Welcome to the basic course in information security for university employees

This course will address why our information is vital and in need of protection, as well as what information security is all about.
Moreover, it explains how your behaviour and the way your handle your data signficantly impacts the safety and security of your data.

Introduction

The video is from the Swedish Civil COntingencis Agency (MSB). It is in Swedish with English subtitles.

Information security?

Information security means that the right person will have access to the right information/data at the right time, and that information must be protected with adequate level of security so that

Only those authorized can access it (confidentiality)
We can trust that it is accurate, not tampered with or corrupted (integrity)
It's actually there when we need it (availability)

Information security is a wide field, from users knowledgeable about risks, information classification, threat and risk analyses, development of processes, and more.

Cybersecurity is the part of information security that deals with external dependencies and threats in a larger and more complex digital ecosystem than (only) within the own organization or society. Among other things, threats can be antagonistic, political, economic or geographical, from individuals, groups or state actors.

Why is information security so important?

The security of our information - or information security - is something we all need to relate to, both professionally and in our private lives.

Why?

We handle more and more of our information as well as our contact with others through social media, the internet and various digital media
Our mobile devices make us more or less constantly online - connected to the internet
Spreading information to the entire world can be done with lightening speed
The line between true and false, or faked, information is becoming increasingly difficult to see

The human factor

Incidents and cyber attacks happen constantly.

Universities around the world are popular targets for attackers, making awareness and knowledge regarding risks, and how to reduce those risks, very important.

Attackers often target us humans because the human factor is usually the weakest link, the link most difficult to secure, in the so called security chain. The image shows a metal chain with a broken link, the weak link.

Headlines regarding cyber attacks disrupting online education, and the attacks are increasing.