Weekly Feed—Technology News & Updates

In today’s digital world, protecting sensitive information is critical. Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, which makes it essential for everyone at KSU to stay vigilant. 

Complete your Spring Cybersecurity Awareness Training today!

Friendly reminder: This training is mandatory for all faculty, staff, and student assistants and must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on April 21. Please note that if you do not complete this training by that deadline, your KSU NetID account will be disabled until you fulfill this requirement.

Your participation matters! So far, 30% have completed the training. Can we reach 50% by next week? Let's do it, Owls!

Why is this training important?

• Understand common cyber threats and how to prevent them.
• Protect sensitive university data and personal information.
• Stay compliant with USG requirements for faculty, staff, and student assistants.

Thank you for helping keep KSU safe from cyberattacks!

Want to keep your online accounts safe? Follow Scrappy's hoot-worthy password tips to create strong passwords and stay one step ahead of cybercriminals:

1. Keep it complex, kiddo! (KICK!) Scrappy likes to add some KICK to his passwords by incorporating a mix of numbers, special characters, and uppercase and lowercase letters. He avoids simple or guessable patterns like "password1234."
2. Uniqueness matters: Scrappy has a different password for each account.
3. Length is strength: Even though Scrappy has only 4 fingers on each hand, he makes sure to count one hand again when counting how many characters his password has. He knows it should include at least 12 characters.
4. Phrases may outperform words: Scrappy likes to use the phrase from his bucket list "Complete 63 Before Your Degree!" to construct a password. Consider using memorable phrases or short sentences as passwords.
5. Update passwords regularly: Scrappy changes his password every 6 months. He recommends you change yours just as often, or at least once a year. That is why your KSU password expires yearly. You will receive email reminders via KSUmail beginning 30 days before the expiration date.

Always remember: NEVER accept an unexpected Duo push.

If you suspect your account has been compromised—especially if you receive an unexpected Duo push—change your password immediately! 

How to Change Your Password

You can change your password by logging in to netid.kennesaw.edu  and following the prompts.

Remember: Your KSU password expires yearly, and you will receive email reminders via KSUmail. 

OwlTrain, KSU’s internal online training platform, has a wealth of courses. Now you can also practice—and receive personalized feedback on—scenarios that mimic real-life situations using CAISY, the AI conversation simulator from Skillsoft. Use CAISY to practice leadership, customer service, and more. 

Practice Realistic Scenarios with CAISY

Follow these instructions to access CAISY:

1. Navigate to owltrain.kennesaw.edu.
2. Select AI Simulations in the left-hand menu.
3. Select the category you are interested in to see a list of scenarios you can practice.
4. Once you find a scenario that interests you, click Launch and read the scenario description. You can conduct your conversation with the AI by typing your answers in the chat box or by speaking aloud to it.

Dive in and use AI to hone your—and your team’s—skills!

For expert training, join this week's workshop: Intro to CAISY AI Simulator on Tuesday, March 25 from 2–3 p.m. via Teams—Register on OwlTrain.

Check out the selection of CAISY scenarios available on OwlTrain.

Elevate your tech skills with University Information Technology Services (UITS)! Attend one—or all!—of our technology workshops, designed to help you unlock the full potential of tech tools that help you work effectively at KSU. Check out our full Spring 2025 selection here.

Intro to CAISY AI Simulator

Tuesday, Mar. 25, 2–3 p.m. via Teams—Register for this workshop

This workshop introduces learners to CAISY. CAISY provides interactive, scenario-based content powered by AI where a learner can practice new skills in a safe space. This AI simulation content allows learners to choose a role and practice specific skills by responding to AI prompts. The CAISY AI simulator rates your responses as if it were a HR representative employing best practices for the given situation.

Organizing Your Outlook Inbox

Thursday, Mar. 27, 2–3 p.m. via Teams—Register for this workshop

Optimize your organization with Outlook's hidden features. Learn to create message categories, set up automatic email sorting, and declutter your inbox for enhanced productivity.

Omni CMS

Friday, Mar. 28, 10–11:30 a.m. via Teams—Register for this workshop

Get acquainted with Omni, the Content Management System used by Kennesaw State University websites. This hands-on workshop will guide you through accessing Omni CMS, editing webpages, and adding content, ensuring you can effectively manage your website.