Secure by design
Our Information Security team is here to help protect VIU’s digital campus. We work hard to identify and reduce cyber threats while sharing the latest security updates to keep you informed. Keeping our technology safe is a shared responsibility, and everyone has a role to play.
We follow a Secure by Design approach. This means building security into our systems, processes and daily habits from the start, helping our community teach, learn and connect securely and confidently.
Read on for guidance on how to securely design your Identity, Defences, Workspace and Community, or explore our Security Awareness training and live Phish Bowl.
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month at VIU!
Campaign Theme: Get Cyber Safe — "Your Best Defence Is You"
Throughout October, test your instincts, explore our threat defence guides and help keep our digital campus secure.
Week 2 focus: Strengthen your defences
Protect your account before Microsoft retires SMS and phone call verification. Switch to the Microsoft Authenticator app or Passkeys today.
Campus Scavenger Hunt — mid-month reminder
Track down clues across our security guides for a chance to win a Tim Hortons gift card!
Students — new security training is live!
- Now available: Self-register for the student Secure by Design course in VIULearn Discover to build essential digital safety skills.
- Tuition Payment Scams: What Students Need to Know — Protect yourself from fraudulent discount offers and fake payment services.
Contact us
Need support or spotted a security concern?
Submit a service request via the IT Service Desk.
Have a general question?
Email our team directly at infosec@viu.ca.
Seen a suspicious email?
Check our Phish Bowl for the latest known threats.
Design your digital identity
Your VIU account is your master key to campus life. It unlocks your email, your course materials and your personal records. Because it holds so much important information, keeping that key secure is your first line of defence.
Here are the best ways to protect your digital identity at VIU.
Use a passphrase, not a password
Passwords with random symbols are hard to remember but easy for computers to crack. Instead, use a passphrase, a string of random words like PurpleCoffeeOceanBreeze!. Because passphrases are longer, they are much harder for attackers to guess but much easier for you to remember.
The power of 2-step verification (2SV)
2SV adds a vital extra lock to your account. Microsoft is retiring SMS text and voice call verification across all institutions by February 1, 2027. We strongly advise switching now to the Microsoft Authenticator app or Passkeys for faster, more secure sign-ins.
Need to reset your account?
If you forget your passphrase, do not worry. It happens! You can securely change or reset your account access online at any time.
Design your defences
Scammers know that the easiest way to break into a system is to simply ask you to open the door. That is why learning to spot tricks and traps is one of your most important tools.
Here is how you can help defend yourself and the campus.
Spotting email scams and phishing
Phishing messages often impersonate someone you trust, like a colleague, supervisor, or popular company. Attackers use panic and urgency to trick you into clicking dangerous links, revealing passphrases, or downloading attachments.
Always slow down and verify the sender's actual email address before clicking.
Defending Against AI: Staying Safe Online
Generative artificial intelligence has made phishing messages and scams far more convincing. Threat actors now use AI to craft highly realistic email lures, clone voices over the phone, and generate synthetic images and video.
Learn how to recognize AI-generated threats and handle institutional data safely when using AI tools.
Recognizing and Resisting Social Engineering
Social engineering targets human psychology—such as trust, fear, or urgency—rather than technical vulnerabilities. Common tactics include phone scams (vishing), SMS fraud (smishing), urgent gift card requests, and malicious QR codes (quishing).
Never share Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) codes or sensitive campus credentials over the phone or text.
Student Advisory: Tuition Payment Scams
Students are increasingly targeted by fraudulent third parties offering "tuition discounts," illegal fee payment services, or credit card wire transfers. Engaging with these scams can lead to severe financial loss and compromised student accounts.
Remember: VIU never offers tuition discounts through third parties or unverified agents.
Design your workspace
Whether you are working at a desk on campus, studying at a local cafe, or finishing an assignment at home, your workspace needs a secure foundation. Protecting the physical and digital spaces where you work helps keep both your personal information and university data safe.
Here are a few simple habits to protect your workspace.
Connect to a safe network
When on campus, always use the official wireless network VIU-Secure. The secure network protects your data so others nearby cannot read it. When working off-campus, use the GlobalProtect VPN to keep your connection secure.
Keep your devices updated
Cybercriminals love looking for computers running old software. The easiest way to stop them is by letting your device install its updates. These routine updates patch up weak spots and keep your system running smoothly.
Work safely from anywhere
Moving between your home and the campus means your devices travel with you. It is important to know how to safely handle your files, lock your screen when you step away, and access university systems securely no matter where you set up your laptop.
Design our community
Information security is a team effort. Technology can block many threats, but a safe campus relies on all of us looking out for each other. Whether you are handling a student's personal details or just asking a quick question about a strange email, we are here to support you.
Here is how you can help protect our community.
Respecting and protecting privacy
When you work or study at VIU, you are part of a community that values trust. Whether you are handling grades, employee files or everyday communications, we all share the responsibility to protect the personal information of our students and coworkers.
Understanding our technology standards
To keep our digital campus running safely and smoothly, VIU has established clear rules for using technology. These standards ensure everyone understands their shared responsibilities when using university equipment, accounts and networks.
Security Awareness
True security is built by design, starting with your own awareness. From courses in VIULearn to hands-on practice with our email security program, we provide the tools you need to recognize threats before they cause harm. Here is how you can access our dedicated security training for students and employees.
Secure by Design: Security Awareness Training
Build your digital defence skills with our interactive modules on VIULearn. Dedicated tracks are available for both employees and students.
Email Security Awareness program
Get hands-on practice detecting cyber threats. Learn how our simulated phishing campaigns help you build the skills to protect your personal information and university data.
We are here to help!
Mistakes happen to everyone. If you accidentally click a bad link, type your passphrase into the wrong site, or just see something that makes you uneasy, do not panic or hide it. Reach out for support right away. We are not here to judge; we are here to help fix the problem quickly and keep the campus safe.
Need support or spotted a security concern?
Submit a service request via the IT Service Desk.
Have a general question?
Email our team directly at infosec@viu.ca.