IT Services sponsored several NCSAM 2025 in-person presentations that were designed to increase cybersecurity awareness. These sessions emphasized the importance of practicing good cybersecurity habits whenever we are online at either work or home.

These live sessions, which were free to the campus and also available online, offered useful information to help educate and train users. Safety is our top priority and these sessions provided an essential part of campus cybersecurity awareness training.

Following is a brief summary of the October NCSAM 2025 presentations. We hope that you will join us in 2026 for all of the NCSAM presentations sponsored by IT Services. 

NCSAM 2025 Presentations:

October 9, 2025 

Dr. Veysel Erdag, Chief Information Security Officer at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, provided an informative and interactive session regarding privacy and security. 

His presentation focused on the basic principles of information security, best practices, latest threats and practical guidance on how to protect personal and professional information in the digital age.

October 16, 2025

IT Services鈥� team members Jack Tipshus, Senior Networks Engineer, and Thilak Pinninti, Security Operations Center Analyst, led an engaging and interactive Q&A session that explored a wide range of cybersecurity topics. These included how to assess an app鈥檚 safety before downloading, the necessity of antivirus software, warning signs of a compromised phone, risks associated with using public WiFi鈥攕uch as in coffee shops or off-campus鈥攁nd best practices for protecting your accounts from being hacked

October 30, 2025

Dr. Veysel Erdag, Chief Information Security Officer at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, carried out a collaborative discussion regarding the effect of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on cybersecurity and how it is transforming every corner of our campus. He described how this cutting-edge technology is a double-edged sword for security.

Dr. Erdag described how AI is fueling advanced phishing and deepfake threats and provided practical strategies to protect our data and identity against machine-speed attacks. He provided the defense plan; 鈥楾hree simple, non-technical steps to secure your credentials鈥�.

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Please join us in-person or online as Dr. Veysel Erdag, Chief Information Security Officer at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, provides an interactive session regarding the effect of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on cybersecurity.聽

AI is transforming every corner of our campus, from advanced research to daily email. But this cutting-edge technology is a double-edged sword for security.

You will experience a high-impact presentation that moves beyond basic password tips to address the real threats of the future. We’ll explore how cybercriminals are weaponizing AI to launch PhD-level phishing attacks and hyper-realistic deepfakes (including a live demonstration of a cloned voice).

Learn the essential strategies and human vigilance needed to defend our sensitive data and digital identities against adversaries who now move at machine speed.

Key Takeaways:

• The AI Threat:聽See a demonstration of how easy it is to clone a voice for fraud.
• The New Red Flags:聽Learn to spot attacks when grammar is perfect and the voice sounds familiar.
• Your Action Plan:聽Get 3 essential, non-technical steps you can take today to protect your credentials and confidential information.

In-person presentation:

11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Thursday, October 30, 2025
DSC Meeting Room 205D聽

You can join us online by clicking the following link:

Your safety is our top priority and this session is an essential part of your cybersecurity awareness training.

The entire campus community is invited to this free event.

The post The AI Double-Edged Sword: Protecting Our Campus in the Age of Intelligent Machines appeared first on Information Technology Services.

Each October, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock IT Services proudly champions , reinforcing its commitment to educating our campus community about the critical importance of daily cybersecurity practices.

Please join us in-person or online as IT Services’ team members Jack Tipshus, Senior Networks Engineer and Thilak Pinninti, Security Operations Center Analyst, lead an interactive session on practical, everyday steps you can take to protect your privacy and security.聽

This presentation focuses on the basic principles of information security, best practices, latest threats and practical guidance on how to protect personal and professional information in the digital age.

To address any questions or concerns, please consider joining the meeting.

In-person presentation:

11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Thursday, October 16, 2025
DSC Leadership Lounge聽

You can join us online by clicking the following link:

Your safety is our top priority and this session is an essential part of your cybersecurity awareness training.

The entire campus community is invited to this free event.

The post Campus Cybersecurity Awareness Discussion appeared first on Information Technology Services.

