Information Security Awareness Training

To access the training, please go to the Department of Human Resources Web site at http://scholar.uh.edu/webct/ logonDisplay.dowebct?insId=7437722 &glcid=172.16.15.87-1095447669186 -31547164017&insName=UHHR To log-in please input the following information: Employee ID: Password: Birthdate (MMDDYYYY) After you log in, click on UHSA01 - UHS Secure Our Systems. After viewing the presentation, please proceed to take the quiz for each lesson.

Although identity theft and viruses are two hot-button issues that catch the public’s attention, computer crime runs the gamut from spyware and intellectual property espionage to network sabotage and data destruction.

At the University of Houston System institutions, faculty and staff are participating in a new online Information Security Awareness Training (ISAT) program that will help protect the universities’ computer systems. The UH System launched ISAT in response to federal and state laws that mandate employees take part in such training.

“Information Security Awareness is extremely important to the University of Houston System,’’ said UHS Chancellor and University of Houston President Jay Gogue. “It is important for us to understand the federal and state laws regarding this issue because it will give us all a sense of confidence that we are doing all we can to secure our systems.”

Assistant Vice President for Information Security and Service Continuity Steve Green, who also serves as the university’s chief information security officer, cited the 2005 FBI Computer Crime Survey, which indicates that nearly nine out of 10 companies have experienced some type of computer security incident in a year’s time. The survey is based on responses from more than 2,000 public and private organizations in four states.

“People don’t realize how vulnerable information systems can be, which is why security awareness training is so important,” Green said.

“In order to have a secure computing environment, everyone has to actively participate in assuring that the UH System is maintaining information security and privacy,” he said.

Employees who take the training gain a heightened awareness about securing their computers at work and at home as well as confidential information stored electronically and on paper, according to Beverly Stevenson, ISAT project manager. The program helps faculty and staff with their responsibilities for securing data and protecting it against alteration or theft.

To receive credit for the training, faculty and staff must complete all three online lessons. Completing the coursework requires about half an hour. On the Web site, additional resources exist including other security resources and contact numbers.

In the future, ISAT will be given as part of the new employee orientation.
Employees will receive an e-mail reminder to complete the training. Training for employees who do not use computers or who do not speak English can be arranged.

ISAT emerged through the collaboration of staff from the Office of the Chancellor/President, the Office of the General Counsel, the Division of Academic Affairs and the Information Technology Department.

For more information, contact Stevenson at 713-743-1607 or e-mail her at bdstevenson@uh.edu.