October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an annual opportunity to highlight ways to protect against cyber scams and safeguard personal information online. In observance, the Office of Information Technology (OIT) encourages Georgia Tech students, faculty, and staff to practice habits that help protect their accounts and Institute resources this month, and beyond.

Led nationally by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Cybersecurity Awareness Month has promoted the importance of everyday cybersecurity practices for more than 20 years. Its 2026 theme, “Securing the Next 250,” recognizes America’s 250th anniversary while looking ahead to building a more secure digital future across the nation.

“Emerging technologies continue to change the cybersecurity landscape and accelerate the ways attackers can identify and exploit vulnerabilities in systems and people,” said Leo Howell, vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer. “This makes awareness a crucial part of our cybersecurity defense.”

Here are key practices the Georgia Tech community can take to stay safe online and protect Institute assets:

• If you receive a suspicious email, immediately report it using Microsoft Outlook’s Report Phishing tool. Do not reply to the message, click on any links it may contain, or forward the message to others.
• Before approving a Duo two-factor authentication request, make sure the request was initiated by you or someone you trust. Do not approve an unexpected or suspicious request and never provide personal information, account credentials, or verification codes over the phone to anyone.
• Do not enter sensitive, protected, or confidential information into an AI tool, even if the tool is approved for use at Georgia Tech.
• If you believe you are being targeted by a cyber scam or personal information breach at the Institute, report the matter immediately to the OIT Security Operations Center at soc@gatech.edu.

“While Cybersecurity Awareness Month provides an opportunity to spotlight strong cybersecurity practices, cyber awareness isn’t something we should think about only in October,” added Howell. “Remaining cautious, staying informed, and practicing good cybersecurity habits throughout the year are key to staying secure.”

Learn more cybersecurity tips and resources via the OIT Cybersecurity Awareness webpage at oit.gatech.edu/cybersecurityawareness.