Faculty and staff cybersecurity training is getting a makeover and moving to a new platform starting with the July 2025 quarterly training. 

In collaboration with the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, the team has created new required and optional modules that will be presented using eText, which delivers materials with multimedia, notes and assignments embedded directly in context. 

What will be new? 

“Having an in-house training platform lets us tailor our training to be relevant to the university rather than relying on more general content,” explained lead cybersecurity training specialist Cindy McKendall. “We can customize and show real world examples such as ransomware lock screens or phishing messages.”

Taking training via eText is convenient. You can install the eText app on your desktop or smart phone or use a browser.

What will remain the same? 

The training team will continue to develop modules based on user feedback. “We collect feedback each year and use it to improve what we present to campus,” McKendall said.  She added that staff and faculty will continue to receive quarterly email reminders containing a link to the Training platform (now eText) where you will sign in using your university login and password.  Training will still be easy to complete, usually taking less than 15 minutes.  

Find out more about cybersecurity training and get additional tips at cybersecurity.illinois.edu.