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.
Last October marked 20 years of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year, in recognition of this milestone, we hosted and promoted events that encourage important behaviors and practices we can implement to protect our data online and become more responsible digital citizens in our personal, social, and professional lives. There are many ways to stay secure online, but even taking basic steps can make a huge difference.
Please note: Video recordings of this month's events will be posted to this page soon.
Attend Cyber Awareness Month 2025 Events
See below for descriptions and registration information for this month's events. We have highlighted UMGC-hosted events as well as relevant events from leading cybersecurity organizations participating in Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2025.
Organizations of all sizes are vulnerable to an insider threat, especially with the ever-evolving technological landscape. An insider threat leverages authorized access or special understanding of the organization to wreak havoc to that organization. The harm could be malicious activity, negligence, or unintentional actions that negatively impact on the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the organization, its data, personnel, facilities, and associated resources.
This presentation focused on managing insider threats from the psychosocial behavioral indicator perspective, seeking to identify at-risk employees at organizations using the psychosocial behavioral model for predicting potential insider threats. The end goal is to proactively use interventional behavioral mechanisms to thwart or circumvent the risks posed by a person of concern or insider.
- Event Date & Time: Friday, Sep. 26, 2025 - 1–2 p.m. ET
- This event has passed.
This talk covered the format and high-level content of the Cyber Ready Professionals program, open to cybersecurity students at any higher education institution in the nation. Program rationale and objectives were covered as well as how professional coaches augment the program’s assignments to help with the transition from a “student mentality” to a professional mindset prior to graduation.
- Event Date & Time: Monday, Sep. 29, 2025 - Noon–1 p.m. ET
- This event has passed.
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. The discussion highlights the importance of
- Understanding your career trajectory
- The value of degrees and certifications
- The power of networking
- 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 cyber, this session offers actionable insights and resources to help you succeed. This event is exclusive to UMGC alumni, students, and UMGC staff/faculty.
- Event Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025 - 7–8 p.m. ET
- This event has passed.
Prince George's County officially announces the launch of their Cyber Clinic, a community initiative delivering affordable cybersecurity services and preparing organizations and professionals for the future of compliance and operational security. This milestone empowers students, faculty, professionals, small businesses, nonprofits, local government, and community members across Prince George’s County by training and equipping talent who will go on to mentor and support the region.
- Event Date & Time: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 - 10 a.m.–4 p.m. ET
- Location: Cyber Clinic, 6406 Ivy Lane, Greenbelt, MD, Pavilion
- This event has passed.
In a world shaped by AI-generated content, deepfakes, and curated digital realities, how do we separate fact from fiction—truth from illusion? This provocative keynote challenges our assumptions about what we see, hear, and believe in an age of information overload. With insight, wit, and urgency, the speaker will explore how technology is reshaping our perceptions, why critical thinking has never been more vital, and what it means to seek authenticity in a world that often deceives our senses. Prepare to question everything—and walk away seeing the world a little differently.
- Event Date & Time: Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 - Noon–1 p.m. ET
- Register for the Event
While cybercriminals can now breach networks in just 51 seconds, this unprecedented threat landscape has created a golden age for cybersecurity careers with 4.8 million unfilled positions globally. Choosing cybersecurity education, particularly through programs like UMGC's nationally recognized offerings, transforms individual career decisions into contributions toward collective digital security.
- Event Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025 - Noon–1 p.m. ET
- Register for the Event
Join us for the inaugural UMGC Europe Cyber Summit, a landmark virtual conference bringing together some of the world's most respected cybersecurity experts. This isn't just a conference; it's a front-row seat to the future of digital defense, featuring a lineup of speakers with decades of combined experience.
This is your chance to learn directly from industry titans respected around the world, including:
- Dave Chronister, CEO and a 30-year veteran of the cybersecurity front lines
- Jonathan Hard, CEO leading the charge on AI strategy
- Wayne Burke, Chief Security Officer with live-action defense demonstrations
- Amber Schroader, CEO and a digital forensics pioneer and visionary
- Dr. Warren Mack, a "Cybersecurity Guru" forecasting the future
- Albert Whale, CEO and an international bestselling author sharing real-world hacks
- Frank Satterwhite, CEO, 1600 Cyber GmbH
UMGC Europe's Cybersecurity Summit is a no-cost, virtual, and groundbreaking event. It's an unparalleled opportunity to gain actionable insights, learn from hard-won experience, and prepare for the next frontier of cybersecurity.
- Event Date & Time: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 - 6:15 a.m.–2 p.m. ET (12:15–8 p.m. CET)
- Register for the Event
Interested in a career in intelligence? Whether you're aiming for a role in a federal agency or a private-sector company combating industrial espionage, this webinar offers valuable insights to help you prepare. Panelists share their personal career journeys and offer practical advice on navigating the intelligence field. In this session, you’ll gain valuable insights into launching and advancing a career in the intelligence field—whether in government agencies or the private sector.
You’ll learn how to
- Navigate the hiring process for intelligence roles, including timelines and expectations
- Understand the importance of security clearances and certifications, and how to prepare for them
- Develop soft skills and personal qualities that are valued in intelligence work
- Explore different career paths through real-life stories from professionals in the field
- Build skills in networking, mentorship, and continuous learning in a way that can help you achieve long-term career success
This webinar is ideal for students and professionals of all majors who are curious about or committed to making an impact in the world of intelligence and national security.
This event is exclusive to UMGC alumni, students, and staff/faculty.
- Event Date & Time: Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 - 7–8 p.m. ET
- Register for the Event
What if governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) could keep pace with innovation instead of falling behind? Most programs are still manual, fragmented, and reactive. They slow teams down and frustrate developers with constant requests, like pulling screenshots for audits. GRC Engineering offers a better path by applying systems thinking, automation, and design to create scalable, intelligent frameworks. In this session, you’ll learn what GRC Engineering is, who is leading the shift, and how it is transforming the profession. Whether you're in risk, compliance, or technology, come learn about the future of the GRC profession.
- Event Date & Time: Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025 - Noon–1 p.m. ET
- Register for the Event
