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.
Please check back for updated event listings.
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
- RSVP Today
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
- RSVP Today
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
- RSVP Today
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
- Register for the Conference
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
- RSVP Today
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
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
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
Event details coming soon.
- Event Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 10–11 a.m. ET
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.
