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All Systems Go: The 15th Annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Launches on October 1WASHINGTON, Sept. 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The 15th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) is fast approaching. Oct. 1 kicks off of this month-long campaign devoted to educating everyone about the roles they play in helping to safeguard the internet. NCSAM 2018 will remind all internet users that practicing online safety is "Our Shared Responsibility," and digital citizens need to support this collective mission. In addition, NCSAM 2018 will shine a spotlight on the importance of building a strong cybersecurity workforce to help better protect families, communities, businesses and the country's infrastructure. NCSAM was co-founded and is co-led by the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Over the last several years, it has grown in reach and influence. In today's always-connected world, the month's primary goal is to provide all internet users with the information and tools they need to be safer and more secure online and to educate everyone about protecting personal information. As a springboard into October, the 2018 NCSA Awards were announced yesterday. Created to recognize excellence in digital safety, NCSA seeks to honor organizations going beyond the norm to help everyone stay safer and more secure online. For more information visit https://staysafeonline.org/ncsam/ncsaawards/. Nominations will be accepted through Tuesday, Oct. 2 just as NCSAM begins. Other organizations – as well as individuals ? can take part in officially supporting NCSAM by signing on as Champions. Champions dramatically strengthen the greater effort by spreading the word about online safety at home, at work and in the community and by hosting events. To date, 500 organizational Champions and more than 250 individuals are paving the way to make NCSAM 2018 the most impactful yet. Champions receive weekly emails during October with user-friendly materials – such as infographics, memes and sample social media posts – to stay involved with the month's activities. Organizations that become Champions also have the opportunity to co-brand an activity they may be planning as a NCSAM Partner Event. "Over the last several years, NCSAM's cultural adoption and far-reaching awareness has been striking. Active involvement has grown exponentially as everyone is beginning to understand we all contribute online safety. At the core of its success is steadfast collaboration among industry, government, academia and nonprofit organizations nationwide," said Russ Schrader, NCSA's executive director. "NCSA and DHS strongly urge all organizations and consumers to protect themselves by taking simple, actionable steps this October and year round. In addition, we are committed to strengthening the nation's cybersecurity workforce and to ongoing education so that the message of shared responsibility resonates widely.">
To learn more about the themes and how to bolster efforts for NCSAM 2018, check out NCSA's Get Involved infographic. On a weekly basis, NCSA and partners will distribute materials to make it easy to share valuable NCSAM 2018 information that supports that week's topics. Connect with us on social media and learn the latest NCSAM news by following and using the hashtag #CyberAware. Get involved in the conversation by participating in our weekly #ChatSTC Twitter chats, which take place every Thursday in October at 3 p.m. EDT/noon PDT (you can learn more about the October #ChatSTC chats and other NCSAM events – and submit your own event – here. NCSA has also created sample social media posts and graphics that you can download and share leading up to and throughout the month. Additional information about NCSAM, along with resources like infographics, posters and social media content, can be found at staysafeonline.org/ncsam. Join #ChatSTC Twitter Chat: Get Ready for #CyberAware Month 2018 About National Cyber Security Awareness Month About the National Cyber Security Alliance About STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/all-systems-go-the-15th-annual-national-cybersecurity-awareness-month-launches-on-october-1-300707221.html SOURCE National Cyber Security Alliance |