Stay Safe Online with Internet2: Cybersecurity Resources for the Research and Education Community

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Cybersecurity professionals across the research and higher education (R&E) community are facing new challenges — from agentic AI threats and evolving ransomware tactics to research security and compliance requirements. Whether you’re deep in the cybersecurity trenches or just getting started, this post is your guide to the programs, resources, and community connections Internet2 offers throughout the year. 

I recently attended a reunion of Internet2 staff from the organization’s first 15 years, and it reminded me why we exist: to do things no single campus or organization can do alone. That collaborative spirit is still going strong as we look ahead to the 2025 Internet2 Technology Exchange in Denver this December, and Internet2’s 30th anniversary at the 2026 Community Exchange. 

In the weeks ahead, the community will also gather virtually for critical cybersecurity conversations, including a panel discussion on How CIOs Are Leading the Charge in Research Security on Nov. 12 and a fireside chat with Dameion Brown, CISO at Jackson State University, on Zero Trust and Cybersecurity Collaborations on Nov. 4. There’s still time to register!

Supporting National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM)

Internet2 is a proud supporter of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), co-led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. We engage with the community year-round on what’s happening in the cybersecurity realm, and we know you’re navigating challenging institutional environments.

Under the theme “Stay Safe Online,” NCSAM recommends four key behaviors. Internet2 has resources that can help.

• Use strong passwords and a password manager – Internet2 offers federated identity solutions, NET+ LastPass, and NET+ 1Password.
• Turn on multifactor authentication – NET+ Duo Security supports trusted access.
• Recognize and report scams – The Internet2 community shares resources and best practices throughout the year.
• Update your software – Community working groups and events offer ongoing guidance and professional development opportunities.

These recommended behaviors are challenging to scale across institutions and require continued diligence. Internet2 security programs and services can help, and cybersecurity is woven throughout our work. We also work with organizations like EDUCAUSE and REN-ISAC to advance cybersecurity in R&E. 

Keep reading to see how collaborative efforts can support cybersecurity at your institution, and always feel free to reach out to me or the team if you have questions or need support. 

MS-CC

Through NSF Awards #2137123 and #2234326, the MS-CC supports historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and tribal colleges and universities (TCUs) in advancing their cyberinfrastructure capabilities through training, resources, and collaborative community efforts.

What We Offer:

• Community calls and research and technology workshops at HBCU and TCU campuses across the country, with content available from past workshops.
• Monthly Cybersecurity Community of Practice for MS-CC faculty, researchers, staff, and students
• Recent highlight: Advancing AI and Cyberinfrastructure at HBCUs, recap of MS-CC Research & Technology Workshop hosted at Coppin State University

Why It Matters: These efforts build research capacity on campuses and connections within local communities.

Network Security and Routing Integrity

The Internet2 Network is designed for data-intensive research, providing the trusted performance, resiliency, security, and capabilities demanded by advanced applications.

What We Offer:

• Internet2 Routing Integrity Initiative – Resources and support to help the R&E community protect against common routing threats 
• Routing Operations Observational Technology: Building to Enable Education and Research (ROOTBEER) – An NSF-funded collaborative project led by CAIDA to develop tools that enhance visibility and operational awareness
• BGP Route Report in Internet2 Insight Console – Visibility to identify rejected routes, troubleshoot issues, and assess your network’s routing security posture
• New Peering Policy to Strengthen Routing Security – A comprehensive routing security policy starting in 2026 for international R&E network connections
• DDoS Mitigation Service – Protection for campus networks and the Internet2 backbone
• Network Security Special Interest Group – Focused discussions on network security challenges and solutions

Why It Matters: Strengthening routing integrity and protecting R&E networks from cybersecurity threats takes a community effort.

InCommon: Identity & Access Management

InCommon, which is part of Internet2, empowers inter-organizational collaboration through tailored identity and access management (IAM) solutions, specialized tools, and strategic guidance.

Key Services:

• InCommon Federation – Community-driven access management infrastructure
• eduroam – Authenticated global roaming Wi-Fi access, with baseline expectations being developed based on community input
• Trusted Access Platform – IAM software supporting collaboration and research

Recent Work:

• Partnering with federal agencies on identity assurance
• Webinar on identity proofing and resources, which is useful for investigating identity assurance, ghost students, or identity fraud

Get Involved:

• Participate in the 4th annual international Sirtfi cybersecurity cooperation exercise to test Federated Incident Response (Nov. 17-21, 2025)
• Learn about peer IAM practices at TechEX (Dec. 8-12, 2025) or join InCommon BaseCAMP (June 2026)
• Attend InCommon Academy for IAM training and learning experiences

Cloud Services & NET+ Program

Internet2 supports members’ cloud journeys with a focus on enabling secure access, supporting security and management needs, and fostering communities of practice.

NEW Secure Research Enclaves Workshop: We’re developing a community workshop to help campuses balance cloud agility with stringent compliance requirements for sensitive research.

Training & Working Groups:

• AWS Security training via the CLASS program
• NET+ Generative AI Working Group, which discussed AI security this year
• Cloud Scorecard with 90+ services for finding and screening cloud services

NET+ Security Services:

• NET+ Portkey – Access control and logging for institutional AI enablement
• NET+ Duo – Multifactor authentication
• NET+ 1Password and NET+ LastPass – Password management
• NET+ UpGuard – Third-party risk management coming soon 

Community Resources: The third-party risk management working group continues to develop and document best practices to share with the community.

Research Engagement Community Resources

Internet2 is a strong supporter and ally of:  

• Campus Research Computing Consortium (CaRCC), a professional organization for those working in the field of research computing and data (RCD), with a Research Cybersecurity Interest Group 
• Regulated Research Community of Practice (RRCoP), which offers monthly webinars, compliance updates, and additional resources 

Get Involved

Cybersecurity is at the very core of the Internet2 community’s ability to collaborate, define, test, and deploy technologies that advance research and scholarship.

Internet2 has working groups and many ways for campuses to advance cybersecurity across the community. These activities support campuses taking a risk-based approach to protect stakeholders, learn from peers, and focus on the behaviors most important to their organizations.

Share Your Story:

• Connect with us on LinkedIn and use #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth
• Contact us directly to share how you participate in NCSAM
• Reach out with questions or suggestions anytime

We’d love to hear how your institution is enhancing security!