Author: Ian Aberle

Ian Aberle an Adobe Creative Educator and the Senior IT Communications Specialist and Trainer for OIT. Since 1996, he has helped the SMU community use technology and implement digital and web media through managing the SMU STAR Program and now as part of OIT's Customer Service Team. In his free time, Ian enjoys photography and road trips with his family.  

Winter 2023 Security Report Now Available

ChatbotOur latest OIT Quarterly Security Update edition is now available to the SMU community.

This issue focuses on the generative AI everyone is talking about—ChatGPT. We may have heard it mentioned on the news or by colleagues lately, so in this month’s edition, take a deeper dive into ChatGPT with the help of ChatGPT. Most everything written in this month’s newsletter was authored with the help of an AI. You’ll even see the prompts we used to get the AI talking. Continue reading Winter 2023 Security Report Now Available

Love Data Week Returns for 2023

Love Data Week iconSMU Libraries has teamed up again with the Office of Information Technology’s Research and Data Science Services Team for “Love Data Week.” This series of workshops, sponsored by the Research and Scholarly Initiatives Team, is targeted toward anyone with a burgeoning interest in the data sciences, all the way up to the most seasoned researchers. You can find the schedule of workshops, starting on February 13th, below.

Continue reading Love Data Week Returns for 2023

Phishing Email Simulations Return After Hiatus

AnitPhish (Anti-Phishing Campaign)Phishing attempts—those pesky emails that try to lure you into revealing personal info like passwords and financial information—are constantly evolving to thwart the University’s effort to stop them. While users only receive a small percentage of these emails in their inboxes, it takes one wrong click to start off a chain of new attempts.

For several years, SMU has worked to make our community more aware of these phishing attempts by sending simulated phishing emails. While we all have had to pivot and change our routines over the past couple of years, it was decided it was best not to add one more thing to everyone’s plate, so we took a break from the simulation. Yet, with the recent influx of successful phishing messages, the OIT Information Security Team will relaunch the simulated phishing email campaign in the coming weeks. Continue reading Phishing Email Simulations Return After Hiatus

Cyber Wellness Program Helps SMU Community Discover Its Strengths

Cybersecurity Wellness ProgramLast October, SMU offered employees the option of participating in a pilot of our first-ever Cyber Wellness Program. The Cybersecurity Wellness Program is based on the award-winning book, Well Aware: Master the Nine Cybersecurity Habits to Protect Your Future by SMU’s CSO, George Finney. Well Aware helps make security easy by making security a habit.

As we all should now realize, cybersecurity is critical for success in our modern world, and learning to master your cybersecurity habits will not only help you to protect your company and your career but also your family and your future.

The nine cybersecurity habits are Continue reading Cyber Wellness Program Helps SMU Community Discover Its Strengths

Getting Started with Data Research Using Forrester

Forrester Research logoDid you know that all SMU students, faculty, and staff have access to the Forrester research portal? Many of you know how invaluable these databases of research findings, including analyses, opinions, trends, leading practices, or case studies, can be. With the Forrester platform, users can access market data research, business operation insights, and more just by going to smu.edu/Forrester. Continue reading Getting Started with Data Research Using Forrester