Safe Surfing - A New End-user Security Awareness Class From Cosaint
January 30, 2003 - Mount Vernon, WA
Cosaint Inc. (http://www.cosaint.net), a Mount Vernon (WA) based company specializing in online information security education for end-users, today announced a new web-based security awareness course - "Safe Surfing".
There are a host of potential security problems that can be encountered when surfing the Internet. But taking a few basic precautions can significantly reduce the risks that computer users face — both at work and at home. Cosaint's "Safe Surfing" course examines the threats that a typical web surfer will face including worms and viruses, site spamming and browser hijacking. Special emphasis is placed on recognizing SSL protected sites and knowing when to use them. The course covers the following topics:
- the threats encountered when surfing the Internet
- watching where you surf
- what is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)
- updating your software
- script controls
- anti-virus software and downloads
The course includes interactive features and an optional audio track. A short mastery test examines the student’s understanding of the material and, on passing, they can download a certificate to show that they’ve finished the course. A simple management interface allows the student's supervisor to monitor progress and to issue gentle reminders should ths prove necessary. The material has been audited for accuracy by IT managers in client companies, and by a number of senior analysts at leading information security companies.
Chuck Garner, IT Manager for Affiliated Health Services in Burlington WA, says:
"In the healthcare industry, we’re under increasing pressure to secure our IT systems – not least because of the requirements imposed by HIPAA*. This means that it’s critical for us to find cost-effective means of educating our computer users about information security and privacy. Cosaint Certify courses address many of the key issues that we’re facing today such as computer viruses, password policy and general internet safety. And they do a tremendous job of simplifying technical material and presenting it to non-technical users in an engaging way without trivializing the subject matter. I really believe that Cosaint Certify courses are ideally suited to educating users in today’s healthcare industry."
[* HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act]
Steve Addison, CEO of Cosaint says:
"Recent security breaches and virus attacks have only heightened our conviction that information security depends on education at all levels of an organization - from the shopfloor to the board room. The 'National Strategy to Secure Cyberspace' highlighted education as one of the 4 'controlling elements', and the HIPAA rules emphasize security awareness training for all employees. But it's important to live within today's tight budgets. We believe that Cosaint's web-based education and testing addresses this critical need for affordable end-user awareness training."
More Information
 Course Description
Datasheet
|
