessment PRIOR to any software purchases or renewals
    • Do NOT use your P-card for software purchases or renewals without prior IT approval.
    • Reach out to Terry Peterson in IT to initiate a risk assessment terry.peterson@mnstate.edu.
  3. Keep Devices and Software Updated
    • Run operating system and software updates as soon as they’re available.
    • Restart your device regularly so updates can install properly.
    • Ensure antivirus software is enabled and up to date.
  4. Be Cautious on Public Wi-Fi
    • Avoid logging into university systems or accessing sensitive information over public/unsecured networks.
  5. Protect Your Devices
    • Don’t leave laptops, phones, or USB drives unattended in public areas.
    • Lock your computer screen when stepping away, even briefly.
    • Use device encryption when possible.
  6. Use University-Approved Tools
    • Only use apps and services approved by your department or IT.
    • Avoid free or unverified tools for file sharing, messaging, or conferencing.
  7. Think Before You Share
    • Do not use AI tools if personally identifiable information is included such as IDs or names.
    • Be mindful of what you post or share on social media and in emails.
    • Avoid sharing sensitive academic, research, or personal data without proper permissions.
  8. Use Strong, Unique Passwords
    • Avoid using the same password across accounts.
    • Consider using a passphrase (e.g., “CoffeeIsGreat@6am!”).
  9. Know How to Get Help
    • Don’t hesitate to ask someone in IT Infrastructure to verify emails or sites!
    • Reach out to the MSUM IT Helpdesk using one of the following: support@mnstate.edu, Phone: 218.477.2603, or the support portal https://support.mnstate.edu for chat or to submit a support ticket.

Please reach out with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your support and efforts to help keep us safe!