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The final week of Cybersecurity Awareness month emphasizes that cybersecurity should be a priority and not an afterthought. Cybersecurity is a year-round effort and has become more of a consideration in how we work, learn, and live. Do your best to make cybersecurity a first consideration when acquiring new devices and connected services for work or personal use.

! Call to Action !

• Learn 5 tips for enhancing your cybersecurity safety at work or home by viewing this short video. (5 minutes)
• To learn about how to increase your cyber awareness, view this video highlighting simple steps you can take to #BeCyberSmart. (4 minutes)

If you have a technology security question or have a cybersecurity concern, contact Technology Support at (410) 313-7004 option 4 or TechSupport@hcpss.org

The third week of Cybersecurity Awareness Month celebrates Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week. This week's resources illustrate how cybersecurity professionals play a vital role in global society and security and call attention to their contributions and innovations. They also showcase how HCPSS is helping to build a global cybersecurity workforce to further enhance security and promote economic prosperity.

! Call to Action !

• Learn how HCPSS is supporting students interested in cybersecurity in the HCPSS Cybersecurity Networking Academy. View this short video highlighting the career academy. (4 minutes)
• Explore Cybersecurity Career Options and learn about careers in cybersecurity from the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies. NICCS is a national resource for cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development.

If you have a technology security question or have a cybersecurity concern, contact Technology Support at (410) 313-7004 option 4 or TechSupport@hcpss.org

The attached letter serves as notification, as required by law, of the availability for public review of Asbestos Management Plans for Howard County Public Schools. For additional information, contact the Office of the Environment at 410-313-8874.

Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to infect your machine with malware and viruses to collect personal and financial information.

Play hard to get with strangers. Cyber criminals use phishing tactics, hoping to fool their victims. If you’re unsure who an email is from—even if the details appear accurate— or if the email looks ‘phishy,’ do not respond and do not click on any links or attachments found in that email. When in doubt, it’s best to proceed with cautious skepticism and report any suspicious emails to abuse@hcpss.org so that actions can be taken to block them before they arrive in your inbox.

! Call to Action !

• View the HCPSS “Spot a Phish” video to help “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart”
• View the HCPSS Phishing Attack FAQs and Learn more about Phishing on the Technology Resources Canvas community for more information.

If after reviewing the resources you have any questions, contact Technology Support at (410) 313-7004 option 4 or TechSupport@hcpss.org

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This month we will share messages and weekly themes of the importance of staying safe online. The first theme - Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart – encourages individuals and organizations to own their role in protecting their part of cyberspace, stressing personal accountability and the importance of taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity. HCPSS is committed to helping our staff and students become more resilient. 

! Call To Action!  Review the resources below to learn more about how you can stay safe online: 

• Securely working from home
• Ransomware information
• Scareware information
• Using Public Wi-Fi Networks
• Phishing Attacks
• Multi-Factor Authentication 
• Enhanced Security

If after reviewing any of the resources you have any questions, contact Technology Support at (410) 313-7004 option 4 or TechSupport@hcpss.org

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security measure that requires users to enter multiple sources of authentication before granting access to an account. HCPSS staff can opt in to using MFA to protect their Microsoft Office 365 account, which includes apps such as email, Teams, Skype for Business, OneDrive and others. Other HCPSS applications are already protected by Enhanced Security.

To further bring awareness to staff members’ ability to opt-in to using MFA, staff will now see the below warning message when logging into Microsoft Office 365 if they are not enrolled.

Warning: Your account is not protected. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security measure that requires users to enter multiple sources of authentication before granting access to an account. Please consider enrolling in MFA to protect your account.

Under the warning message are links for both “Enroll in MFA” and “Continue sign in.” Staff who wish to opt in to this security feature should select Enroll in MFA.

Learn more about MFA on the Technology Resources Canvas community. If after reviewing the resource you have any questions, contact Technology Support at (410) 313-7004 option 4 or TechSupport@hcpss.org

Javion Hinmon is not your ordinary bus driver. In addition to his morning and afternoon bus runs at three different schools, Javion also works as a registrar at Long Reach HS and in Student Records Management at the ARL. Through all that, Mr. Hinmon does it with enthusiasm and a smile!

For him, bus driving isn’t just about transporting students from point A to point B. It’s about building relationships with them and letting them know that no matter what else is happening in their lives, he is there for them. Read the latest HCPSS Staff Focus to learn more about Javion and all he does for HCPSS students.

Staff are invited to visit a new web page, HCPSS Employee Well-Being. The new page features details on HCPSS’ well-being efforts including information about mental health resources, professional development opportunities, staff recognition programs and more. The page also provides staff a pathway to access additional resources provided on the HCPSS Employee Well-Being Canvas page.

HCPSS is proud to recognize Deep Run Elementary School Principal Denise Lancaster as The Washington Post’s 2021 Principal of the Year.

After recently being named the HCPSS Principal of the Year, Lancaster was chosen from among 19 finalists representing school systems in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The Washington Post Principal of the Year Award recognizes principals who demonstrate leadership, encourage creative and innovation, foster cooperation between the school and the community, promote collaboration, and contribute in a substantive way to the improvement of education in the Washington metropolitan area.

Read more about Denise on the HCPSS website.

! WARNING: To trick people into responding, scammers sometimes use publicly available information to send emails to employees using a fraudulent external email account using their supervisor’s name.

To help staff identify all emails from external sources, messages sent from non-HCPSS accounts will have:

• Subject lines beginning with [External]
• A “! CAUTION” message highlighted in yellow at the top of the email.

Staff should not respond to emails suspected to be fraudulent, and instead reach out to people using a verified email address or another verified communication method.

Below is an example of a common phishing email using this trick. Notice the scammer uses the name of an HCPSS principal but the email is coming from an external email system, gmail.com. Additionally, the email is trying to create a sense of urgency and importance to get the recipient to respond quickly.

From: Jeffrey Fink <jeffreyfink.hcpss.org@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 30, 2020 11:44 AM
To: Nick Vissari <Nick_Vissari@hcpss.org>
Subject: [External] FOLLOW UP

! CAUTION: This email originated from outside of HCPSS. Do not click links or open attachments, unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Are you available right now?

Learn more about phishing attacks on the Technology Support Canvas community.

If you suspect an email to be fraudulent, do not proceed with the directions provided in the email. Employees are encouraged to forward any suspected phishing emails to abuse@hcpss.org, and then delete the email. If assistance is still needed, contact the Technology Support at TechSupport@hcpss.org.