The University of Helsinki IT Security Test draws attention to current IT security issues and safe and secure practices. The annual short test is mandatory for staff members and degree students. The instructions and the link to the test are now available on the IT Helpdesk website.
The topical themes of the test this year cover for example the multifactor authentication at the University. As before, the test also includes questions about online scams and other basic IT security issues.
The test has also been redesigned in other ways this year: the tests for staff and students have been combined, and the guidelines for all members of the University community as well as the link to the current test are now available on the IT Helpdesk website.
When is it my turn to take the test?
The times for taking the IT Security Test are staggered throughout the academic year. Your deadline is determined by the initial letter of your username: the usernames in the latter part of the alphabet have their turn in the autumn term and the ones in the first part of the alphabet have their turn in the spring term. Your turn is at the same time every year.
You will be notified about your test deadline by email. After receiving the first reminder message, you have two months to take the test. The reminders come from the address noreply@helsinki.fi. In addition to emails, you will also receive notifications of your upcoming deadline in Flamma and in the Studies Service.
If you do not take the test, your user account will be locked
The test takes only about 15 minutes of your time each year. When you receive the first reminders of the upcoming deadline, we recommend that you take the test immediately.
Taking the IT Security Test is part of the obligations of a University username holder. If you do not take the test by the given deadline, your user account will be locked and you will no longer be able to log in to your email or other University services. If this happens, contact IT-Helpdesk to take the test and get your user account unlocked.
Why is testing needed?
Cyber incidents targeted at higher education institutions have become more common in Europe in recent years and phishing campaigns, for example, are nowadays a regrettable part of daily life at universities.
The University’s management decided to introduce the IT Security Test to keep University staff and students up-to-date with the basics of information security and give them a regular reminder of good practices.
Each and every one of us can, through our own actions, reduce the IT security risks to the University and ensure that the data of the University staff and students remains safe and secure and that research and learning can continue undisturbed.
Learn more:
- Test instructions and the link to the test for the current academic year on the IT Helpdesk website.
- Review the basics of IT security on the information security website on Flamma. We will redesign the IT security content of Flamma during the summer and autumn 2025. We will tell you more about this later!
- Also remember the Korkeakoulujen tietoturvaajat podcast (in finnish) on Spotify and Soundcloud!