’Everyone can and must contribute to IT security’

Ludger Becker and Sophia Stöber look after IT security at Münster University © University of Münster - Sophie Pieper The University of Münster reorganises its IT security and Almost every week we read about cyberattacks on companies or authorities - quite often on universities, too. Are we to conclude that basically the danger is constantly increasing, including for the University of Münster? Ludger Becker: Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of attempted attacks and in the professionalism displayed - with the corresponding danger of being the target of such an attack. This also applies to Münster University, of course. The CIT and the Information Processing Units (IVVs) that are responsible for IT support in the faculties, have already been taking a variety of measures to counteract this trend in the past few years. However, this is always a continuous process of action and reaction. Individual members of staff or students may well think that by themselves they can't do anything to increase IT security or to counteract cyberattacks. Are they wrong? Sophia Stöber: Actually, everyone can and must contribute to IT security. Information security only functions as a joint effort. After all, everyone who works on a computer comes into contact with dangers and with IT security measures on a daily basis. Locking the screen when you leave your workstation, or pausing when you read an unusual email, can often make a big contribution. At Münster University, IT security is seen as being a joint effort, and you have drawn up a concept entitled -Recognise-Protect-React-. What does that entail?