Why am I required to take Cybersecurity Awareness Training?

Texas Government Code 2054.519 mandates all state agency employees, including part-time and student employees, and contractors (Texas Tech business/research partners) complete a basic cybersecurity awareness training program every fiscal year and that we report your successful completion to the state.

Why is Cybersecurity Awareness Training important?

TTU's training focuses on developing and reinforcing information security practices to protect TTU data and information resources. The primary goal is to build awareness and understanding of potential risks and to empower participants to identify, prevent, and respond to cybersecurity incidents effectively.

How will TTU achieve compliance?

Texas Government Code 2054.519 mandates that all state agency employees and contractors (Texas Tech business/research partners) complete a basic cybersecurity awareness training program every fiscal year and that we report Texas Tech's successful completion to the state. All TTU employees must complete the training within a designated 30-day timeframe. If you have not completed the training within the 30-day timeframe, your access to TTU IT resources, such as Internet, Teams, Banner, and email will restricted until you finish the training.

Where can I take the training?

Human Resources will enroll you in the course on February 28, 2025. The training can be accessed and completed in Cornerstone by signing in with your eRaider credentials and registering for the course. Launch your Cybersecurity training from the home page, under the heading "Training Schedule".

When can I take the course?

You can take the course at any time through Cornerstone. For fiscal year 2025, you should complete the training before April 1, 2025 to avoid your account being restricted. New hires will still need to complete all of their required training, including the Cybersecurity Awareness Training, within 30 days of hire.

How often does the training need to be completed?

Training is required annually. However, in calendar year 2025, the training must be completed twice—once in March for fiscal year 2025 and again in October for fiscal year 2026.

Can I still take the training if my access to TTU IT resources is restricted?

Yes, the Cornerstone application will still be available even if your access to TTU IT resources is restricted.

Can I still use other applications?

No, applications routed through TTUnet VPN will be blocked. This includes applications such as email and web browsers.

If my access was restricted but I later completed the training, how long does it take to get my access to TTU IT resources restored?

Please be aware that restoring your access may take a significant amount of time, depending on the number of individuals requiring reactivation.

What about new employees?

Supervisors or employment service coordinators must inform HR to grant new employees access to the training and it should be completed with all compliance training within their first 30 days of employment.

The training does not appear on my Cornerstone home page and I am locked out. What do I do?

Navigate to the Cornerstone library. Search for "Cybersecurity Training", register for the course, and complete it.

I am a student in another role and I no longer work for TTU, but I have received an email or am locked out. What do I do?

Contact your former department and ask them to perform a termination ePAF.