October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a collaborative effort between government and industry to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and to ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online. University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and its Center for Security Studies (CSS) proudly champion and celebrate this essential online safety, awareness, and education initiative.
Each year, in conjunction with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA), UMGC and the CSS support Cybersecurity Awareness Month by hosting informative and engaging speakers and panelists to champion online safety, awareness, and education.
We have recognized Cybersecurity Awareness Month for more than 20 years. We encourage you to attend events and webinars hosted by UMGC and external organizations that are designed to create a better and safer digital experience. These events feature stories and examples of the common scams that cyber criminals employ, the amount of revenue lost each year as a result, and what you can do to protect yourself and employer from becoming a victim.
Choose from an exciting lineup of cybersecurity-focused events, hosted by UMGC and trusted cybersecurity organizations nationwide.
RSVP for Cyber Month 2026 Events
See below for descriptions and registration information for this month's sessions, hosted by UMGC and external organizations.
For more than two decades, Cybersecurity Awareness Month has been dedicated to teaching everyone how to stay safe and secure online. This initiative would not be possible without the collaboration and partnerships between the public and private sectors that built this campaign. Join the National Cybersecurity Alliance as we kick off Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2026 with government and industry leadership to explore:
- Recent and emerging federal initiatives to secure our society and critical infrastructure.
- How cybersecurity professionals and the public sector can work together to address emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
- How we can improve our nation’s resilience and defend our infrastructure against bad actors.
- The growing convergence of cybersecurity and national security, and what it means for the future of digital defense.
Event details are as follows:
- Event Date & Time: Thursday, Oct. 1, 1–4 p.m. ET
- Hosted By: National Cybersecurity Alliance
- This event has passed
What can the dark web teach us about cybersecurity governance? Quite a lot, actually.
We tend to imagine the dark web as the internet without rules: anonymous, decentralized, and deliberately beyond the reach of traditional institutions. But even in spaces designed to resist formal authority, governance emerges. Dark web communities develop reputational systems, establish norms, resolve disputes, and create informal institutions of trust.
So, the question shaping our digital future is not whether humans will govern emerging technologies. We will. The more interesting and consequential questions are: Who will make the rules? Whose interests will those rules serve? What values will they encode?
Cybersecurity professionals must have a voice in this process because we understand the intersection of technical systems, human behavior, risk, and institutional decision-making. As technology increasingly shapes how we work, communicate, and exercise power, cybersecurity professionals must not only secure our digital future; we must have a voice in shaping it.
Event details are as follows:
- Event Date & Time: Thursday, Oct. 1, 7–8 p.m. ET
- Presenter: Talene Boodaghians, Acting President, Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Chapter at UMGC
- Hosted By: Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) Chapter at UMGC
- This event has passed
Interested in cybersecurity or AI work that goes beyond the classroom and earns you academic credit while you do it? Join us for an info session on the Forge CyberAI Clinic, a new supervised consulting clinic launching at UMGC in Spring 2027.
Forge Clinic learners work in small teams to deliver real cybersecurity and AI readiness assessments to nonprofits, small businesses, and under-resourced public-sector organizations, using industry-standard frameworks including NIST CSF 2.0, NIST AI RMF 1.0, CIS RAM, and the NICE Workforce Framework. The clinic runs through CYCL 586 (3 credits) and culminates in the ISC2 Building AI Strategy Certificate.
This session will cover what the clinic experience looks like week to week, who it's a good fit for, and how the selection process will work. Bring your questions.
- Event Date & Time: Monday, Oct. 5, 12–1 p.m. ET
- Presenter: Chad Whistle, PhD, Assistant Dean for Portfolio Lifecycle & Student Success, UMGC School of Cybersecurity & IT
- Moderator: Rony Thakur, PhD, Portfolio Director, AI, UMGC School of Cybersecurity & IT
- Hosted By: UMGC School of Cybersecurity & IT
- This event has passed
UMGC is proud to serve as the Premier and Founding Academic Partner of the inaugural AI NEXTGEN America conference. The event brings together leaders from industry, government, education, and workforce development to explore the future of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and career opportunities.
There are two ways for UMGC students and alumni to attend:
- Friday & Saturday: Register as a student for a discounted rate of $95 (regular admission is $295).
- Saturday only: Register as a job seeker for complimentary access.
- Hosted By: AI NEXTGEN America
- Dates: Friday, Oct. 9–Saturday, Oct. 10
- Location: Baltimore Convention Center
- This event has passed
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), which uses Large Language Models (LLMs), has existed for a few years and has significantly influenced higher education. Although educators understand what GenAI is, they find it challenging to implement it effectively in the classroom. While some disruptions have impacted student learning and assessment, they have also notably affected faculty teaching STEM and other disciplines.
