U of T experts discuss cyber security with staff and students

Picture of October 10th's panel discussion.

Cyber security awareness matters every day -that was the theme of the panel discussion hosted by Information Technology Services (ITS) on Oct. 10 at the Bahen Centre.

An audience of 39 (26 in-person and 13 online) engaged with an expert panel about a range of cyber security-related topics.

The expert panel included Sue McGlashan (information security architect, Information Security and Enterprise Architecture (ISEA)), Alex Tichine (associate director, information security and enterprise systems, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science)and Carl Chan (senior systems and network analyst, Education Commons, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education). The discussion was moderated by ISEA’s director Mike Wiseman.

Beyond discussing password management best practices and phishing strategies, the group grappled with inconsistencies in information security policies and practices of the organizations they encounter in their everyday lives. One audience member questioned whether his personal information was safe when submitting job applications online and another pointed out that even Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) is inconsistent in its methods of communication (phone calls vs. emails), which can be confusing for wary tax payers.

The panel advised confirming the validity of all communications at the source. For example, if applying for a job, contact the HR department of the organization to confirm the application process. For tax inquires, they recommended calling the official CRA phone number to confirm the legitimacy of any suspicious messages.

View the entire panel discussion here.

Though Cyber Security Awareness Month has come to an end, we hope that the U of T community will continue to incorporate cyber security awareness into their everyday lives. To learn more, visit the Security Matters website.