Training materials, from Information Security Essentials to secure coding and more.
All University staff, visitors and Postgraduate Research students should complete the Information Security Essentials and Data Protection Essentials courses. Everyone must retake the course every 2 years.
Information Security Essentials
The course or appropriate alternative training is mandatory, as stated in the Information Security Policy. This gives the basics about the most common kinds of attacks, and shows how to protect ourselves from them.
Access for staff
To self-enrol on Information Security Essentials please follow the link below which will launch the course directly.
Launch the Information Security Essentials course in People and Money
There are two activities in this course,
- a self-paced eLearning activity with
- an optional pre-test to allow staff to demonstrate knowledge without having complete the material or quiz.
- the learning content with interactive elements - please note you must view all videos and content within each section before the this activity is marked as complete
- a final quiz assessment
- a PDF containing links to further information sources.
You must complete both activities for the course to be marked as complete.
Access for Visitors
For those without access to People and Money, you can watch the staff training material through Media Hopper. This course is self-certified and completion should be reported to your line manager or in line with local procedures.
Launch the Information Security Essentials course in Media Hopper
NOTE:
- Visitors will need the Media Hopper service enabled on their account to access the content. Please speak with your line manager and/or your local Helpdesk
Undergraduate Students and Postgraduate Taught Students
The Information Security Essentials course is a lightweight course that gives students information and advice to help avoid information security threats, and accompanying material gives information on where further support and information is available at the University. This is available as part of the “Essentials” courses in Learn Ultra, directly under the "Essentials" tab. More in-depth information that may be of interest can be found in the staff training material on Media Hopper as noted in the "Access for Visitors" section.
Postgraduate Research Students
The Information Security Essentials for Postgraduate Research Students is an "Essentials" version of the staff course as detailed above. It is available for Postgraduate Research Students as part of the "Essentials" courses in Learn Ultra, directly under the "Essentials" tab. Please see the "Access for Staff" section for more information on the course contents. This course is self-certified and if required completion should be reported in line with local procedures.
Data Protection Essentials
Under the University's Data Protection Policy, all staff have responsibility for data protection compliance in their day-to-day work. This course is provided by the University's Data Protection Officer. Please follow this link to the Data Protection Officer's Training and Events page.
Every attempt has been made to ensure this course is as accessible as possible in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2. However, if for any reason related to a disability you are unable to complete this online training, please contact the Information Security Team on informationsecurity@ed.ac.uk to arrange an alternative method of delivery.
Read the Accessibility Statement for the Information Security Essentials training
Information Security run regular hour long awareness sessions covering a range of Information Secuity topics from emerging threats to keeping your home safe. These are available to all University users and can be booked online: -
Infographic from the Information Security Division with the assistance of Graphic Design Services outlining our top 10 information security tips:
About LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) is an online skills development service offering an extensive library of high quality video courses in digital, technology, creative and business skills.
The University currently has a campus-wide licence for the service. This enables students and staff to access to all LinkedIn Learning training materials. General information about registering with, and using LinkedIn Learning in the University is available here.
Information about LinkedIn Learning
Short courses
This is a short collection of relevant videos from LinkedIn Learning that may help you identify common types of attack, software or sites that you need to be able to avoid.
These are suitable for all computer users.
Keeping Information Safe (4m 10s)
Avoiding Scam Artists (4m 55s)
Using Secure Websites (4m 2s)
Internet Safety for Students
This 55 minutes course is suitable for all computer users. It is aimed at American University Students who want to know more about how to set up their computers to be more secure, and how to stay safe on the Internet.
Learning path: become an IT security Specialist
A series of courses has been gathered into a Learning Path for people who want to learn the main kinds of things to become a specialist in IT Security. These courses are highly technical in places and are suitable only for experienced IT practitioners who want to specialise.
MANTRA
MANTRA is a free online course for those who manage digital data as part of their research project. The training materials cover the basics but add a research context, the special requirements that researchers need to know about, and how to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of their research through its lifecycle.
Research data service
MANTRA training is provided as part of your responsibilties as a researcher. The research data service has more information on handling research data and the processes for doing so within the University.
Digital Footprint
If somebody Googled you, what would they find? With the help of the Institute for Academic Development you have opportunity to explore and reflect on your own online tracks and traces and understand why your digital footprint is important.
Managing Your Digital Footprint
Developing software securely
The University has launched a "community of practice" focusing specifically on software development. To become a member of this group, engage with and share advice, techniques and best practice with the community of software developers inside The University, click below.
Software development community blog
The OWASP Project is a worldwide not-for-profit charitable organization focused on improving the security of software.
Police Scotland
advice on protecting yourself online
Get safe online
The Get safe online website has a lot of useful information about using computers and Internet devices, whether it's in work, or in your daily life.
National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
The NCSC was set up by the Government to help protect national critical services from cyber attacks, manage major incidents, and improve the underlying security of the UK Internet through technological improvement and advice to citizens and organisations.
Information Commissioner's Office
This is the main source of official information about data protection, and what is expected of all citizens when handling personally sensitive information, and the laws related to this.
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