Everyone should be aware of how they can improve their cybersecurity measures in the workplace and at home. That’s why the Department of Homeland Security partners with the National Cyber Security Alliance every October to launch National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM). They have launched this event every year since 2004 to raise the public’s awareness of cyber and information security. Here’s what you should know about NCSAM 2019:
A Brief History of NCSAM
NCSAM started out in 2004 by offering advice about security measures including updating antivirus software. Over the years, the reach of NCSAM has expanded to include tech industry participants as well as nonprofit organizations and college campuses, all of which use the month of October to educate the public on making their practices safer and more cybersecurity compliant. From 2009 to 2018, each NCSAM had the same theme, Our Shared Responsibility, which emphasized that everyone, from individual users to large enterprises to cybersecurity companies, have a role in keeping our networks safe and secure. Also during that period, in 2011, each week in October gained an individual security theme to better cover and articulate specific security topics, including cybersecurity for small- and medium-sized businesses.
NCSAM 2019
This year, NCSAM has a new theme: Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT. This new theme is meant to emphasize personal accountability for individual users at work and at home. Each aspect of the new NCSAM theme focuses on a different part of protecting your digital profile:
- Own IT: Understand your digital profile, and how constant internet connect through smart phones, laptops, tablets, and other smart devices open you up to certain cyber threats. Once you understand your profile and these threats to it, you can take steps to secure it.
- Secure IT: Learn to secure your digital profile by using specific security measures, including strong passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and awareness of phishing tactics.
- Protect IT: Figure out how you can best secure and maintain your digital profile to keep your digital privacy in tact and protect yourself from cybercriminals’ attacks.
These topics explore cybersecurity issues that users can run into as they try to stay secure online while navigating e-commerce sites and consumer devices. You can definitely help your employees protect themselves and your business by training them on these topics during NCSAM 2019. If you are interested in teaching your employees about cybersecurity posture, consider using the NCSAM 2019 Toolkit.
Your Upstate New York Cybersecurity Provider
Reverus offers cybersecurity services that will keep your business’s network and your users safe and secure. We can provide you with managed threat security, network security, vulnerability testing, and threat remediation. These services will improve your network’s security and reduce your cyber risks. Reach out to us today to find out more about how our cybersecurity solutions and managed security services can boost your network’s protection. At Reverus, we aim to improve your business’s overall solutions with our services and our transparency, so you can trust that we will handle your cybersecurity with honesty and integrity.