Each October, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock IT Services proudly champions , reinforcing its commitment to educating our campus community about the critical importance of daily cybersecurity practices.

Please join us in-person or online as Dr. Veysel Erdag, Chief Information Security Officer at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, provides an interactive session regarding privacy and security. 

This presentation focuses on the basic principles of information security, best practices, latest threats and practical guidance on how to protect personal and professional information in the digital age.

To address any questions or concerns, please consider joining the meeting.

In-person presentation:

11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Thursday, October 9, 2025
DSC Leadership Lounge 

You can join us online by clicking the following link:

Your safety is our top priority and this session is an essential part of your cybersecurity awareness training.

The entire campus community is invited to this free event.

The post October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month appeared first on Information Technology Services.

AI is changing almost everything. While it is helping us improve our lives and efforts, it is also introducing new challenges and specifically, new risks and threats to our lives, especially to our cyber lives.

This session will allow participants to discuss the details and learn more about AI, Cybersecurity, and Privacy.

We are excited to invite you to an open forum discussion:

鈥楢I, Cybersecurity, and Your Privacy鈥�

Please join us in-person or online:

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Join us in-person: DSC Leadership Lounge

OR

Join us online by clicking here:

Please bring your questions or concerns. This forum is for you!

We look forward to seeing you there!

The post AI, Cybersecurity, and Your Privacy Open Forum Discussion appeared first on Information Technology Services.

We are excited to invite you to an open forum discussion:

鈥榃hy I Hate Cybersecurity (but I shouldn’t)鈥�

Please join us in-person or online:

Time: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Join us in-person: DSC Leadership Lounge

OR

Join us online by clicking here:

Please bring your questions or concerns. This forum is for you!

What to expect:

A chance to ask your burning cybersecurity questions and voice your concerns

A candid conversation about why cybersecurity can be so frustrating (we know you鈥檒l relate!)

Practical insights on how cybersecurity actually helps protect us, both personally and professionally

Simple, stress-free tips for making cybersecurity a little easier in your everyday life

Why attend?

This is your chance to demystify cybersecurity and see how, far from being an inconvenience, it鈥檚 actually an enabler of innovation and protection. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to connect with colleagues and fellow students!

We look forward to seeing you there!

The post ‘Why I Hate Cybersecurity (but I shouldn’t)’ Cybersecurity Awareness Open Forum Discussion appeared first on Information Technology Services.

Please join us in-person or online as Dr. Sandra Leiterman, Director of Cybersecurity Education and outreach in the CORE Center, provides an interactive session entitled ‘Securely Social: Building a Fortified Online Presence‘. This presentation, which focuses on privacy and security, is designed to provide practical guidance on how to protect personal and professional information in the digital age.

The entire campus community is invited to this free event.

In-person presentation:

11 a.m. – noon,  Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Room 107 in the Reynolds Business Building

You can join us online by clicking here:

The post Campus Cybersecurity Awareness Discussion 11 a.m. – noon, Wednesday, October 16, in-person and online appeared first on Information Technology Services.

Data breaches, phishing attacks, stolen identities, invasion of privacy, ransomwares, and more. Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common, more sophisticated, and not only target our data, but they are also trying to gain financial benefits.

Attacks are not just targeting the individual anymore. Today, the purpose of the attacks has expanded to impact as many users as possible. The majority of attacks use very well known methods to infect a system, capture the data, and then spread their infection to other systems.

As a community member, when we follow and apply effective security practices, we not only protect ourselves and our data/systems, we also create a secure environment which protects our community and national networks as well. We are the most important building block of the security structure.