This session will examine the impact on curriculum development, assessment strategies, and teaching methods for a programming and capstone course for undergraduate students.
- Event Date & Time: Monday, Oct. 12, 12–1 p.m. ET
- Presenter: Debasis Bhattacharya, JD, DBA, Professor, University of Hawai'i Maui College
- Hosted By: UMGC School of Cybersecurity & IT
- This event has passed
In this eye-opening session, we meet a bright college graduate who was targeted by scammers while job hunting. Follow her story from first contact to recovery. You'll learn how the red flags she recognizes with hindsight are common tactics used in countless other types of scams.
- Event Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 3–4 p.m. ET
- Hosted By: Appalachian State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Children's Mercy Hospital, City of Hope
- RSVP Today
Join us for UMGC in Europe’s Global Summit 2026 as we bring together cybersecurity leaders, AI experts, digital investigators, defense professionals, industry executives, and academic leaders for a global conversation on the technologies, risks, and decisions shaping the cyber landscape. Through keynote presentations, leadership discussions, breakout sessions, and audience participation, the summit will examine emerging cyber threats, AI's expanding role in defense and investigation, digital forensics, deepfakes and evidence integrity, cyber resilience, autonomous systems, and organizational readiness.
Please note: This event is scheduled from 11:00 to 16:00 CEST to align with the UMGC Europe time zone and better accommodate attendees in the region.
- Event Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 16, 5–10 a.m. ET
- Hosted By: UMGC Europe
- RSVP Today
The National Cryptologic Foundation (NCF) invites you to the 2026 Summit on Cybersecurity Education, an NCF program designed to move cybersecurity education from conversation to implementation. This experience connects K–12 education, higher education, industry, and government to strengthen the cybersecurity workforce pipeline and expand access to cyber literacy nationwide.
- Event Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 16, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET
- Hosted By: National Cryptologic Foundation
- RSVP Today
During this interactive presentation, we discuss our Oh Behave! report on behavioral science in a talk that empowers attendees to make positive cybersecurity behavior changes.
- Event Date & Time: Friday, Oct. 16, 12–1 p.m. ET
- Hosted By: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), World Learning Nonprofit, Appalachian State University, City of Hope
- RSVP Today
Breaking into cyber can feel overwhelming but it doesn't have to be! Kicking off your cyber career can feel overwhelming but with the right guidance and real-world insights, you'll be better prepared than you think. As part of NICE Cybersecurity Career Week, join Karen Wetzel, Director of the NICE Program at NIST, as she sits down with recent graduates from the SANS EDU Undergraduate Program and SANS Cyber Academies for an honest, real-world conversation about what it takes to launch a career in cyber.
Hear directly from those who recently made the leap including how they landed their first roles, the steps they took to make themselves as marketable as possible, and the advice they wish they had when they were just starting out. Whether you are a current student, a career changer, or just exploring the field, this is your chance to get actionable insights from people who were sitting exactly where you are not long ago.
- Event Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1–2 p.m. ET
- Presenters:
- Brian Correia, Director of Business Development, GIAC at SANS Institute
- Bobbie Crinella, Associate Consultant, Dragos
- Leah Kaplan, Technical Support Engineer, Tines
- Riché Wiley, Cybersecurity Specialist, IA
- Moderator:
- Karen Wetzel, Lead, NICE Framework at National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- Hosted By: SANS Institute
- RSVP Today
The cybersecurity job market is thriving, but how can newcomers break in? This session dives into the essentials of launching a cybersecurity career, from identifying your motivations to building a strong foundation of skills and experience.
This discussion highlights the importance of:
- Understanding your career trajectory
- The value of degrees and certifications
- The role of soft skills like critical thinking and communication
- The growing demand for cybersecurity professionals
Whether you're just starting out or looking to pivot into cybersecurity, this session offers actionable insights and resources to help you succeed.
Event Details:
- Event Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7–8 p.m. ET
- Presenters:
- Dr. Raelynn Grasso, PhD – Career Advising Specialist
- Jennifer Lucke, MEd – Career Advising Specialist
- Hosted By: UMGC Career Services
- RSVP Today
Note: This event is exclusive to UMGC alumni, students, staff, and faculty.
School educators, advisors, and counselors all play a critical role in expanding entry points into a rewarding cybersecurity career and guiding individuals toward rewarding cybersecurity futures. Connecting early career awareness and discovery efforts to active learning and career planning resources helps ensure that students have a clear understanding of the roles available and how to take actionable steps to chart a successful career pathway.
