As technology continues to advance, so do the risks and threats associated with it. To protect ourselves and our institutions, it is crucial to remain informed and updated with the latest security trends and best practices. This was the main focus of my recent 45-minute security awareness session with the university technical staff.

In addition to discussing fundamental security measures, I also covered the latest threat actors and threats in the cyber security landscape affecting universities and public institutions. This included state-sponsored actors, cybercriminals, hacker-for-hire groups, and hacktivists. I emphasized the potential consequences of a cyber attack, which can be severe and damaging, such as financial losses, reputational harm, and legal liability.

One alarming statistic I shared was that according to estimates from Statista’s Cybersecurity Outlook, the global cost of cybercrime is expected to surge in the next five years, rising from $8.44 trillion in 2022 to $23.84 trillion by 2027. This underscores the importance of taking proactive steps to mitigate potential risks.

While technical measures are essential, we also discussed the human element of security, including social engineering tactics like phishing emails or pretexting phone calls. Information security starts and ends with all of us, and it is crucial that everyone takes responsibility for protecting sensitive information and assets.

Here is a redacted version of the presentation. Additionally, I recently co-authored an article titled “Human Factors for Cybersecurity Awareness in a Remote Work Environment”, which delves into relevant and relatable cyber security aspects for remote employees.”