SUMIT events in October, Cybersecurity Awareness Month, ranged from sessions on cybersecurity topics for the U-M community and a multi-disciplinary panel discussion on election security to gamified experiences for staff and students.
Securing What Comes Next: Cybersecurity Leadership in the Age of AI
Nikesh Arora, chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks, a Fortune 500 company and global leader in AI and cybersecurity serving enterprises and governments worldwide, joined Ravi Pendse, vice president for information technology and chief information officer at U-M, for a candid, forward-looking conversation about cybersecurity leadership in the age of AI.
For a video recording of the event, visit Leadership in Technology: Distinguished Lecture Series.
Securing the Vote: Technology, Evidence, and Trust in the 2026 Midterm Elections
University of Michigan experts came together for a timely, nonpartisan discussion examining cybersecurity threats to election infrastructure, voting technology and verification, the role of audits and evidence in evaluating results, and the challenge of maintaining public confidence in a rapidly changing information environment.
Moderated by U-M Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer Ravi Pendse, the panel featured:
- J. Alex Halderman, the Bredt Family Professor of Engineering and an election-cybersecurity researcher.
- Walter Mebane, professor of political science and statistics and an expert in election forensics.
- Mara Ostfeld, research associate professor of public policy and an expert in survey research and public opinion.
Information Assurance Sessions
U-M experts hosted virtual sessions on cybersecurity topics. Visit the pages below for a link to the slide presentation and/or recording (U-M login required):
- A Day in the Life of a SOC/Incident Response Analyst
A behind-the-scenes look at the work performed by SOC/IR analysts to help keep the university secure. (Slides available) - Security Tips You Can Use at School, Work, and Home
Practical ways to secure your hybrid workspace, and the essential habits & actionable steps to reduce risk and keep university information secure. - Building Trustworthy AI for Research Compliance and Security
How the College of Engineering developed a governance-by-architecture approach for building specialized AI assistants that enforce compliance by design rather than relying on user caution.
Level Up Your Cyber Game – Big Ten
U-M took third place this year competing against other Big Ten teams in this friendly fast-paced webinar game show covering cybersecurity topics. It was sponsored by the Big Ten Academic Alliance. Go Blue!
Safe Computing Popups
ITS staff popped up at four U-M campus locations in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint with a table full of fun stickers, snacks, and a Safe Computing Plinko game where students answered online safety questions to win prizes.
Safe Computing Challenge for Students
Thousands of students in Ann Arbor, Flint, and Dearborn tested their knowledge with the cybersecurity awareness quiz for a chance to win ITS Tech Shop gift cards up to $500.
Visit all Past SUMIT events on the Safe Computing website.
