October is Cyber Security Awareness Month

Every day, individuals and organizations interact online in ways that can have a major impact on their social and financial well-being.  Each year, the President proclaims October as Cyber Security Awareness month in order to raise awareness and inform the general public about key decisions they can make to improve their online experience and security. 

This month, each week is dedicated to a different key focus:

• Week 1, “Simple Steps to Online Safety.” During this week, we encourage you to research top cybersecurity concerns, learn how to protect against them, and discover what you can do if you fall victim to one of them.
• Week 2, “Cybersecurity in the Workplace is Everyone’s Business.” This week is designed to highlight ways businesses can protect themselves and improve their cybersecurity posture using well-established tools like the National Institute of Standards and Technology Cybersecurity Framework.
• Week 3, “Today’s Predictions for Tomorrow’s Internet.” This week examines the mobile world we live in and the importance of protecting personal information as technology continues to evolve.
• Week 4, “The Internet Wants YOU: Consider a Career in Cybersecurity” This week, recognize the growing shortage of cybersecurity professionals and the opportunity it presents as a career path for yourself and those around you. Look for ways to help train skilled workers to protect the coming generation.
• Week 5, “Protecting Critical Infrastructure from Cyber Threats.” During the final couple days of October, inform yourself about the U.S. Critical Infrastructure and ways resilience can be built into the systems that are important to our daily lives. Consider participating in November’s ‘Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience’ initiative.

NIATEC encourages the public to become informed this month through public activities and online engagement. Follow #CyberAware before and during the month of October to be aware of organizations that are actively involved in raising cybersecurity awareness.

For more information, contact NIATEC at clawdere@NIATEC.isu.edu or visit the DHS NCSAM Campaign at https://www.dhs.gov/national-cyber-security-awareness-month.