Cybersecurity Days Events

Cyber skills are life skills, and protecting your digital presence is as important as locking your front door. Cyberattacks can happen to anyone—not just big companies—which is why it’s critical for all of us to stay alert.

This year Ohio State is collaborating with BTAA to celebrate October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. BTAA has scheduled four collaborative, engaging and educational events. With some content aimed at all users and some targeted to cybersecurity professionals, these events will help you develop awareness and guide you to take action against cybersecurity threats.

Join the Cybersecurity Gameshow

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

All users cam benefit from good cyber skills and we're here to put your mind through the motions! Join us for a turbocharged game show in a friendly competition with other Big Ten colleges. Power up with essential info and practical techniques to safeguard your digital life.

BTAA CISO Panel: Securing the Mission: Building Awareness and Resilience in Higher Ed

Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, 2-3 p.m.

IT professionals know that higher education institutions face security challenges that demand thoughtful, coordinated responses across many of our distributed environments. Addressing these challenges effectively requires not only structure and leadership but also a shared understanding of the complexity that underpins our work, all the while meeting the mission of teaching, learning and research. Our panelists will cover topics related to risk within our organizations, how to build and deliver a strong security awareness program and culture, and where they see the security space evolving to further educate and promote security in the higher education space.

Scary Cyber Tales: Don't Let Your Data Go Bump in the Night

Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. 2-3 p.m.

All users can benefit from this event, which is a spine-chilling journey into the real-life dangers of the digital world. We'll share real-world stories of cyberattacks, data breaches, and online scams that will make you think twice about your digital security. Learn about the most common threats, from phishing and ransomware to malware and social engineering, and get practical tips on how to protect yourself. Join our team of cybersecurity experts for an hour of spooky tales and essential security lessons to ensure your digital life doesn't turn into a scary cyber tale!

Rachel Tobac: Exploiting Trust - The Human Element of Security

Wednesday, Oct. 29, noon -1 p.m.

IT professionals know that it only takes 1 email, a 30 second call, or 1 social media DM for her to hack you and gain access to your money, data, and systems. Meet Rachel Tobac, who executes these social engineering attacks for a living and uses her real-life ethical hacking stories to keep organizations up to date on the methods criminals are using to trick people. She'll break down recent cyber attacks in the news, and how to defend against the latest hacking methods, even when criminals are using AI. Her tales from the field and live hacking demonstrations throughout the presentation are sure to keep you and your team "politely paranoid" to catch the next human hacker in the act.