It is important to apply these principles and practices:

• Backup your data: Create a copy of your important files. Commonly, you may be using USB memories and CD/DVDs to store your data. However, nowadays, cloud systems provide more flexible and reliable choices. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock provides free access to Microsoft 365 and uses Google Services as well. You can upload your files and keep them in the cloud – both services provide encryption for your stored files.
• Update your devices, applications and operating systems: Most of the attacks take advantage of vulnerabilities and software flaws in the applications and operating systems. Therefore, it is very important to enable auto-update and apply them as soon as possible.
• Use End-Point-Security Solutions: Traditionally, they are called anti-virus software. Nowadays, end point security solutions contain anti-virus, firewall, intrusion-detection, and prevention systems in a single package. They all combine and work together to detect the attacks and protect your systems. Always keep end point security applications up and running and always remember to update them.
• Protect your accounts: Your password is the most important component to protect your online identity. It is like the key to your house. Therefore it is very important to set your passwords as complex and hard to guess as possible. You can find recommendations on our IT Services website about creating complex passwords.  Some organizations also offer two factor authentication.  This is an additional method to authenticate who you are, such as sending a text message to your phone or using a specific application on your phone.  If two factor authentication is offered, enable and use it.
• Stop.Think.Connect: While using the internet, just be careful and check what you are clicking. If you receive a link in an e-mail, it is not a good idea to follow it. Instead of clicking on the link, use your internet browser and go directly to the website you want to visit.
• Additional resources and tools are available at the (CISA) website.

Modern browsers have security features to check the websites and if they are malicious, warnings will appear on your browser. Please take these warnings seriously and do not continue to follow the links.

鈥淔ree鈥� is a very attractive word. Offering 鈥渇ree鈥� software is the most common method to distribute malware. Therefore, be very suspicious and careful about free offers in the internet.

If you need more information or cannot be certain whether you have a security problem, please contact IT Services for assistance.

The post National Cyber Security Awareness Month 2024: Simple Steps to Online Safety appeared first on Information Technology Services.

Data breaches, phishing attacks, stolen identities, invasion of privacy, ransomwares, and more. Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly common, more sophisticated, and not only target our data, but they are also trying to gain financial benefits.

Attacks are not just targeting the individual anymore. Today, the purpose of the attacks has expanded to impact as many users as possible. The majority of attacks use very well known methods to infect a system, capture the data, and then spread their infection to other systems.

As a community member, when we follow and apply effective security practices, we not only protect ourselves and our data/systems, we also create a secure environment which protects our community and national networks as well. We are the most important building block of the security structure.

It is important to apply these principles and practices:

• Backup your data: Create a copy of your important files. Commonly, you may be using USB memories and CD/DVDs to store your data. However, nowadays, cloud systems provide more flexible and reliable choices. 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock provides free access to Office 365 services and uses Google Services as well. You can upload your files and keep them in the cloud – both services provide encryption for your stored files.
• Update your devices, applications and operating systems: Most of the attacks take advantage of vulnerabilities and software flaws in the applications and operating systems. Therefore, it is very important to enable auto-update and apply them as soon as possible.
• Use End-Point-Security Solutions: Traditionally, they are called anti-virus software. Nowadays, end point security solutions contain anti-virus, firewall, intrusion-detection, and prevention systems in a single package. They all combine and work together to detect the attacks and protect your systems. Always keep end point security applications up and running and always remember to update them.
• Protect your accounts: Your password is the most important component to protect your online identity. It is like the key to your house. Therefore it is very important to set your passwords as complex and hard to guess as possible. You can find recommendations on our IT Services website about creating complex passwords.聽 Some organizations also offer two factor authentication.聽 This is an additional method to authenticate who you are, such as sending a text message to your phone or using a specific application on your phone.聽 If two factor authentication is offered, enable and use it.
• : While using the internet, just be careful and check what you are clicking. If you receive a link in an e-mail, it is not a good idea to follow it. Instead of clicking on the link, use your internet browser and go directly to the website you want to visit.
• Additional resources and tools are available at the (CISA) website.

Modern browsers have security features to check the websites and if they are malicious, warnings will appear on your browser. Please take these warnings seriously and do not continue to follow the links.

鈥淔ree鈥� is a very attractive word. Offering 鈥渇ree鈥� software is the most common method to distribute malware. Therefore, be very suspicious and careful about free offers in the internet.

If you need more information or cannot be certain whether you have a security problem, please contact IT Services for assistance.

The post National Cyber Security Awareness Month: Simple Steps to Online Safety appeared first on Information Technology Services.