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Two Weeks and Counting Until National Cybersecurity Awareness Month Kicks Off on Oct. 1WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The two-week countdown to the 15th annual National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) has begun! The National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ? the co-leaders of NCSAM ? along with the dedicated backing of thousands of organizations and individuals, are working to improve awareness and impact online behavior to better protect the internet. By emphasizing the theme that online safety is "Our Shared Responsibility," NCSAM highlights that everyone has a role to play in keeping our networks secure.
NCSAM Champions – organizations and individuals who have signed on in support of a safer internet – are helping to amplify the core NCSAM messages. The Champions program is a free and easy way to get involved in the month. All Champions receive materials they can use to spread the word about online safety and security pre- and throughout NCSAM. More than 610 organizations and 280 individuals have already registered in support; learn more and sign up at https://staysafeonline.org/ncsam/ncsam-champions/. Earlier this month, the first-ever NCSA Awards were announced. Three different award categories will recognize excellence in digital safety and honor those organizations going beyond the norm to help everyone stay safer and more secure online. The inaugural NCSA Awards ceremony will close out the month during the Symantec's Government Symposium on Tuesday, Oct. 30 in Washington, D.C. For more information visit https://staysafeonline.org/ncsam/ncsaawards/. Nominations will be accepted through Tuesday, Oct. 2. There are several other timely cyber awareness programs that are already in full swing: notably, a higher education campaign spearheaded by NCSA, Internet2, Duo Security and EDUCAUSE that focuses on cybersecurity across college campuses nationwide. Whether it's financial and enrollment data or student online activity, institutions of higher learning must work to better secure sensitive information. Earlier this month, there was a coast-to-coast call to action encouraging students, faculty and staff to add an extra layer of security to their accounts using multi-factor authentication. Learn more here. In addition, NCSA teamed up with Facebook and MediaPRO to create a Cybersecurity Awareness Toolkit for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The toolkit is packed with SMB-friendly techniques and tips addressing simple, actionable safety, security and privacy practices for organizations of varying industries. Front and center is Facebook's Hacktober, which is the company's internal NCSAM campaign and emphasizes the role everyone plays in making the internet safer and more secure. It's a fun, interactive way for employees to learn important cybersecurity lessons and apply them year round. MediaPRO infographics and a link to their invaluable Best Practices Guide for Comprehensive Employee Public Awareness Programs are also showcased along with NCSA's Quick Wins Tip Sheet and a lengthy list of practical resources. "NCSAM is the perfect opportunity for internet users of all ages and organizations to commit to taking steps to protect themselves, their customers and their online information," said NCSA Executive Director Russ Schrader. "As data breaches and other forms of cybercrime become more prevalent and sophisticated, it's important for everyone to understand the role they can play in promoting a safer, more secure and more trusted internet." 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/non 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. As digital citizens gear up to stay safer and more secure online, IdentityForce has an invaluable resource. The second edition of "Protecting What Matters Most: Insights, Trends, and Perspectives on Protecting Your Digital World" contains something for everyone. In just six pages, IdentityForce, now part of EZShield, curated 40+ resources to bring you the top findings and recommendations on securing your digitalized world, both at work and at home. https://www.identityforce.com/protecting-what-matters-most-v2 In addition, MediaPRO is launching a weekly downloadable toolkit program, with each bundle of resources tied to the weekly NCSAM themes. MediaPRO has packaged its own award-winning content with resources from NCSA into four resource-packed toolkits of security awareness content. Twenty-six individual resources are available, with both employee-facing educational infographics and security program management content designed to help create a more risk-aware culture at organizations of all sizes. https://pages.mediapro.com/NCSAM2018_Toolkit_Breakdown.html Noteworthy events and initiatives leading up to and during October include:
Learn more about upcoming NCSAM events (and submit your own events to the calendar) at https://staysafeonline.org/event_category/ncsam/ About National Cyber Security Awareness Month About the National Cyber Security Alliance About STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™
SOURCE National Cyber Security Alliance 
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