Cybersecurity Events

Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Each October, USNH recognizes National Cyber Security Awareness Month by offering events and resources about information protection and data security risks.  ET&S is excited to announce a series of events and webinars designed to educate and engage our community on the critical importance of cybersecurity! See below for more information about the special events happening throughout October.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: In-Person Cybersecurity Symposium

ET&S will host an in-person Cybersecurity Symposium on Wednesday, October 23, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Strafford Room in the Memorial Union Building at UNH-Durham. This event will feature notable guest speakers including the NH Secretary of State David M. Scanlan, experts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). Key topics will include election disinformation and other critical cybersecurity issues.  ET&S will serve light snacks. All members of the USNH community are welcome to attend.

Register now to secure your spot!

Webinar Wednesdays

Every Wednesday in October, we’ll host live online presentations by cybersecurity professionals covering a range of topics, designed to fit into your lunchtime schedule. Be on the lookout at the beginning of each week for the detailed schedule and webinar links.

Week 1 (October 2nd)

  • 11 AM - 12 PM: Cybersecurity Careers
  • Tom Nudd, USNH Chief Information Security Officer, will discuss pathways into the growing field of cybersecurity. Whether you’re a student or a professional considering a career change, this session will provide valuable insights into the opportunities available.

12 PM - 1 PM: The Open-Source Seas: Unleashing Innovation While Staying Afloat

  • Tejpal Garhwa, a cybersecurity leader with over 20 years of experience, will explore the benefits and risks of using open-source components in software development. Learn how to harness the power of open-source while managing risks effectively.

Week 2 (October 9th)

  • 11 AM - 12 PM: Navigating Security Challenges in Higher Education: Protecting Data Across School and Student Devices
  • Jim Rindo and James Czarnecki of Troubadour Tech will dive into the challenges colleges and universities face when trying to maintain security and data protection within internal applications on both school-issued and personal devices. 

Webinar Registration Link

  • 12 PM - 1 PM: Local Admin Privileges: Risks and Alternatives 
  • Matthew Reed, Cybersecurity Operations Engineer, will discuss the risks associated with local administrative privileges and explore effective alternatives for enhancing security.

Webinar Registration Link


Week 3 (October 16th)

  • 11 AM - 12 PM: Social Engineering
  • Lily Lee is at the helm of a global, diverse security team at Splunk, where she plays a pivotal role in supporting security teams worldwide. With over 15 years of experience working across various sectors, from education to government agencies, she's an expert at leveraging data-driven analytics to solve complex security challenges. In addition to her leadership role, Lily is a founding member of the Women in CyberSecurity Silicon Valley Affiliate. She also holds multiple professional certifications and has shared her insights at numerous industry conferences. 

Webinar Registration Link

  • 12 PM - 1 PM: Phishing
  • Mitch Spaulding from Abnormal Security will discuss the different kinds of phishing attempts attackers are launching on students and how students can enable best practices to prevent their accounts from being compromised.

Webinar Registration Link


Week 4 (October 23rd)

  • In-Person Cybersecurity Symposium

Register now to secure your spot!


Week 5 (October 30th)

  • 11 AM - 12 PM: Protecting your data
  • Joseph Gray, Director of Cybersecurity Operations & Identity and Access Management, will provide best practices on protecting and preserving academic and personal data. Joe will go through some of the easy ways students, staff and faculty can take to protect their data and research. 

Webinar Registration Link

  • 12 PM - 1 PM: Cybersecurity needs and threats of small businesses
  • Bethany Buffon is a dedicated Cybersecurity Technical Support Analyst with over ten years of experience in operations coordination, team leadership, and technical problem-solving. Currently, she owns Hippocrates Security, securing private practices, nonprofits, and small businesses. Bethany holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Connecticut and is a lifelong learner, enhancing her skills through platforms like TryHackMe. Her additional skills include online and offline medical research, patient advocacy, and crisis management, making her a resilient and compassionate professional.

Webinar Registration Link


Stay tuned for more announcements, and make sure to mark your calendars for these exciting events! Let’s make Cybersecurity Awareness Month a time to learn, engage, and strengthen our defenses.