PBSC launches new information security website
Cyberattacks are increasing, both in number and sophistication. They’re now the third-largest threat facing the world, following natural disasters and extreme weather, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2018 Global Risks Report.
Therefore, the risks of not securing files is more dangerous than ever, especially for organizations. To help make Palm Beach State College more secure, the College’s Information Security Office, a division of the IT department, has launched a new information security website in conjunction with National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The site aims to educate the PBSC community on the steps they can take to reduce their chances of being victims of cybercrime.
Visitors can learn the six steps to better security, why Florida has the worst cybersecurity habits, tricks scammers use, the steps to secure personal social media accounts and more.
The site also features The Phish Tank, which provides PBSC employees and students with a self‐service way to determine if an email they have received is a known phishing attempt to lure personal and financial information from them.
In addition, when employees receive suspicious emails, they will have the option to either check on The Phish Tank to see if it’s been flagged as a phishing attempt or they can click the Phishing Alert Button that will soon be installed on their Outlook Toolbar. Clicking this button will forward a copy of the email to the Information Security Office and delete it from that employees’ inbox.
“This site is a really important and useful tool,” said Guy Albertini, information security officer. “Not only is it educational, but if you put all of the advice to practice on a routine basis, you’ll significantly reduce your chances of being compromised.”
The site also includes information on upcoming cybersecurity events that will take place at the College. The next event will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Oct. 24 in the Center for Bachelor’s Programs, room 103, on the Lake Worth campus.
The event, titled “Cybersecurity: It’s Not Secure Without You,” will feature a representative from the U.S. Secret Service, Miami-Electronic Crimes Task Force, and a panel featuring Albertini; Lenny Chesal, known as “The Godfather” of the South Florida Technology Alliance and co-founder and co-chair of IT Palooza; PBSC Cybersecurity Professors Dr. Kerry Enfinger and Brent Ferns; Paul Vedders, managing director at VXIT IT Consulting and Services; and Ana Roldan, associate vice provost and chief information security officer at Miami Dade College. The event, which is free and open to the public, aims to increase awareness of cybersecurity and job opportunities.
For more information on the event, contact Dr. Anita Kaplan at kaplana1@palmbeachstate.edu or 561-868-4102. For more information on the website, contact Albertini at albertig@palmbeachstate.edu or 561-868-4154.
