With online scams on the rise, it is more important than ever to remain vigilant. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The initiative serves as a reminder of the steps everyone can take to stay safe online and protect their personal data. Austin Community College District (ACC) joins the national campaign led by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to highlight simple, everyday steps faculty, staff, and students can take to stay safe online.
This year’s theme is “Securing the Next 250.” The campaign focuses on four simple actions:
- Use strong passwords and a password manager.
- Turn on multifactor authentication (MFA)
- Recognize and report scams
- Update your software regularly
ACC shares the best practices to help everyone protect themselves online.
One More Step: Protect Your ACC Account
This semester, ACC implemented Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) as a requirement for student accounts to help protect your account and personal information.
The change was made as a proactive precaution following a recent increase in cyberattacks targeting student accounts across the nation. MFA adds a quick second step when you sign in to ACC systems. After entering your password, you’ll verify your identity using a method such as the Okta Verify app, an authenticator app, or your device’s built-in security features.
You’ll be prompted to set up MFA the first time you sign in to an ACC application that requires it. Set up your MFA now so you’re ready to access MyACC, Blackboard, ACCmail, and other ACC services securely.
Further instructions and support options will be posted on the MFA resource page. Visit austincc.edu/ITsafety.