Re: Security Awareness Programs

[Mike Cunningham <mike.cunningham () PCT EDU>]

I have a philosophical question for this group... 

My bank never requires me, their customer, to ever change my password
My credit union never requires me, their customer, to ever change my password
My health insurance company never requires me, their customer, to ever change my password
My investment web site, my credit card bank, my online prescription site, my hotel rewards account, my airline rewards 
account, my daughters school district, never requires me to ever change my password

Why does Higher Education make students, their customers, change their password? 
Would it be better to not require it and teach them why they should instead?  

Mike Cunningham
VP of Information Technology Services/CIO
Pennsylvania College of Technology



-----Original Message-----
From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Flynn, 
Gary - flynngn
Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 3:41 PM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Security Awareness Programs

JMU policy requires password changes every 90 days.

Our password change process includes having to click through captive web
pages containing security awareness content.

We do not track progress. People may click through without reading it. We
know based on feedback that some do. OTOH we know based on feedback that
some don't.

It is all custom code and content. Content is based on role and whether it
is the first time through.

new applicants (one page on phishing and AUP)
new/returning student
new/returning employee/affiliate
graduate (one page on phishing and AUP)

Content for new folks is relatively constant. It hasn't changed much over
the years.

Content for returning folks changes about once a semester. 

We've been doing this for around ten years.

People are sent an email message after the password change indicating the
change and providing a link to provide feedback for the security awareness
content. Feedback has been mixed. Sometimes, uh, colorful and often
associated with  the requirement to change passwords. Sometimes quite
positive and/or constructive.

Gary Flynn
Security Engineer
James Madison University
Don't Be A PHISH!
IsItReal?
http://www.jmu.edu/computing/ittraining/SIGUCCS/story.html




> -----Original Message-----
> From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv
> [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Peter Lundstedt
> Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 3:33 PM
> To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
> Subject: [SECURITY] Security Awareness Programs
>
> Hi All,
>
>
>
> Curious on what others are doing to 'get the word out' on their campuses.
> What approaches seem to work best from both an initial push out on a new
> subject or with a new program, to keeping things up to date with
> acknowledgements, visibility, &c?
>
>
>
> From a product point of view, we've explored the SANS Securing the Human
> series among a few others, but the lack of customization and integration
into
> HR training modules is steering us away.  Experiences there?
>
>
>
> Peter Lundstedt
>
> SECURITY ANALYST 2, INFRASTRUCTURE & SECURITY SERVICES
>
>
>
> oit