It is again time for UMD faculty and staff to take the university’s annual IT security awareness training.
As always, the university needs a cybersecurity conscious workforce to ensure that our computers, networks, and information are kept safe. Updated for 2026, Defend Your Shell is a basic cybersecurity awareness training created to fulfill the state of Maryland’s expectation that all employees receive cybersecurity awareness information each year.
Regardless of when Defend Your Shell 2025 was taken, all faculty and staff, including research assistants and graduate assistants, are required to complete Defend Your Shell 2026 training by April 3, 2026
Please follow the steps below to access and complete your training course.
- Visit go.umd.edu/DYS2026.
- Log in with your UMD Directory ID and passphrase.
- Click on "Enroll" then "Submit" to enroll in the course.
- Once enrolled, click on "Start Course" or "Resume Course" to view the learning content.
The material is broken up into three main modules with corresponding quizzes that can be completed at your convenience. It takes approximately 45 minutes to view the full series.
If you prefer to view video captions and take the quizzes in Spanish, visit go.umd.edu/DYS2026-ESP.
Note: You will also receive an email notification about Defend Your Shell 2026 from Workday and regular reminders until you complete the course.
To access your certificate of completion after finishing the course, search for My Learning Certificates in the main search bar or from your Learning Home.
If you have any questions, please contact the IT Service Desk.
Thank you for doing your part to meet this state requirement and to keep UMD community members’ data secure.
-- Adapted from an email to UMD faculty and staff sent February 6, 2026 and signed by Jeffrey K. Hollingsworth, Vice President and Chief Information Officer --