News for the Rutgers IT community—October 7, 2026

October marks the 23rd annual Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is all about not making it easy for cybercriminals. Visit our updated webpage for virtual events, interactive games, training, and tips you can share to help protect yourself and the Rutgers community.

Paws for security: Rutgers IT pets take over social media

Pet of April Rastaetter, Telecommunications Analyst

Some furry friends of Rutgers IT staff are lending a paw to Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Follow Rutgers IT on Facebook and X for cybersecurity tips with a cute twist, featuring pets submitted by your colleagues. Thank you to everyone who shared their pets with us, and feel free to like and repost to help spread the word.

Join Rutgers and other Big Ten universities all October long at these virtual events:

BTAA CISO panel

On October 8 at 1 p.m., chief information security officers from several Big Ten universities discuss the security challenges facing higher education. Sign up now to attend the panel.

Planning for AI governance

On October 13 at noon, Brian Calkin, chief technology innovation officer at the Center for Internet Security (CIS), will share the AI governance strategies that have worked and the areas still under review. Register now to save your spot.

An intro to the evolving federal research cybersecurity landscape

Rutgers’ Mike DiLalo of the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine will join experts from the Regulated Research Community of Practice (RRCoP) and EDUCAUSE on October 29 at 2 p.m. for a plain-language look at federal cybersecurity requirements for research projects. Sign up today to save your spot.

Keep an eye on the Rutgers IT newsroom for new cybersecurity articles and resources to share with your user communities. You’ll find tips on phish-proofing department emails and spotting tech support scams, plus interactive games like Google’s phishing quiz and Hack-a-Cat.