In this webinar, you will
- Explore interactive tools and practical career-mapping resources
- Discover how these resources can be used to align student interests and strengths with careers based on Work Roles in the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework)
- Learn adaptable strategies to help students build their own cybersecurity career pathways
- Event Date & Time: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1–2 p.m. ET
- Presenters:
- Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley
Professor and Director of Cybersecurity Programs
North Carolina Central University - Dr. Kristine Christensen
Professor, Computer Information Systems
Director, Faculty Development
Moraine Valley Community College
- Dr. Deanne Cranford-Wesley
- Moderator:
- Dr. Donavon Johnson
Assistant Professor, Public Policy and Administration
Cyber/AI Policy Research Lead
Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy
Florida International University
- Dr. Donavon Johnson
- Hosted By: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- RSVP Today
This interactive panel brings together cybersecurity professionals representing each of the five NICE Framework Work Role Categories: Oversight and Governance; Design and Development; Implementation and Operation; Protection and Defense; and Investigation. You will learn about the variety of cyber roles across an organization and get insights from practitioners as they share about their day-in-the-life realities and responsibilities.
In this webinar, you will:
- Discover key skills and foundational competencies required to excel in various cybersecurity domains
- Learn actionable strategies to align your personal strengths and interests with the cyber career path that fits you best
Speakers to be announced.
Event Details & Registration:
- Event Date & Time: Thursday, Oct. 22, 1–2 p.m. ET
- Hosted By: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- RSVP Today
Known worldwide from Netflix's The Tinder Swindler, Ayleen Charlotte offers a powerful look at the psychology behind scams and social engineering. In this riveting fireside chat, Ayleen and the NCA's Lisa Plaggemier will demonstrate how scammers exploit emotion and cognitive biases to influence your behavior. Attendees will learn practical how-tos for reducing their risk, recognizing manipulation, and helping loved ones who are victims or vulnerable.
- Event Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 11 a.m.–12 p.m. ET
- Hosted By: Merge, Appalachian State University
- RSVP Today
This webinar explores the rapidly evolving threat landscape, including generative and agentic AI, deepfakes, shadow AI, ransomware, identity attacks, cloud security, software supply chain risks, and emerging cyber threats. Participants will examine practical strategies such as Zero Trust, Continuous Threat Exposure Management (CTEM), AI-enabled security operations, automation, AI governance, and cyber resilience. The session will provide actionable insights to help organizations understand emerging risks, strengthen security controls, and prepare for the next generation of cyber threats.
- Event Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10–11 a.m. ET
- Presenters:
- Dr. Mayyada Al Hammoshi
Collegiate Faculty, Assessment and Evaluation
Cyber Technology
University of Maryland Global Campus - Dr. Chad Whistle
Assistant Dean, Portfolio Lifecycle & Student Success
University of Maryland Global Campus
- Dr. Mayyada Al Hammoshi
- Hosted By: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
- RSVP Today
Join us at the Hack the Box Capture the Flag competition on Saturday, November 21. Solve challenges. Build skills. Compete as a team.
Event Details & Registration:
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 21, 2026
- Time: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. ET
- Location: Online
- Teams: One team per school; up to six students per team
- Registration Deadline: Friday, Nov. 20, 2026, at 5 p.m. ET
Who Can Create a Team?
Only coaches can register a team. A coach can be a faculty, staff, or representative from the university.
Who Can Compete in Hack the Box?
Current undergraduate and graduate students at Maryland public universities and community colleges are eligible. Full-time and part-time students are welcome. Each school may enter one team of up to six students.
If participation is low, registration may open to private universities within Maryland. The event remains limited to Maryland institutions.
Coaches Only — How to Create a Team:
- Email Professor Jesse Varsalone at jesse.varsalone@umgc.edu to express interest and create a team. Jesse will coordinate with you to provide the registration code and participation instructions.
Interested Participants — How to Join a Team:
- You must have a Hack The Box account.
- Follow the registration instructions and create or join your school's team using the Hack The Box teams page.
- The registration deadline is Friday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. ET.
- On Saturday, Nov. 21 (the day of the event), log directly into Hack The Box during the competition window and work with your teammates. No Zoom meeting or presentation is required.
Attend Expert-Led Cyber Event Series
Explore cybersecurity webinars, presentations, and interactive sessions hosted by industry experts, higher education institutions, cybersecurity organizations, and community leaders throughout Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
The Smart Person's Guide to Getting Duped
Learn how to spot and avoid common scams, understand how scammers target victims, and protect your personal data. We'll also cover what to do if you or a loved one is affected.
Level Up Your Cyber Game: Trivia Show
Join NCA's fast-paced cybersecurity game show and answer rapid-fire trivia on passwords, MFA, software updates, and phishing. Test your knowledge and quick thinking in real time.
San Diego Cyber Clinic: Presentations
Join the San Diego Cyber Clinic for informative weekly webinars featuring cybersecurity trends, real-world insights, and practical career tips from industry mentors.
