EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

In the US, the month of October is designated as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) and, to pay all due respect, National Domestic Violence Awareness month. Both of these topics are prominent social issues, but to the surprise of exactly no one in this audience, the following article highlights National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

The Department of Homeland Security’s website announces that “NCSAM 2019 will emphasize personal accountability and stress the importance of taking proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity at home and in the workplace”. This year’s slogan:

To support the initiative, download the NCSAM 2019 Toolkit. It’s designed to assist organizations in rallying around and promoting this year’s key themes: citizen privacy, mobile device safety and ecommerce security.

Also, be sure to share the Cyber Safety Tips from the FBI with those in your workplace. For the security professional, these tips are undoubtedly emblazoned in your mind as part of an internal set of security mantras. However, for the average employee, there’s likely something to be gained.

  • These days, 78% of individuals claim to know that clicking on unfamiliar links could result in a security scare, but many continue to click anyway.
  • Employees also assert that they take the trouble to protect their passwords, and secure their online data. Are the measures being implemented aligned with current best practices?
  • Could your finance department fall prey to bank fraud? According to a prominent UK-based bank, millennial are sharing financial details over the phone at higher rates than any other age group.

Encourage colleagues to take responsibility for supporting your cybersecurity posture. Take a stance and pledge your support via staysafeonline.org/ncsam/champions/.