Cybersecurity Training and Awareness provides training and guidance to the university community on how to protect against cybersecurity threats. Cyber criminals are constantly changing their tactics. Regular cybersecurity training helps you stay safer as cyber threats evolve.
Cybersecurity Champions program
Cybersecurity Champions come from departments across campus and advocate for cybersecurity within their own work areas. We provide tools and knowledge to help you identify opportunities for improvement and possibly implement changes in your area. No IT or technical background is needed to participate, just a curiosity about how to improve cybersecurity for yourself and your work group. You will:
- Participate in learning opportunities, activities and online conversations through posting ideas or positive, helpful comments to help build our community.
- Receive the monthly Inside Scoop newsletter in your inbox, designed to help you with community outreach and personal accomplishments.
- Get a selection of swag to share with coworkers and help spread the cybersecurity message.
If you have questions about the Champions program, contact securitytraining@uillinois.edu.
Complete an interest form to join the Champions.
Employee online training
Required quarterly training
Employee required training is available at https://go.uillinois.edu/securitytraining (log in required). Quarterly training for faculty and staff helps to keep cybersecurity top of mind. Small, targeted timely subject matter modules that can be accomplished in 20 minutes or less focus on practical knowledge that can be applied in work and personal situations.
Cybersecurity affects you, whether you use a computer, a tablet or a smartphone (or all) in your work, school or personal life. Cybersecurity is about keeping your technology safe, including networks, data, programs and devices. Cybersecurity helps to protect your data and your devices, like a lock on the front door protects your home.
This training is required for most employees by university policy. See the Information Security Policy training requirement in the Campus Administrative Manual (for Illinois/System Offices) at https://cam.illinois.edu/policies/fo-36/ and at https://www.uis.edu/policy/information-security-policy-university-illinois (for Springfield). The training requirement is also referred to as Security Training Standard (“IT16”). Cybersecurity training is not required for students.
Optional training
Additional training opportunities are available for those who want to delve deeper into a subject. To take an optional training, visit the cybersecurity training portal at https://go.uillinois.edu/securitytraining.
Employee in-person training
Specialized trainings for work groups
Your work group may have specific cybersecurity training needs. Our team can offer specialized training, including role-based training. Reach out to find out how we can work together at securitytraining@uillinois.edu.
Student cybersecurity training
Cybersecurity and privacy matter. Students have two free training courses that cover:
- Job scams
- Phishing messages
- False warrants and immigration scams
- Financial and student loan scams
- and more
Canvas course: https://go.illinois.edu/cybersecurity-champion
eText at Illinois course: https://go.illinois.edu/cybersecurityetext
Be sure to expand the “My Skillding Blox” heading to take the Cybersecurity & You course.
Work Secure Newsletter
Work Secure is a monthly newsletter about cybersecurity best practices, containing actionable information on how readers can keep themselves safer online.
2026
- Work Secure March 2026: Don’t wait to update
- Work Secure February 2026: Easily manage your passwords
- Work Secure January 2026: Take charge of your privacy
2025
- December 2025: Catch the phish
- November 2025: Data done right
- October 2025: Spot the scam signals
- September 2025: Browse smart and safe
- August 2025: Start the Semester with Secure Habits
- July 2025: Become Wi-Fi Wise – Public Networks
- June 2025: Become Wi-Fi Wise – Home Networks
- May 2025: How Do You Prevent an Insider Threat?
- April 2025: Social Media Shams
- March 2025: Spotting a Safe Web Address
- February 2025: Subtle and Sneaky Signs of Phishing
- January 2025: Privacy Matters – Protecting Personal Information